NightBalance Secures $13.9M in Series B Funding to Advance Sleep Position Trainer for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

NightBalance, headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands, develops products primarily designed to help users prevent sleep apnea. The company recently announced the completion of its Series B financing round, raising a total of $13.9 million. The round was led by INKEF Capital and Gilde Healthcare Partners. The Dutch company stated that it will use the funds to further promote its Sleep Position Trainer (SPT) and enter the U.S. market.

In addition to securing financing, NightBalance’s board of directors has added four new members, including John Lipman, who will be responsible for promoting the company’s products in the United States. The company also plans to conduct more in-depth clinical studies in the U.S. and is preparing to submit an FDA 510(k) premarket notification for its SPT device.

Supine Sleeping Is the Primary Cause

Sleep Apnea, fully known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, refers to a condition in which a patient’s breathing is disrupted and temporarily stops during sleep. Causes of this disorder may include excessive fatigue or an inability to concentrate, which can increase the risk of heart disease. Sleep apnea is commonly observed when people sleep in the supine position, as the tongue relaxes and easily slides backward due to gravity, thereby obstructing the airway. More than half of sleep apnea cases are attributed to improper sleeping posture; the likelihood of developing this condition while sleeping on one’s back is twice that of other sleeping positions.

“Studies have shown that side sleeping can significantly reduce the risk of sleep apnea. Researchers have also identified several methods to avoid supine sleeping, but most of them rely on delivering tactile stimuli to the user’s back to prompt a change in sleep position. This approach is not only uncomfortable but also disrupts sleep, leading to poor long-term adherence among patients,” said Eline Vrijlan-van Beest, Founder and CEO of NightBalance.

The SPT device is compact and lightweight, allowing it to be easily worn on the chest. It dynamically monitors sleep posture at night and gently vibrates to remind patients to change their habit of prolonged supine sleeping. Once the SPT is activated, patients can rest assured and fall asleep in any position. The SPT can be adjusted to a personalized vibration mode tailored to each patient, preventing sleep apnea caused by improper sleeping positions.

There are 25 million potential users in Europe and the United States.

“Approximately 25 million people in Europe and the United States are at risk of sleep apnea, yet 80% of them remain undiagnosed or lack adequate follow-up treatment. Our mission is to help these individuals and transform their lives. This financing round will enable us to make significant strides in both product development and market expansion, securing a foothold in the multi-billion-dollar European market. John Lipman joined us from Apnicure, and under his leadership, we will rapidly establish the foundational framework necessary for entering the U.S. market,” said Eline Vrijlan-van Beest.

Currently, the SPT lacks Bluetooth connectivity or wireless data transmission capabilities. To view SPT data, such as the number of times a patient has changed sleeping positions in response to SPT prompts, the patient must connect the device to a computer via USB and use the dedicated matching software for data retrieval.