Kang'anbao Launches Integrated Sleep Wellness and Monitoring Platform on World Sleep Day, Files for IPO

According to the "2021 White Paper on Exercise and Sleep" released by the Chinese Sleep Research Society, more than 300 million people in China currently suffer from sleep disorders. Furthermore, the newly released "2022 White Paper on Healthy Sleep among Chinese Citizens" points out that nearly three-quarters of the respondents (with a total of 9,082 valid questionnaires) have experienced sleep disturbances.

The current situation is that, on the one hand, patients with sleep disorders have substantial unmet needs and aspire to achieve restful sleep; on the other hand, the supply of relevant medical services for these patients remains significantly insufficient.

In the management of patients with sleep disorders, monitoring sleep data is of paramount importance. Beyond the data obtained from in-hospital medical-grade monitoring devices, numerous hardware manufacturers with strong technical capabilities have undoubtedly identified a significant growth opportunity: the demand for long-term, continuous out-of-hospital data monitoring. Among the companies recognizing this opportunity is “Kang An Bao.”

On March 21, World Sleep Day, Kang Anbao launched its own solution—the Kang Anbao Sleep Platform.

What makes this solution unique? And what stories lie behind it? We sat down for a conversation with Shi Guowei, CEO of Kang An Bao.

The Kang Anbao Sleep Platform currently consists primarily of the “Guyuan Sleep Mattress,” “Sleep Nurses,” and the “Sleep Mini Program.”

Gu Yang Sleep Aid Mattress, according to Shi Guowei, it is the result of three years of meticulous development by a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It uses seeds such as cassia seed, plantain seed, leek seed, broomcorn millet, and hemp seed as fillers. Following traditional TCM theory, it leverages the functions of these grains to elevate clear qi and descend turbid qi, balance yin and yang, strengthen the body’s foundation and calm the mind, as well as dispel dampness and alleviate dryness. Integrating natural homeopathy with functional physiotherapy, it offers a convenient, comfortable, and natural approach to improving and maintaining users’ physical balance and health in today’s fast-paced, high-stress modern society, thereby promoting better sleep and overall wellness.

Sleep Nurse, is a hardware product for sleep monitoring. According to the introduction, the monitoring algorithm is provided by a team from Tsinghua University. Initially designed for monitoring vital signs during sleep in the elderly, Kang Anbao has received positive reviews. Users simply place it under the mattress (paired with the Guyu Anshui Mattress), where pressure-sensing technology enables monitoring of sleep patterns and vital signs such as heart rate and respiration. Compared with other wearable hardware products, the “Sleep Nurse” causes less disruption and impact on users’ daily lives, achieving unobtrusive monitoring.

"Anshui Mini Program"Requires binding with the “Anshui Nurse” device. It provides users with real-time data on heart rate, respiration, deep sleep duration, and light sleep duration. It also offers various data analytics, including sleep monitoring reports and trends in sleep indices. This sleep monitoring information can be shared with family members, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Why develop such a solution? How does it differ from the popular sleep monitoring products currently on the market?

Shi Guowei, who has diverse professional experience in chip design, fintech, information security, and shared systems, and who was formerly a university professor before becoming a serial entrepreneur, explained to usThe Story Behind。

In 2016, he founded Hangzhou Xingaxing Network Technology Co., Ltd. (known as “Kang’anbao”), which initially focused on the research and development of smart locks for bike-sharing systems. As major bike-sharing companies accelerated industry consolidation, the company’s business growth encountered obstacles. Subsequently, they pivoted to the broader health sector, leveraging their IT strengths to develop several solutions, including a wheelchair sharing system (deployed in over 1,300 hospitals such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital), an IoT-based Helicobacter pylori monitoring system (implemented in more than 3,500 hospitals), and an IoT-based visual training system.

Choosing to enter the sleep management sector today was driven both by market demand and by Shi Guowei’s personal experience. As an entrepreneur, he himself once struggled with insomnia. To help more people suffering from sleeplessness, he decided to develop new products. By 2020, Kang Anbao’s “Sleep Nurse” device and “Sleep Mini Program” were nearly complete. At that point, he connected with a practitioner long engaged in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wellness, who had begun developing the “Gu Yang Sleep Mat” three years earlier. Sharing a common vision, the two parties decided to integrate their products to provide users with comprehensive, one-stop health, sleep, and monitoring services.

Compared with other sleep management hardware providers, Shi Guowei mentioned thatAdvantages of Kang An Baoin the following aspects:

First, Kang Anbao boasts an R&D team with extensive experience in IT technology: CEO Shi Guowei graduated from Xi’an Jiaotong University and Zhejiang University, while CTO Hua Qing graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University. Second, unlike hardware manufacturers focused solely on sleep monitoring, Kang Anbao’s solution encompasses a comprehensive health care and sleep monitoring system, with plans to offer more holistic and integrated solutions in the future. Third, as a practitioner and beneficiary of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) culture, the founder has established extensive connections within the TCM clinic network, providing favorable conditions for Kang Anbao to rapidly expand its market presence and further deliver professional sleep-aid services.

Following the release of the product solution, Shi Guowei stated that they are also planning their next steps.

He believes that the primary challenge at present is how to enable users to recognize and accept the product. According to reports, during the preliminary testing phase of the Guyou Anshui Mattress last year, more than 300 units were sold. Among these, nearly 70% of users stated that the product helped improve their sleep quality. However, brand awareness of Kang’anbao products remains low among the broader consumer base.

To accelerate the adoption of C-end users,Kang An Bao Plans to Promote Products Simultaneously Online and Offline— Offline, Kang Anbao collaborates with traditional Chinese medicine clinics, sleep centers, and other institutions to reach target populations with precise needs, thereby promoting product adoption; online, Kang Anbao plans to drive user traffic and generate sales through Weidian stores and multiple short-video platforms.

In fact, sleep disorders are often multifactorial; therefore, it is essential to provide comprehensive analysis and personalized treatment for patients with sleep disorders. The Kang Anbao platform is designed to share data with healthcare institutions upon user authorization, thereby delivering comprehensive services aimed at improving sleep quality.

Currently, the products offered by Kang An Bao are limited to those outlined in the Phase I plan.In the next phase, they plan to introduce other sleep-aid products, such as sleep-promoting aromatherapy, sleep-enhancing music products, and comprehensive sleep-assistance service packages, helping users create a comfortable sleeping environment through multiple dimensions.

Kang An Bao plans to complete the sales of 30,000 units this year and aims to achieve its sales targets with a fivefold annual growth rate in the coming years. To realize this goal, it is necessary to supplement working capital, strengthen team building, and expand the marketing network.Based on this, Kang Anbao is currently undertaking a financing round of RMB 5 million to 10 million.