Wellknowlogy: 8/30/22

Wellknowlogy is a curious, honest, and caring source of weekly news & thoughts on innovations in the wellness industry; an efficient way for providers, technologists, investors, and enthusiasts to stay in sync and informed about endeavors to increase wellbeing. For filtered information concerning your particular venture, reach out to [email protected]

This week saw some interesting empirical reviews of therapeutic methods, big funding for mental health diagnostics, a couple innovations proving helpful for older people, and much more.

Empirical studies proving the effectiveness of digital therapeutics are always significant as empirical data is the language spoken by mainstream health providers. Given the non-invasive nature of these solutions, data showing efficacy rates put these solutions on par with those that are more tried (CBT, pharmaceuticals) but not necessarily more effective.

On the other end of the spectrum, a study showing psilocybin's effectiveness against alcoholism has a few implications. While curbing alcoholism is an obvious plus, another interesting piece here is the tangential impact of validating the efficacy of generic psilocybin. If the naturally-occuring, inexpensive substance is therapeutically effective, that would leave most of the value creation in the industry up to therapeutic methods and providers. With patents in the psychedelic industry already under tight scrutiny, further validation of generic substances as therapeutic solutions only adds fuel to the fire.

With that out of the way, here's what happened last week:

Fundings

• Happy Health launches a wearable designed for your mind, raises $60M Series A

• Wellness platform Growfitter raises $500K in extended pre-Series A

• Cycle-focused femtech startup, 28, grabs backing from Thiel Capital

• Alma raises $130M for mental health practice software

• Seattle mental health startup Alongside raises $5.5M, aims to test app with schools

• Rep. Patrick Kennedy mental health startup PsychHub raises $16M

• New York receives $4M to increase mental health workforce

• ProSomnus® Sleep Technologies announces agreements for $30 million of convertible notes

• Happyly, a community engagement app, raises seed round from VIPC

• Ventrk, a fitness startup led by former Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, lands $1M

Neat Articles

• Employee health and wellbeing is top of mind for the majority of employers when it comes to benefits priorities going into 2023

• Research shows tiredness can decrease generosity

• The White House increases public access to America's research

• Psychedelic drug therapy shown to be effective against alcoholism

• Redefining health as harmony between physical, mental, and spiritual wellness

• Study finds non-invasive electrical brain stimulation enhances memory in older adults

• A fascinating interview on the future of genomics and aging

Market News

• Kanopee sleep health app cuts insomnia severity scores

• Fitbit’s Sense and Versa smartwatches get upgrades

• Truecoach personal training software named official coaching app of USA Weightliftiing

• New gene therapy shows promise for treating age related macular degeneration

• New York receives $4M to increase mental health workforce

• QUALO Behavioral Health software identifies unreported mental health issues in teens

• Top fitness app Sweat Economy launching Web3 token on DAO Maker

• Calo Metaverse unveils burn-to-earn app Calo indoor as its second project

• Australian startup Mindset Health launches hypnosis-based DTX app for smoking cessation

Tidbits for You and Yours

• Eufy introduces new smart sock series to help parents monitor babies' sleep and care needs

• The plants recommended for your indoor space by NASA's clean air study

• Some data showing why sauna is supreme

Closing Kernel of Wisdom

"There are two young fish swimming along. They happen to meet an older fish going the other way. The older fish says 'Morning boys, how's the water?' The young fish swim along and eventually one of them asks 'What the hell is water?'"

David Foster Wallace's This is Water is the ultimate commencement speech; a sobering and evergreen reminder that the most obvious, important realities are often the hardest to see and talk about. If you regret listening to it, I'll send you $5. Check it out on Spotify or YouTube

You got to the end! Nice. Feel free to forward this to anyone that may appreciate it. I'll give them a button below to put them on the list:

Wishing you a great week to come!

Warmly,

Dayton