Mountain View, California-based Beddr is taking aim at the employer market. The sleep health company announced this morning the launch of a new program that provides employees with a sleep tracking device, weekly coaching and referrals to experts.
“Beddr’s program helps people who have a combination of physiological, psychological and lifestyle causes of their chronic sleep issues,” Michael Kisch, CEO and cofounder of Beddr, said in a statement. “By enabling people to understand the root causes of their sleep problems and providing easier access to coaching and physicians, we have seen a dramatic increase among our users relative to the overall population in their understanding of their sleep health and how their choices impact their overall sleep quality.”
Core to the new enterprise offering is Beddr’s SleepTuner, an FDA-registered sensor the company launched late last year. The device is adhered to the user’s forehead, where it measures blood oxygenation, heart rate, sleep position and stopped breathing events. These are transmitted to the connected mobile app, where users can view trends describing their sleep quality and potential approaches to addressing them.
Alongside the connected device and app is four weeks of sleep coaching included in the program. These sessions reference the user’s recorded data to develop sleep-focused action plans, which are outlined to the employee by the coach in weekly sessions. If those enrolled in the program are determined to be at risk for sleep apnea or other serious medical conditions, Beddr provides direct referrals to a network of sleep physicians available across the US.
Employers can purchase Beddr’s full program at a cost of $349 per person, and according to the company, those interested can continue working with their coach for a monthly fee. The company also said that this program will be made available to consumers at some point down the line.
WHAT’S THE IMPACT
Beddr’s sleep health program aims to address widespread sleep issues through a more comprehensive approach than an app or a device alone. It’s making its case to employers specifically with promises of healthier, more efficient workers.
“Sleep is the foundation to every employee’s mental and physical health,” Kisch said. “High quality sleep has been shown to both reduce health care costs as well as improve productivity, but most employers haven’t found a comprehensive program that addresses the primary root causes of sleep issues and that benefits their entire workforce.”
THE LARGER TREND
Employee health and wellness programs are a frequent strategy for health tech looking to sell their digital tools and services. Big names like Apple and Fitbit have lent their wearables to employee-focused programs for some time now, and there’s no shortage of startups targeting the space that are drawing attention from investors. Still, many over the years have questioned whether various workplace health programs or other employee wellness initiatives are really achieving the benefits they’re promising.
ON THE RECORD
“As one of the largest privately held transportation service companies in North America, our success is made possible by our people. Given the mission critical and highly technical nature of our business, it’s vital that we provide our employees all the tools they need in order to perform at their optimal health,” Sergio Sabatini, COO of Beddr client OmniTRAX, said in a statement provided by the sleep health company. “We selected Beddr because it was the only program specifically focused on identifying sleep issues and building a customized, comprehensive plan to address them. We’re excited to continue this program and see the positive effects it may have on reducing accident rates and healthcare costs.”
