Sleep tech startup Somnee is deepening its ties with the NBA and rolling out a newer, improved version of its AI-powered sleep headband
Somnee has launched the second generation of its AI-powered smart sleep headband, touting the new device as a better, more comfortable version of its first-generation product.
The sleep tech startup also announced that the NBA has joined its newest investor.
Founded in 2022 by a team of University of California, Berkeley, neuroscientists including popular social media personality Dr. Matt Walker, Somnee raised $10 million earlier this year for its smart sleep headband, which uses electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors and proprietary artificial intelligence technology to help people fall asleep faster, sleep for longer and improve their overall sleep quality.
Somnee describes its technology as an at-home “electroceutical” for sleep, using non-invasive, personalized electrical stimulation to guide the brain into a natural sleep rhythm.
Available now for purchase online, the second-generation Somnee headband pairs clinical-grade, overnight EEG+ monitoring with Somnee’s proprietary SmartSleep AI platform to deliver personalized neurostimulation for “deeper, faster sleep and optimized performance” compared to the original.
In terms of new features, the second-generation headband features a redesigned “pillowy-soft” fit for all-night use, improved speakers and a reengineered companion app. Other new features include a phone-free experience to help users reduce blue light before bed, support for short naps, and a sleep journal inspired by learnings from Dr. Walker.
“This isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a whole new standard for how we approach sleep,” said Somnee CEO Tim Rosa, a former Fitbit executive. “Whether you’re a high performer, a wellness-minded professional, or someone battling sleepless nights, Somnee is here to change the way you rest, recover and live… so you can sleep more, to live more.”
Somnee’s second-generation headband had been pilot tested by select NBA and WNBA teams through a recent partnership between the Berkeley-based company and the basketball league’s startup incubation program. Somnee reports that participants saw improvements in total sleep duration, deep sleep, REM sleep and sleep onset, along with increased mental sharpness and energy.
Building on that pilot, the NBA has come on board as an equity partner in Somnee, joining existing investors in Khosla Ventures, Time Ventures and others.
Looking ahead, Somnee is also planning to roll out its wearable sleep tech inside Equinox Hotels, and it’s partnered with telehealth platform Superpower to pair blood biomarker insights with sleep tech.
Dr. Walker, who’s become a face of the burgeoning sleep science movement, and his colleagues at Somnee have sought to position the company’s product as a tech-forward, drug-free alternative to traditional sleep solutions.
According to Somnee, its system has already been proven to help users fall asleep twice as fast, stay asleep over 30 minutes longer and reduce tossing and turning by a third. The company also says its system significantly outperforms melatonin, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and Ambien.
“With the new Somnee, we’ve translated the latest neuroscience into wearable technology that doesn’t just track sleep — it actively restores it,” Dr. Walker said. “I see this as a meaningful, non-pharmacological step toward scalable technology that improves sleep quality. Our sincere hope is to help address the global sleep-loss epidemic.”
