37° Smart Health Band Files for IPO: A Wearable Focused on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Holistic Wellness Beyond Sleep and Step Tracking

When 37°C is mentioned, people’s first association is often body temperature. Traditional belief holds that 37°C represents the most normal human body temperature; thus, the term “37 degrees” has come to symbolize a physiological parameter and readily evokes notions of health. The “37 Degrees” we refer to today is a health-focused wearable bracelet dedicated to measuring human physiological parameters.

Wang Shuai, founder and CEO of the 37°C smart band, told VCBeat that beyond its reference to normal body temperature, the product name “37°C” carries two additional layers of meaning. On one hand, Arabic numerals are universally recognized worldwide, ensuring that virtually everyone can identify the name. Additionally, “a significant portion of human civilization has emerged along the 37th parallel north, and we harbor a modest hope that this auspicious number will bring us good fortune.”

Unlike standard pedometer bands on the market, which offer basic features such as step counting and sleep monitoring, the 37°C Band places greater emphasis on measuring physiological parameters. Equipped with customized optical sensor components, the 37°C Band can detect blood pressure and monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, emotional state, and fatigue index.

The core is visible light measurement technology.

The 37-Degree Bracelet employs visible light measurement technology, ensuring that users experience no sensation throughout the entire measurement process.

In 2010, Dr. Ming-Cheng Fu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proposed a model that uses optical information to measure blood flow velocity and thereby derive heart rate. Different components in blood absorb light at different wavelengths to varying degrees; by monitoring the absorption levels of light at these different wavelengths, blood flow velocity can be determined. Moreover, since blood is relatively dynamic within the human body, changes in light absorption primarily reflect changes in blood flow. This technology constitutes the core technical foundation.

Due to the relatively complex principles underlying product measurement, the 37-Degree Bracelet adopts a dual-MCU architecture to ensure measurement accuracy.

(MCU: Microcontroller Unit, also known as a single-chip microcomputer or microcontroller, is a chip-level computer formed by appropriately reducing the frequency and specifications of the central processing unit and integrating peripheral interfaces such as memory, counters, USB, A/D conversion, UART, PLC, and DMA, and even LCD driver circuits, onto a single chip to provide customized control for different application scenarios. MCUs are widely used in applications ranging from mobile phones, PC peripherals, and remote controls to automotive electronics and industrial control of stepper motors and robotic arms.)

Founder Wang Shuai stated, “Although there is a certain margin of error compared to professional medical measurement devices, the 37 Degrees smartband offers greater accuracy than electronic blood pressure monitors. In addition, the 37 Degrees smartband supports 24/7 continuous monitoring, automatically measuring blood pressure and other metrics at fixed times each day and synchronizing the data to the app.” The 37 Degrees smartband also allows for on-demand measurements; by selecting all five indicators—blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, emotional state, and fatigue index—results are generated in approximately two minutes. The device typically has a standby time of 5–7 days.

After 18 months of development, the 37°C smart band underwent reliability testing, during which two generations of prototypes, three sets of molds, and over 1,000 sample units were scrapped.

Currently, the measurement principles of the 37-degree smart bracelet still have certain limitations. For instance, in individuals with arteriosclerosis, blood flow velocity does not fully reflect key physiological parameters such as blood pressure and heart rate. Additionally, among Black individuals or those with very dark skin, variations in light absorption by the skin can also affect the device's performance.

Currently, the 37°C Smart Band is available in two versions: the Deluxe Edition and the Standard Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes many more accessories than the Standard Edition. The RMB 99 Standard Edition lacks numerous accessories and does not include a USB cable. “Many users already have plenty of data cables at home. We use the Micro-USB interface, which is commonly found on most mobile phones. However, for loyal Apple users who may not have Micro-USB cables at home, the RMB 199 Deluxe Edition includes a short cable as a provision,” introduced Wang Shuai.

Recently, the 37°C Band has introduced a new "Family & Friends" feature. With parents wearing the band, their children can monitor their mood, fatigue levels, and blood pressure fluctuations in real time via smartphone. This enables timely intervention when issues are detected, while the recorded data provides further health recommendations for the elderly.

Targeting Only the Healthy Population Market

As the Chinese public’s understanding of health continues to improve, there is a growing desire for physical well-being, leading to a surge in demand for health-related products.

“During our investigations, we found that many entrepreneurs are keen on chronic disease management. However, since chronic diseases are largely irreversible, we prefer to provide support to those who have not yet developed such conditions,” Wang Shuai told VCBeat. “Chronic diseases are largely determined by postnatal lifestyle habits. Given the significant social pressures today, young professionals striving in first- and second-tier cities must allocate resources toward their health. They recognize the importance of health but struggle to act on it, primarily because the cost of accessing current health guidance is prohibitively high.”

Currently, general health advice emphasizes going to bed early and waking up early, as well as consuming meals low in oil and salt. However, these recommendations are often unattainable for young people who cannot cook at home and frequently work overtime. Moreover, the ways in which young people relieve stress today are largely unhealthy. Friends often gather in small groups for all-night karaoke sessions, or indulge in late-night snacks and alcohol, all of which are detrimental to health.

The Human Body Possesses a Remarkable Self-Healing Capacity. Self-healing capacity is an innate, genetically acquired ability that enables organisms to maintain life and health by relying on their internal vitality to repair physical impairments and overcome disease and suboptimal health states. Modern individuals commonly live and work in high-stress environments, experiencing mental anxiety and physical fatigue, adhering to unreasonable dietary structures, and being continuously exposed to noise, radiation, air pollution, and food contamination. Coupled with factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and improper medication use, people frequently remain in a state of suboptimal health, leading to an increasingly higher probability of illness and a steady rise in the number of cases of malignant diseases. Strengthening and enhancing self-healing capacity represents one approach to preventing organic pathological changes.

Wang Shuai told VCBeat, “Before organ pathology develops in the human body, rhythmic disruptions occur, but these disturbances are imperceptible to us. We need a device to alert users to their physiological limits. We recognize that maintaining early bedtimes and wake-up times every day is unrealistic for most people; however, the device can at least remind you to take a rest day after three consecutive nights of staying up late. We aim to provide baseline health management, and the 37°C Smart Band offers such alerts.”

Expanding into the North American Market in Q4 This Year

“We have found that the market demand for health bands mainly falls into two camps: one is the Asian camp centered on China, Japan, and South Korea, and the other is the English-speaking market centered on North America. These represent two types of consumer groups,” said Wang Shuai.

Currently, the domestic market has been opened. Since its launch on JD.com on April 27 and the official start of sales on May 1, the 37°C Band has sold over 100,000 units within three months. The next goal for the 37°C Band is to enter the North American market, setting a sales benchmark for English-speaking markets.

Wang Shuai stated that the FDA’s adjustment earlier this year to the certification scope for innovative wearable devices has facilitated the entry of the 37°C smart band into the North American market. The FDA indicated that products not involved in diagnosis, nor in alleviating disease or suffering, are exempt from FDA certification. The 37°C smart band is scheduled to officially launch in North America in the fourth quarter of this year.

Wang Shuai, the founder and CEO, is a native of Beijing. He graduated from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. He previously worked on mobile phone design at Changhong and contributed to the mobile division of Dianxin OS, an original project under Sinovation Ventures. In 2012, he launched a startup in Shanghai focused on the research and development of wearable products, relocating his entire family to Shanghai for this venture.

The team currently consists of 21 members. Wang Shuai told VCBeat, “We do not encourage overtime work. Standard working hours have been proven to yield the highest productivity. Our work is intellect-intensive, and excessive workloads can compromise quality. Furthermore, we advocate for healthy working hours: starting at 8:30 a.m. and finishing shortly after 6:00 p.m. is sufficient. Work should contribute to family well-being; we do not want our jobs to undermine family happiness.”

Zhang Shunyao, co-founder of the 37-Degree Band, stated that employee well-being is crucial: “Only when you feel a sense of well-being can you create products that bring users a profound sense of happiness.”

Currently, the 37 Degrees smart bracelet is undergoing Pre-B round financing.

Editor: Bu Yan

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