BERKELEY, Calif.--()--Somnee, the first personalized, smart sleep headband that utilizes noninvasive, closed-loop tACS neuromodulation for higher-quality sleep, today announced that it has been named to Fast Company’s fourth annual Next Big Things in Tech list, honoring emerging technology that has a profound impact for industries.

Somnee is one of 138 technologies recognized in the highly competitive Next Big Things in Tech awards program – which garners well over 1,000 applicants – for their potential to revolutionize the lives of consumers, businesses, and society overall.

Somnee stands out in the evolving sleep technology space for its novel closed-loop approach. The comfortable consumer device integrates sleep lab-grade technology into a wearable headband, improving sleep through personalized tACS neuromodulation at home. This therapeutic modality is the most efficient and direct way to improve sleep and is backed by 22 clinical studies and covered by 24 patents. The technology was born from some of the top minds in neuroscience and sleep: Dr. Matt Walker, Dr. Bob Knight, Dr. Ram Gurumoorthy, and Dr. Rich Ivry.

Studies show that Somnee cuts the time to fall asleep in half and dramatically improves overall sleep quality. It is four times more effective than melatonin, twice more than cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i), and 1.5 times more effective than Ambien at improving sleep efficiency and duration. Combining superior results and UX simplicity, Somnee is an unparalleled choice for consumers seeking better sleep.

"Sleep is fundamental to health and overall well-being, yet poor sleep remains a pervasive issue that impacts 1 in 3 Americans. By integrating lab-grade EEG+ sensors, proprietary AI/ML models, and a closed-loop system in a sleek headband consumers actually want to wear, we are not only improving sleep onset, but also sleep maintenance/disruptions, and restorative quality sleep," said Tim Rosa, Somnee CEO. “This award recognizes our 7+ years of dedication and progress in validating our science and technology as an effective, scalable solution to an endemic problem.”

“The Next Big Things in Tech provides a fascinating glimpse at near- and long-term technological breakthroughs across a variety of sectors,” says Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Spanning everything from semiconductors to agricultural gene editing, the companies featured in this year’s list are tackling some of the world’s most pressing and vexing problems.”

This award joins a growing list of accolades achieved by Somnee in 2024, including “Best Sleep Tech” in the 2024 GQ Fitness Awards, featured in gift guides from Women’s Health and mindbodygreen, and being named a “Consumer Wellness” category finalist in the 2024 Digital Health Hub Foundation Awards.

To learn more about the Somnee Smart Sleep Headband, please visit https://somneesleep.com/.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About Somnee

Somnee is on a mission to help everyone sleep better through personalized neuroscience. Built upon decades of research and development, Somnee is the first smart sleep headband to help your brain naturally achieve a longer, higher-quality night’s sleep. The Somnee co-founders and research team includes world-leading neuroscientists Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., author of NY Times bestseller Why We Sleep and Director of UC Berkeley’s Center of Human Sleep Science; Dr. Robert Knight, M.D., Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Berkeley; Dr. Rich Ivry, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Berkeley; and Dr. Ram Gurumoorthy, Ph.D., former Chief Science and Technology Officer at Nielsen-acquired NeuroFocus Inc. Khosla Ventures has led Somnee’s seed round to pioneer the next frontier of sleep health and other neurological health disorders. To learn more about Somnee, visit: www.somneesleep.com.