Led · Equity · Nov 2021

SleepCogni develops a handheld insomnia therapy device that delivers vibration, light, and sound cues using patented Active-Feedback technology to break cognitive cycles that prevent sleep. The device captures physiological, behavioural, and environmental data to help understand factors impacting sleep. The company is extending its AI capability to increase personalisation for children as part of a new Innovate UK grant-funded project. SleepCogni will run a user experience trial in paediatric patients in collaboration with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and optimise the device for children. A prior 80-patient randomised placebo-controlled trial in adults with Sheffield Hallam University showed SleepCogni significantly reduced insomnia complaints from clinical to non-clinical levels within seven days. Its stated long-term goal is to provide immediate initial CBT-I–aligned treatment to reduce NHS waiting lists and free up clinician time. SleepCogni makes a handheld medical device and a clinician- and patient-led online platform that enable users to control their wind-down process as a treatment for insomnia. In a recent clinical trial the device and therapy reduced insomnia complaints compared to a placebo, with users improving from Clinical Insomnia to Non-Clinical Insomnia within seven days. The company said it will use the funding to scale the business and commercialize into the US market, prepare the medical device for volume manufacturing, develop the clinician and patient online platform, and achieve first sales. SleepCogni is based in Sheffield, UK. It raised £1.4m ($2m) in a debt and equity round that valued the company at £7.3m ($10m). The round was led by Chasnay Capital Partners and included existing and retail investors, and the company also received a loan from Innovate UK. Alongside the raise the company strengthened its executive team with hires including former Apple executive Colin Greene and ex-AXA Finance Director Andrew Morfey. SleepCogni develops a bedside personal medical device that integrates multiple scientifically founded treatments, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi), for people with long-term insomnia. The company is led by CEO Rich Mills and CSO Dr Van de Werken. It recently received grant funding from Innovate UK and previously secured a £485k investment led by Mercia Fund Management. SleepCogni will use the funds to advance R&D and run a clinical trial of 150 subjects covering 1,490 research nights. The company also plans to use the financing to grow the team as it develops its intervention and device. Braintrain 20:20, based in Sheffield, UK, develops personalized sleep-aid devices and therapies. The company offers SleepCogni, a patented bedside device and speaker system that measures heart rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen to build individualized sleep programs. SleepCogni delivers cognitive behavioural therapy via light and sound therapy to both induce sleep and rouse patients at appropriate times. The company is led by CEO Richard Mills. Braintrain raised funds to expand the business and to complete a formal clinical trial of its technology. The focus is on habit- and need-based sleep treatment through physiologic monitoring and CBT delivery.