Embr Labs
Embr Labs is a Boston-based thermal wellness company that builds the Embr Wave 2 wristband, which delivers personalized cooling and warming sensations to relieve hot flashes, sleep disruption, and stress, serving 200,000+ customers (primarily menopausal women) through DTC, subscription, and major US/UK retail channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Embr Labs does
Embr Labs, Inc. is a Boston-based thermal wellness technology company founded in 2013 as an MIT student project and incorporated in Delaware. The company designs and sells the Embr Wave 2, a smart wristband that uses a thermoelectric heat pump to deliver cooling or warming sensations in calibrated thermal waveforms to the temperature-sensitive nerves on the inside of the wrist, producing a whole-body comfort response without changing core body temperature. The device is positioned as the only FDA-cleared non-pharmacological wearable for hot flash relief and is supported by 10+ peer-reviewed clinical studies with institutions including Stanford, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and UC Berkeley.
The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and retail model. Hardware is sold one-time at $239, alongside an Embrship subscription at $20/month that bundles the device, a lifetime warranty, a free comfort case, accessory discounts, and seamless future upgrades. Distribution spans the company's own e-commerce site, Amazon US and UK (launched August 2024), and major US mass retailers including Costco, Walmart, and Target, with HSA/FSA eligibility enabled through a partnership with Flex. Marketing combines earned media (Oprah Daily, Fast Company, WSJ, Wired, Allure, BBC), clinical evidence content, an active social and creator affiliate program on Refersion, and conference presence (CES, Total Store Expo).
Embr Labs has raised approximately $44M across equity, debt, and grant funding, with the largest instrument being a $35M IP-based debt financing led by Ghost Tree Partners and Aon plc in May 2023. The company is MIT-origin, holds 90+ patents across the US, Japan, Europe, and other jurisdictions, and reports more than 200,000 cumulative customers. The leadership team includes CEO Elizabeth Gazda, co-founders Matthew Smith and Sam Shames (COO), Chief Medical Officer Pamela Peeke, and an SVP of Product and Corporate Strategy, supported by newly appointed strategic board members following the 2023 IP and expansion milestones.
Embr Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Embr Labs
- Legal name
- Embr Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://embrlabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Embr Labs is a Boston-based thermal wellness company that builds the Embr Wave 2 wristband, which delivers personalized cooling and warming sensations to relieve hot flashes, sleep disruption, and stress, serving 200,000+ customers (primarily menopausal women) through DTC, subscription, and major US/UK retail channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Embr Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Health Wearables
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Wellness & Stress Management Devices (Biofeedback, Meditation/Neurostimulation Devices) (CRACAQAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sleep Tracking Devices (Wearables & Non-wearables) (CRACAQAD)
Keywords
Where Embr Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Embr Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of Embr Wave 2 device at $239. Includes 1-year limited warranty, free shipping, and 60-day returns.
- Embrship Subscription: Monthly rental subscription at $20/month with lifetime warranty, free comfort case, 30% off accessories, and seamless upgrade options. Cancel anytime with no contracts.
- Accessories: Accessories including comfort bands ($32), vegan leather bands ($38), chargers ($50), travel cases ($45), and comfort cases ($23). Subscription subscribers receive 30% off accessories.
- Bundle Sales: Duo Bundle at $399 (save 33% vs buying two) includes two Embr Wave devices in Rose Gold or Black.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Embr Wave 2 One-Time Purchase |
| Subscription | Monthly | Embrship Subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Duo Bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Embr Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Embr Labs designs, manufactures, and sells the Embr Wave 2 smart cooling and warming wristband, a wearable thermal wellness device that uses thermoelectric heat pump technology to deliver intermittent heating and cooling sensations to the wrist's thermoreceptors. The device is sold through direct e-commerce and major retailers, with companion mobile apps for personalized thermal sessions, targeting hot flash relief, sleep, stress, and thermal comfort for individual consumers.
Product overview
Embr Labs offers a unified thermal wellness platform centered on the Embr Wave 2 smart wristband, a wearable device that delivers cooling and warming sensations through thermoelectric technology. The core product integrates with a companion mobile app (Embr Wave 2 App) available on iOS and Android. The company also offers accessory products including Comfort Bands, Comfort Cases (standard and limited editions), Travel Cases, and replacement chargers. An alternative ownership model is available through the Embrship Subscription ($20/month rental with lifetime warranty). The product portfolio is protected by 90+ patents covering thermal wave delivery and personalized usage tracking capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Embr Wave: Smart Cooling & Warming Wristband - a wearable device that provides personal temperature control through cooling and warming sensations on the wrist.
- Embrship
Products and services
- Embr Wave 2 Smart Cooling & Warming Wristband that provides personalized temperature control at the touch of a button. Uses a thermoelectric heat pump to generate cool or warm sensations by moving heat away from or toward the skin in waves, stimulating temperature-sensitive nerves on the inside of the wrist. Clinically proven relief for hot flashes, sleep, stress, night sweats, and thermal comfort.
- Embrship Subscription Monthly rental subscription ($20/month) for Embr Wave 2 that includes lifetime warranty, free Comfort Case, 30% off accessories, HSA/FSA eligibility, and seamless future upgrades. Cancel anytime with no contracts.
- Duo Bundle Package of two Embr Wave 2 devices at a discounted price (save 33%), allowing users to have a device for different locations or sharing with a partner. Available in Rose Gold or Black.
- Comfort Band Replacement comfort bands for Embr Wave 2, available in Dusty Rose and Black colors, made from vegan leather material.
- Embr Wave Comfort Case Protective case for Embr Wave devices that provides extra thermal comfort and improves performance by up to 10%. Available in Rose and Slate colors.
- Limited Edition Comfort Case Special edition protective cases for Embr Wave available in Soft Orchid, Merlot, and Lagoon colors.
- Limited Edition Comfort Band Special edition comfort bands in unique color combinations for personalization of Embr Wave devices.
- Vegan Leather Band Premium vegan leather replacement band for Embr Wave 2, offering an alternative to the standard band.
- Embr Wave 2 Travel Case Protective travel case for Embr Wave 2 and accessories, designed for convenient portability.
- Embrship Gift Card Gift cards for Embrship subscription available in 3, 6, or 12-month durations for giving the gift of thermal comfort.
- Wave 2 Rose Gold Charger Replacement magnetic charger for Embr Wave 2 in Rose Gold finish with USB connectivity.
- Wave 2 Black Charger Replacement magnetic charger for Embr Wave 2 in Black finish with USB connectivity.
- Embr Wave 2 Mobile App Companion mobile app for iOS and Android that enables 30+ customizable thermal sessions, session scheduling, personalized relief settings, and usage tracking. Device connectivity via Bluetooth.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 28% reduction in daytime and nighttime hot flashes
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Embr Labs
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Embr Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Embr Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and strategic.
- CostcocoreMajor US retail partner distributing Embr Wave through Costco warehouse stores across the United States.
- WalmartcoreMajor US retail partner distributing Embr Wave through Walmart stores and online marketplace.
- TargetcoreMajor US retail partner distributing Embr Wave through Target stores and online.
- Stanford UniversitykeyClinical validation partnership demonstrating Embr Wave 2 significantly improved quality of life in POTS patients. Those reporting moderate-to-severe impact on leisure activities dropped from 45% to 0% over 28 days.
- University of Massachusetts AmherstkeyJoint development of AI-driven hot flash prediction algorithm that can predict hot flashes an average of 17 seconds before onset with 82% detection rate. Also collaborated on hot flash prediction research published in Psychophysiology.
- Dana-Farber Cancer InstitutekeyResearch partnership conducting pilot study on hot flash management for prostate cancer patients. Study published in prestigious Nature journal Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.
- Brigham and Women's HospitalkeyClinical study partnership with Dr. Heather Hirsch on feasibility and effectiveness of personalized thermal interventions for improving quality of life in women with symptomatic hot flashes.
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterkeyRandomized crossover pilot study showing 28% decrease in daily hot flash frequency and 50% reduction in moderate to severe hot flashes for breast cancer patients.
- University of California BerkeleykeyBuilding and Environment research collaboration demonstrating Embr Wave provides 5-9°F corrective power on whole-body thermal comfort in just 3 minutes. Study cited over 50 times.
- Amazon UKcoreDistribution partner for UK market expansion, launching Embr Wave on Amazon UK in August 2024.
- Vichy LaboratoiresstrategicPartnership to bring clinically proven menopause care solutions to women through combined thermal wellness and Vichy skincare products.
- FlexcoreHSA/FSA payment partnership allowing customers to use Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account funds to purchase Embr Wave with pre-tax dollars.
- Johnson & JohnsonkeyResearch collaboration partner with St. Joseph's University on thermal comfort intervention for hot-flash related insomnia symptoms in menopausal women. Published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Embr Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Midi Health: Midi Health is a virtual care clinic for perimenopause and menopause. It competes for the same menopausal-women customer and could either partner with or substitute for Embr Wave's device-based hot flash solution via clinical drug and lifestyle interventions.
- Bon Charge: Bon Charge is a wellness brand that combines red light therapy, infrared saunas, and blue-light glasses. It targets the same biohacking and thermal-wellness consumer as Embr Labs through a different modality (light and heat rather than localized cooling).
- Calm Health: Calm Health extends the Calm brand into clinically positioned sleep and stress interventions. It competes for the same stress and sleep use case as Embr Wave through a software-only, prescription-capable model.
Direct peers
- Apollo Neuro: Apollo makes a wrist/ankle wearable that delivers gentle vibrations to modulate stress and sleep. It is the closest direct competitor to Embr Wave in the 'wearable neurostimulation for stress/sleep' category.
- Whoop: Whoop is a subscription-based wearable for recovery, sleep, and stress. It shares Embr Labs' hardware-plus-subscription GTM, targets similar wellness consumers, and competes for use cases like sleep quality and stress modulation.
- Muse: Muse offers a brain-sensing headband and accompanying app for meditation, focus, and sleep. Like Embr Labs, it positions hardware as a wellness intervention with a companion app and subscription.
- Oura: Oura Ring is a premium wearable focused on sleep, recovery, and women's health metrics. It overlaps directly with Embr Labs on sleep and thermal-wellness use cases and competes for the same health-conscious consumer wallet, particularly for menopausal women.
Others
- ThermaCare: ThermaCare is a mainstream OTC heat-wrap brand owned by Haleon. It is a non-device alternative for thermal therapy that competes for the same consumer relief use case (musculoskeletal pain, cramps) and competes for shelf space in mass retail.
Broad incumbents
- Fitbit (Google): Fitbit, now under Google, is a broad incumbent in health wearables with growing temperature and stress features. It overlaps with Embr Labs on sleep, stress, and women's health use cases but as part of a much larger product portfolio.
- Apple Watch: Apple Watch is the dominant general-purpose health wearable, including temperature-sensing and women's health features. It represents a broad-incumbent threat as Apple expands into domains historically addressed by specialized devices like Embr Wave.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Embr Labs social profiles
Digital presenceEmbr Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Embr Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Embr Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Embr Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Embr Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Embr Labs
What does Embr Labs do?
Embr Labs designs, manufactures, and sells the Embr Wave 2 smart cooling and warming wristband, a wearable thermal wellness device that uses thermoelectric heat pump technology to deliver intermittent heating and cooling sensations to the wrist's thermoreceptors. The device is sold through direct e-commerce and major retailers, with companion mobile apps for personalized thermal sessions, targeting hot flash relief, sleep, stress, and thermal comfort for individual consumers.
Is Embr Labs a public or private company?
Embr Labs is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Embr Labs founded?
Embr Labs was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Embr Labs based?
Embr Labs is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Embr Labs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are embrship Subscription, accessories and bundle Sales.
Who are Embr Labs's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Midi Health, Bon Charge and Calm Health. Direct peers are Apollo Neuro, Whoop, Muse and Oura. ThermaCare is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Fitbit (Google) and Apple Watch.
Does Embr Labs have an API?
Yes. Embr Labs released an open-source Embr Wave Daemon SDK that expands the Embr Wave 2 into a programmable thermal research platform for the global scientific community. The SDK provides complete programmatic control of the device, enabling researchers to deliver precisely timed thermal stimuli within controlled environments. Features include Python and Rust libraries for easy startup, targeted heating and cooling modes with customizable duration and intensity selection, and async-ready operations for simultaneous control of multiple devices. The SDK is open-source and contributions are welcome. Developer documentation is at github.com/embrlabs/embr-wave-daemon-sdk.
What industry is Embr Labs in?
Embr Labs's product category is Consumer Health Wearables. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAQAL, Mental Wellness & Stress Management Devices (Biofeedback, Meditation/Neurostimulation Devices), with a secondary code of CRACAQAD, Sleep Tracking Devices (Wearables & Non-wearables). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3845.