Social Starts

Social Starts, established in 2012 and based in California, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. It focuses on Series A financing rounds, primarily in the technology and health tech sectors within the United States. The firm employs a data-driven approach to identify and support innovative companies operating in these fields, with a mission to foster advancements in health and happiness through technology.

Kevin Dasch

COO

Toshi Eguchi

Partner

Chris Kurdziel

Venture Partner

Maria Zhang

Venture Partner

Past deals in Wearables

Epicore Biosystems

Series A in 2022
Epicore Biosystems, Inc. is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in developing and commercializing a wearable microfluidic sensing platform. This innovative technology analyzes small droplets of sweat directly from the skin to provide insights into health, hydration, and athletic performance. The platform is designed to measure various biomarkers, including proteomics and inflammatory markers, allowing for personalized management of health and nutrition. Epicore's approach leverages over two decades of research in microfluidics and soft materials conducted by leading experts at Northwestern University. By offering a non-invasive and cost-effective solution, Epicore aims to enhance athletic performance and improve overall health monitoring for users.

Sharper Sense

Seed Round in 2021
Sharper Sense is a company focused on wearable neurotechnology designed to enhance sensory acuity, including vision, hearing, and touch. The firm has developed a neuromodulation patch that employs comfortable, noninvasive electrical stimulation to improve sensory processing. This technology has both clinical and commercial applications, particularly in treating sensory processing disorders and sensory loss. By enhancing performance and safety, Sharper Sense aims to provide users with a clearer and more accurate perception of their surroundings.

Zone7

Venture Round in 2020
Zone7 is a technology company founded in 2017 and based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in artificial intelligence-driven sports injury prediction software. The platform leverages data from wearable devices, medical records, and fitness profiles to forecast potential injuries, allowing for proactive measures to enhance athlete safety and performance. Zone7 serves over 30 professional sports franchises, offering insights that enable coaching staff to monitor athlete performance and injury risk effectively. Additionally, the technology is utilized in hospitals to ensure the well-being of medical staff by providing actionable recommendations for optimizing workload and recovery. By analyzing various data sources, Zone7 aims to protect and enhance the health and performance of both athletes and the elite workforce.

Noctrix Health

Funding Round in 2020
Noctrix Health, Inc. is an early-stage medical device company based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2018. The company specializes in developing therapeutic wearable devices aimed at treating chronic neurological and sleep disorders, particularly focusing on restless leg syndrome. Its innovative device utilizes neural circuitry to alleviate symptoms and promote undisturbed sleep, empowering patients to better manage their chronic medical conditions.

H2L

Venture Round in 2019
H2L Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that focuses on researching and developing electric stimulation devices to enhance human interaction with virtual environments. Founded in 2012, H2L offers innovative products such as UnlimitedHand, a virtual reality gaming controller that utilizes electronic muscle stimulation to enable users to control finger movements and experience touch in a virtual space. Additionally, the company markets PossessedHand, a device worn on the forearm that applies electrical stimuli to control finger movements, making it suitable for rehabilitation and learning support applications. H2L is also exploring technologies that facilitate shared body experiences between users and virtual avatars, enhancing engagement in gaming and immersive environments.

Embr Labs

Series B in 2019
Embr Labs Inc. is a company based in Somerville, Massachusetts, that specializes in developing thermal comfort devices aimed at enhancing human well-being. Founded in 2014 and originally known as Wristify Inc., Embr Labs has created innovative technology that uses temperature to influence the autonomic nervous system, helping users manage conditions such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. The company's wearable devices, combined with a mobile app and cloud infrastructure, provide a unique platform for thermal stimulation and digital interventions, allowing users to track and manage their symptoms effectively. With tens of thousands of customers across 170 countries, Embr Labs has recorded over 100 million minutes of thermal interventions. The technology originated from the founders' work as engineering students at MIT and has received significant backing from investors and over $2.5 million in grants from various organizations.

Limbic

Convertible Note in 2019
Limbic is a London-based company that specializes in mental healthcare technology. Founded in 2017, it develops a software development kit (SDK) that leverages machine learning to analyze heart rate data collected from wearable devices like the Apple Watch, allowing for the assessment of users' emotional states. Limbic also offers psychological therapies for adults, focusing on improving mental health through innovative solutions. Its platform supports healthcare professionals by providing tools for stress detection and facilitating clinical assessments, thereby enhancing the efficacy of psychological therapy. By combining AI technology with wearable devices, Limbic aims to address the growing challenges in mental health care and improve patient outcomes.

FIGUR8

Seed Round in 2019
Figur8, Inc. is a Boston-based company that specializes in developing advanced wearable sensors to monitor body movement as a biomarker for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Founded in 2016 as a spin-off from MIT, Figur8 combines smart biosensors, intuitive software, and artificial intelligence to analyze MSK health data. The technology captures three-dimensional skeletal movement and muscle output, allowing for objective assessment of musculoskeletal performance and recovery. This innovative solution provides valuable insights throughout the entire care process, from injury to full recovery, ultimately reducing healthcare costs, improving access to treatment, and empowering patients to manage their own MSK health effectively.

UnaliWear

Seed Round in 2019
UnaliWear Inc., based in Austin, Texas, develops the Kanega watch, a multipurpose wearable designed for seniors to maintain independence and dignity. This discreet device offers features such as fall detection, medication reminders, and assistance for individuals who may wander, all through a voice-activated interface. The Kanega watch is equipped with various technologies, including cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, allowing it to provide emergency support anywhere without the need for a smartphone. Its patented battery system ensures that the watch remains charged without requiring removal. Additionally, the device incorporates data-driven artificial intelligence to learn the user’s lifestyle, enabling it to offer predictive and preemptive assistance tailored to individual needs.

Caura

Seed Round in 2019
Caura Ltd. is a London-based company established in 2018 that specializes in vehicle management solutions. The company offers a platform that enables drivers to efficiently handle various aspects of car ownership, including payments for parking, tolls, congestion charges, MOTs, vehicle tax, and insurance. Additionally, Caura provides a product called Caura Protect, which allows users to purchase and manage motor insurance through a network of insurers. The company also focuses on developing microelectronic devices that monitor health metrics such as lactate and glucose levels, along with heart-rate and accelerometry data. Furthermore, Caura creates application software that connects to these devices to generate reports and analyze the collected data.

Doppel

Seed Round in 2019
Doppel is a company that combines the expertise of designers, engineers, and scientists to explore the relationship between mind and body through psychophysiology. They have developed a wearable device designed to help users maintain alertness and calmness in real-time. This innovative product utilizes silent vibrations on the inside of the wrist, mimicking the sensation of a heartbeat, which allows users to adjust the rhythm based on their mental state. The technology aims to help individuals manage stress and enhance focus, providing a natural way to influence their emotional and cognitive well-being.

IrisVision

Seed Round in 2019
IrisVision is a leader in digital vision technologies, specializing in assistive devices for individuals with low vision. The company has developed a groundbreaking visual assistive device that utilizes wearable virtual reality technology. This innovative headset features a 12-megapixel camera and a 70-degree field of view on an LED display, allowing users to customize their experience according to their specific needs. The device aims to help vision-impaired individuals, including those with macular degeneration, regain clarity in their sight, promote independence, and enhance their quality of life.

Neosensory

Series A in 2019
Neosensory, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing wearable devices aimed at enhancing sensory perception for individuals. Founded in 2015 and based in San Mateo, California, Neosensory offers products such as Buzz, which utilizes vision-to-touch sensory substitution technology to assist blind individuals. The company focuses on transmitting various data streams to the brain through the sense of touch, leveraging the skin's potential for information delivery. Their innovative approach includes building hearing assistive technology that allows users to perceive sound through vibrations on the skin. Neosensory also provides a companion application for its products, enhancing the user experience and accessibility of information.

Neurosity

Seed Round in 2018
Neurosity Inc., founded in 2018 and based in New York, specializes in thought-powered wearable devices that interpret brain activity to enhance productivity and focus. The company's flagship product, the Notion, integrates hardware and software to help users, particularly programmers, improve their concentration and extend their focus time. By utilizing brain wave data, Neurosity's neural devices facilitate a deeper understanding of thoughts, feelings, and movements, allowing users to translate their cognitive states into actionable outputs. This innovative approach empowers individuals to measure their brain activity and engage with personalized applications directly on the device, fostering new experiences driven by their thoughts.

Embr Labs

Series A in 2018
Embr Labs Inc. is a company based in Somerville, Massachusetts, that specializes in developing thermal comfort devices aimed at enhancing human well-being. Founded in 2014 and originally known as Wristify Inc., Embr Labs has created innovative technology that uses temperature to influence the autonomic nervous system, helping users manage conditions such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. The company's wearable devices, combined with a mobile app and cloud infrastructure, provide a unique platform for thermal stimulation and digital interventions, allowing users to track and manage their symptoms effectively. With tens of thousands of customers across 170 countries, Embr Labs has recorded over 100 million minutes of thermal interventions. The technology originated from the founders' work as engineering students at MIT and has received significant backing from investors and over $2.5 million in grants from various organizations.

Epicore Biosystems

Seed Round in 2018
Epicore Biosystems, Inc. is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in developing and commercializing a wearable microfluidic sensing platform. This innovative technology analyzes small droplets of sweat directly from the skin to provide insights into health, hydration, and athletic performance. The platform is designed to measure various biomarkers, including proteomics and inflammatory markers, allowing for personalized management of health and nutrition. Epicore's approach leverages over two decades of research in microfluidics and soft materials conducted by leading experts at Northwestern University. By offering a non-invasive and cost-effective solution, Epicore aims to enhance athletic performance and improve overall health monitoring for users.

Noctrix Health

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Noctrix Health, Inc. is an early-stage medical device company based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2018. The company specializes in developing therapeutic wearable devices aimed at treating chronic neurological and sleep disorders, particularly focusing on restless leg syndrome. Its innovative device utilizes neural circuitry to alleviate symptoms and promote undisturbed sleep, empowering patients to better manage their chronic medical conditions.

Flux Biosciences

Seed Round in 2018
Flux Bioscience is a company that originated from Stanford University, focusing on innovative point-of-care in vitro medical diagnostics. It has developed a portable biosensor platform designed to deliver medical-grade diagnostics directly to patients' homes. Utilizing a technology initially designed for reading and writing computer hard drives, Flux's platform analyzes blood, urine, or saliva samples to measure various biomarkers related to exercise, stress, fertility, and diet. These measurements are correlated with sleep and activity data obtained from wearable technologies. The biosensors are equipped with biochips that can detect multiple biomarkers simultaneously, providing accurate and sensitive real-time results through antibody-antigen interactions with magnetic nanoparticles. This approach empowers individuals to take charge of their healthcare and make informed lifestyle decisions.

Neosensory

Convertible Note in 2018
Neosensory, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing wearable devices aimed at enhancing sensory perception for individuals. Founded in 2015 and based in San Mateo, California, Neosensory offers products such as Buzz, which utilizes vision-to-touch sensory substitution technology to assist blind individuals. The company focuses on transmitting various data streams to the brain through the sense of touch, leveraging the skin's potential for information delivery. Their innovative approach includes building hearing assistive technology that allows users to perceive sound through vibrations on the skin. Neosensory also provides a companion application for its products, enhancing the user experience and accessibility of information.

Mycroft

Seed Round in 2018
Mycroft AI, Inc. is a developer of an open-source voice assistant platform that enables users to interact with their electronic devices through voice commands. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with additional offices in Palo Alto, California, and Lawrence, Kansas, Mycroft's software operates as an adaptable platform that can be customized and integrated into various devices, including refrigerators, computers, speakers, wearables, cars, and televisions. The company emphasizes a privacy-focused approach, utilizing artificial intelligence and natural language processing to enhance user experience while maintaining an open-source and open-hardware framework. This allows for extensive extension and personalization, catering to the diverse needs of users.

Weaver Labs

Seed Round in 2014
Weaver Labs is a technology company focused on transforming messaging for modern lifestyles through its innovative application platform. Designed for smartwatches and mobile devices, Weaver's platform leverages advanced machine learning to create custom, context-aware conversations. It eliminates the need for traditional typing by offering users a series of pre-designed cue cards that can be easily accessed and selected with a simple tap. This approach enables users to communicate effectively and expressively, reflecting their body language, emotions, and context without the inconveniences of keyboards or cameras. By catering to the growing demand for efficient communication in a fast-paced world, Weaver Labs aims to enhance how individuals connect while on the go.

FocusMotion Health

Seed Round in 2013
FocusMotion is a company that specializes in fitness and orthopedic recovery technology. It develops innovative devices, including a smart knee brace and wrist sensors, to enhance the tracking and quantification of physical activity. The company offers TRAINR, a fitness software that automatically quantifies workouts while providing a virtual training environment for users to receive ongoing feedback. FocusMotion's technology integrates with smartwatches and fitness bands, enabling both users and physicians to monitor and analyze movements, exercise levels, and recovery progress through advanced sensor data. This approach aims to support individuals in achieving their fitness goals and assists healthcare professionals in evaluating patient rehabilitation.
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