Sleep-focussed wearables startup DUSQ, formerly known as InnerGize, has raised ₹24 Cr (around $2.6 Mn) in a seed funding round led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from Antler India, Climber Capital, Startup Sherpas, Vaishav Investments, CaratLane cofounder Avnish Anand and Cipla Health CEO Shivam Puri. The Delhi NCR-based startup is building proprietary technology for wearables that focus on sleep regulation rather than monitoring. DUSQ plans to use the funds to scale its “sleep regulation platform” by expanding its neuroscience and hardware teams, develop IPs, strengthen its in-house “sleep laboratory” while preparing to launch in the US market. The startup initially launched as InnerGize with a focus on addressing mental health challenges through managing stress. It raised ₹6.5 Cr in its pre-seed round in April last year. InnerGize offered stick-on wearables for instant stress removal through vagus nerve stimulation, which is a major communication pathway between the brain and other organs, controlling functions ranging from digestion to heart rate and mood. However, it decided to step back after the fundraise to focus on research and development, realising along the way that sleep was the primary cause for the stress it was trying to solve. This led to a rebranding and pivot… Read MoreInc42 Media
