Nothing can replace a night of good sleep. Sleeping well the night before shapes one’s productivity and overall preparedness for the day and good sleep is essential for brain performance, mood, and health. The sleep economy is a multi-billion dollar industry which is only expected to grow with the arrival of future wellness technologies. The sector’s growth isn’t being driven solely by people with clinical sleep disorders like insomnia. Buying into sleep technology is perceived as an investment in one’s quality of living, progress, and overall health – which is particularly appealing to those with demanding occupations. Additionally, as consumers become more aware of the dangers associated with products meant to alleviate the negative side effects of poor sleep, such as reliance on energy drinks, more and more individuals are realizing that good, consistent sleep is irreplaceable. 

Advances in AI and the miniaturization of sensors are generating new technologies in the sector of sleep wellness.  Eight Sleep is a prime example of this. The ‘sleep fitness’ company uses AI to personalize temperature, sound, and elevation (which adjusts to stop snoring if detected) for optimal sleep comfort. Their sleep pod is also customized for each side of the bed and it uses gentle vibrations to calmly wake up individuals. All data collected by the company is kept private. 

The company launched its first product in 2019, and has reached over 500 million dollars in lifetime revenue since. They’ve raised around 250 million dollars in external funding to support this growth. Their pods range from around $2,500 to $5,000. In order to market their products, Eight Sleep has prioritized long-term partnerships with high performers (athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators), investment in podcast advertising, and high-performance brand alignments such as with Formula One and CrossFit. The brand reflects consumers’ growing desire for wellness solutions that are personalized to their bodies’ optimal conditions. 

Another popular sleep technology brand is Hatch, an alarm clock that wakes up individuals to a light which mimics an actual sunrise, along with calm music and sounds of nature. This brand has been able to disrupt the alarm clock industry, which has not been done since alarm clocks became digitized on cell phones. Hatch shows that product categories once considered obsolete can still be revitalized when they’re reframed through a wellness-driven lens. The brand’s ‘ditch the doomscroll’ angle positions their product as the solution to those frustrated with modern day living, who face an inability to detach themselves from their cellphones. 

The mental, physical, and economic costs of sleep insufficiency lead to lost productivity in working environments. In the coming years, I believe it is likely that more large corporations will respond by actively investing in sleep-improving technologies and devices for their employees. Moreover, how will we see the product lines of existing sleep technology companies expand? Eight Sleep has recently introduced a sleep supplement, which comes at a much lower price point than their main product. Given that Eight Sleep’s pod already delivers a comprehensive, immersive wellness experience, it’s interesting to see how the brand will continue to introduce new products without indirectly signaling gaps in its flagship offering.

I think in the coming years we’ll see sleep-wellness technology advance to the point where our sleep cycles can be intelligently customized in real time. Imagine devices that automatically adjust and extend REM or deep sleep based on what your body needs that specific night, so you wake up fully restored every single day. Companies that can deliver groundbreaking, user-friendly technologies at accessible price points will ultimately win.