Wearables have surged in popularity since tech giants like Apple, Fitbit (now a Google subsidiary), Garmin, and Samsung entered the market with products like the Apple Watch and Fitbit Tracker. This surge has led to an expanded array of functionalities and integration with smartphones, resulting in wearable tech’s total spending projected to exceed $205.1 billion by 2029.
This technology continues to revolutionize industries such as healthcare, fitness, and even pet care by offering advanced analytics and performance enhancements. Here’s a deep dive into 18 dynamic wearable startups that are redefining the way we interact with technology in our daily lives— from workouts to pet tracking and even heavy lifting.
Hinge Health
Founded in 2015 in San Francisco, California, Hinge Health has rapidly grown to become the premier digital musculoskeletal (MSK) clinic globally. With a stunning 305% growth in searches over the past five years, the company has garnered $826.1 million in Series E funding. Hinge Health offers comprehensive digital physical therapy solutions, alerting users about potential elective surgeries and significantly reducing insurance claims. Esteemed clients include notable companies such as Salesforce, Verizon, and Ralph Lauren, along with partnerships with over a million in-person medical providers.
Petkit
Established in 2013 in Shanghai, China, Petkit has seen an 809% growth in searches over five years. With $95.6 million in Series D funding, Petkit specializes in pet wearables that monitor calorie consumption, location, health, and even pet moods. The company also sells an array of smart pet products, enhancing not just pet health but also owner convenience.
Whoop
Founded in 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts, Whoop has maintained a steady growth, boasting $404.8 million in Series F funding. Whoop’s wearables are tailored for athletes, tracking sleep, training, and recovery metrics to optimize performance. The brand’s extensive social media campaigns have catapulted it to global recognition.
Neosensory
Neosensory, founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, has carved a niche in aiding the deaf community. With a substantial 263% growth in searches, Neosensory has raised $14.2 million in private equity. Their wearable wristbands translate sound into vibrational patterns, assisting users in perceiving environmental sounds. Clinical studies reveal that 91% of users experienced tinnitus relief within two months.
Silvertree
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and founded in 2020, Silvertree offers stylish wearables designed for elderly individuals at risk, equipped with GPS tracking, fall detection, and a month-long battery life. The startup has secured $12.5 million in seed funding, targeting a growing market of over 54 million Americans aged 65 and above.
COROS
Since its inception in 2016 in Tustin, California, COROS has made significant strides in performance sports technology. With an impressive 167% growth in searches, the company designs GPS sports watches for outdoor and endurance athletes. These wearables offer up to 140 hours of battery life in full GPS mode along with advanced training analytics.
Apollo Neuroscience
Founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2016, Apollo Neuroscience experienced early success with its Apollo Neuro wearable, designed by Dr. David Rabin. Despite a 38% decline in search growth, the company has earned $21.2 million in Series A funding. Apollo’s wearables use low-frequency sounds for stress relief and relaxation, gaining endorsements from notable figures like Jim Kwik.
Ultrahuman
Ultrahuman, established in 2019 in Bangalore, India, has seen a staggering 9,600% growth in searches. With $60.1 million in Series B funding, Ultrahuman produces smart rings that track sleep, exercise, and metabolic health in real time. CEO Mohit Kumar aims for the company to reach $100 million in ARR by the end of 2024, following a $35 million Series B funding round in March 2024.
Metacore
Founded in 2014 in Helsinki, Finland, Metacore has attracted $188.8 million in debt financing. The company specializes in smartwatch-based gaming, with titles like the award-winning Runeblade gaining attention in the gaming community.
Aktiia
Neuchâtel, Switzerland-based Aktiia, founded in 2018, boasts a 6,600% growth in searches. With $59.7 million in undisclosed funding, Aktiia has developed a wearable bracelet that monitors blood pressure around the clock, providing hourly readings and syncing data to a mobile app utilized by over 60,000 users.
Tractive
Since its establishment in 2012 in Pasching, Austria, Tractive has seen a substantial 174% rise in searches. With $37.7 million in Series A funding, the company offers real-time GPS tracking devices for pets, gaining a significant spotlight after being featured on Amazon’s hit show “The Pack.”
Clim8
Established in 2016 in Ecully, France, Clim8 has experienced fluctuating success, with a 26% decline in growth. Backed by $8.9 million in convertible notes, Clim8 focuses on heating wearables embedded in garments, tailored for extreme climates. Partnerships with premium brands like North Face and Gore-Tex enable innovative product testing.
Atlas Tracking
Founded in 2018 in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, Atlas Tracking offers advanced wearables for race timing and GPS tracking in competitive sports. Despite a modest 13% growth, the startup has garnered interest from Adidas, which invested through its incubator program.
Earable
With a 68% uptick in search growth, Boulder, Colorado-based Earable was founded in 2018 and has raised $8.7 million in seed funding. Their sleep aid wearables, developed by Oxford University scientists, aim to help users with sleep disorders, reducing the time to fall asleep by an average of 19 minutes.
FightCamp
Since its foundation in 2013 in Costa Mesa, California, FightCamp has expanded from wearable punch tracking hardware to a comprehensive home workout system. With $98.5 million in Series B funding and a 125% growth in searches, FightCamp offers an immersive boxing workout experience.
Neurotech
Founded in 2018 in Bangalore, India, Neurotech is on a mission to merge wearables with neuroscience. Focusing on smart earphones that map brain function and assist in meditation, Neurotech is gaining traction, though precise funding details remain undisclosed.
German Bionic
Based in Augsburg, Germany, and founded in 2017, German Bionic produces connected exoskeletons for manual laborers, reducing workplace injuries and improving productivity. Despite a modest 40% growth, they have secured $48.4 million in debt financing.
Wellue
Founded in 2013 in Diamond Bar, California, Wellue has seen a remarkable 1,000% growth in searches. Specializing in medical wearables, their flagship product, the O2Ring, tracks oxygen levels and heart rate in real time, allowing users to monitor vitals through their smartphone app.
Conclusion
The wearable tech sector continues to burgeon, melding cloud computing with innovative hardware to offer unprecedented convenience and insights. These startups are at the forefront, bringing transformative shifts to health and wellness, pet care, and various other fields. Stay tuned as these companies evolve, bringing the next wave of technological advancements.