SOND, a Boston startup founded by former Bose sleep products head Yadid Ayzenberg and MIT graduate Amir Lazarovich, has emerged from stealth mode with $7 million in funding. The company has introduced its first product, Dreambuds, which are designed to actively enhance sleep quality.
Innovative Design: Unlike traditional sleep earbuds that primarily mask noise, Dreambuds utilize a closed-loop system to capture 12 physiological signals from the user, such as heart rate and respiration. This data is processed in real-time to tailor audio programs that promote better sleep.
Funding Sources: The initial funding round includes contributions from E14 Fund, Crosslink Capital, Ubiquity Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Meach Cove Capital, and Boston Scientific co-founder John Abele.
How It Works: Dreambuds monitor various metrics, including:
- Respiration
- Heart rate variability
- Sleep staging
- Body position
- Snoring
- Seismocardiography
This information is sent to a cloud-based AI sleep coach that selects or generates personalized audio programs based on the user's needs.
User Interaction: Users can engage with the AI coach through voice commands, accessing a library of over 500 audio programs. The system can also create custom audio experiences, such as themed sleep stories.
Background of the Founders: Ayzenberg's experience at Bose, where he launched Sleepbuds 2, inspired him to create a more advanced sleep product after Bose exited the sleep market. His partnership with Lazarovich, who has a background in software engineering, began at MIT and has evolved into a mission to innovate in the sleep tech space.
Unique Features: Dreambuds operate independently from a smartphone, with their charging case equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, an OLED display, and a speaker for alarm functions. This design aims to minimize distractions from phone usage during sleep.
Future Plans: SOND plans to begin mass production of Dreambuds by Q2 2026, following a crowdfunding campaign to secure additional financing. Interested consumers can currently reserve their devices through the company's website.
