What Helight does

Helight is a private, family-owned wellness technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells red light therapy (photobiomodulation) hardware devices targeted primarily at consumers seeking non-pharmacological sleep improvement, with adjacent positioning for athletes, shift workers, frequent travelers, and children. The company's flagship consumer product is the Helight Sleep device, supported by a line that includes Helight Kidzzz for children, Helight Nightlight as a lower-priced entry SKU, and Helight Care for broader photobiomodulation applications. Pricing spans $25 (Nightlight 2-pack) to $139 (Sleep and Kidzzz). The company operates dual headquarters in New York (1740 Broadway, Floor 15) and Montreal (445 av. du Président-Kennedy), with a legal entity (Helight USA inc.) supporting US distribution.

The underlying technology is a patented 28-minute protocol that emits precisely calibrated 630nm red light through closed eyelids, intended to reach photosensitive retinal cells and stimulate melatonin production to realign circadian rhythms. The protocol comprises 14 minutes at full intensity followed by a 14-minute fade, and is delivered through wearable hardware rather than an app or subscription. The mechanism is anchored in research cited from NASA studies on circadian rhythm disruption in spaceflight, and is protected by granted patents in seven jurisdictions (US, EP, JP, CN, FR, ES, and WIPO). The company has accumulated six years of operational history and reports a cumulative user base of approximately 200,000 across more than 40 countries, with over 50,000 devices sold in Quebec alone within the first two years of consumer availability and 300+ five-star reviews on record.

The business model is a one-time hardware purchase model with no recurring subscription, monetized through both direct-to-consumer e-commerce and a wholesale/distributor channel. The company is bootstrapped with no institutional investors disclosed, has historically operated without external capital, and has been led since 2020 by CEO Denise De Baun, whose prior tenure at Calvin Klein signals a consumer-brand orientation. Sports-franchise endorsements (NBA, Formula 1, French Football Federation) function primarily as brand validation rather than disclosed bulk enterprise contracts. Several products are currently listed as 'sold out', which introduces ambiguity between inventory-constrained demand and supply normalization.

Name

Helight

Legal name

Helight USA inc.

Website

https://helight.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Helight is a private, bootstrapped wellness hardware company that sells patented 630nm red light therapy devices for sleep improvement, serving approximately 200,000 consumers across 40+ countries via direct e-commerce and wholesale distribution, with products priced from $25 to $139.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sleep Wellness Devices

NAICS

Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Sleep Technology & Smart Sleep Devices Retail (Sleep Trackers, Smart Mattresses) (CRAIABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

LED Light Therapy Treatments (HSALADAJ)

Keywords

• Red light therapy
• Sleep aid devices
• Photobiomodulation products
• Circadian rhythm technology
• Wellness hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of red light therapy devices (Helight Sleep, Helight Kidzzz, Helight Nightlight). No subscription or ongoing costs. Devices are USB-C rechargeable with approximately 28 cycles per charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Helight designs, manufactures, and sells red light therapy devices aimed at improving sleep quality. Its flagship product uses a patented 28-minute protocol emitting precisely calibrated 630nm wavelength light that mimics sunset to stimulate natural melatonin production and circadian rhythm alignment. The company offers consumer variants for adults and children plus a companion nightlight.

Product overview

Helight is a red light therapy device company offering three products: Helight Sleep (the flagship patented red light sleep aid at $139.00 USD), Helight Kidzzz (a child-safe version at $139.00 USD), and Helight Nightlight (a circadian-safe nightlight at $25.00 USD for a 2-pack). All products use the same 630nm red light technology with varying intensities and protocols. Helight Sleep and Kidzzz feature a patented 28-minute protocol designed to help users fall asleep faster and sleep deeper, while the Nightlight provides low-intensity illumination without disrupting melatonin production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Helight Sleep: The primary patented red light sleep therapy device, emitting 630nm wavelength for 28 minutes to help users fall asleep faster and sleep deeper.
• Helight Kidzzz
• Helight Nightlight

Products and services

• Helight Sleep The flagship patented red light sleep therapy device that emits a 630nm wavelength light for a 28-minute protocol (14 minutes at optimal intensity then gradual fade) to help users fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake more refreshed. Compact, USB-C rechargeable with approximately 28 cycles per charge. Priced at $139.00 USD with a 60-day money-back guarantee and 2-year warranty.
• Helight Kidzzz A child-safe version of the patented red light sleep therapy device, retaining the same NASA-inspired 630nm technology in a lighter, paint-free enclosure with an eye-catching playful design. Micro-USB rechargeable. Priced at $139.00 USD.
• Helight Nightlight A wellness nightlight that emits a soft red glow at 630nm to protect sleep while providing comfort. Automatically turns on in darkness and stays on all night without disturbing melatonin production or circadian rhythm. Pack of 2 nightlights, UL certified, 0.2W low power consumption. Priced at $25.00 USD.

Quantifiable outcome

• Better sleep quality reported in approximately 21 nights of consistent use
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Dreem: Sleep headband and digital therapeutic company targeting insomnia and sleep tracking. Comparable in the sleep-tech hardware market, though technology approach (EEG/behavioral) differs from Helight's photobiomodulation.
• Oura: Smart ring focused on sleep, recovery, and readiness tracking sold DTC and via subscription. Adjacent peer in the consumer sleep-tech category — competes for share-of-wallet on sleep optimization rather than direct red light therapy.

Direct peers

• Hatch: Consumer sleep and routine devices (Restore sunrise alarm clocks, sound machines) sold DTC primarily to parents and adults. Comparable on sleep-focused consumer hardware, omni-channel retail presence, and family/children sleep use cases.
• Joovv: Direct-to-consumer red light therapy panel company offering full-body PBM devices for home use. Closest direct competitor in consumer red-light hardware, with overlapping target customers seeking drug-free wellness outcomes.
• Mito Red Light: Consumer and clinical red light therapy device maker selling panels and targeted units through DTC. Comparable on core technology (PBM/red light) and channel mix, although broader wellness/performance use cases versus Helight's sleep specialization.
• Eight Sleep: Premium sleep technology brand (Pod mattress cover) using temperature and tracking to optimize sleep. Comparable as a high-end DTC sleep hardware brand targeting performance-minded consumers and elite athletes, like Helight.
• PlatinumLED Therapy Lights: Manufactures red and near-infrared light therapy panels and handheld devices sold direct and through practitioners. Direct peer on PBM technology and DTC distribution for at-home wellness use.
• Rouge Care: Red light therapy device company offering portable and clinical-grade PBM units via DTC and clinician channels. Comparable in product form factor and consumer-red-light positioning to Helight.

Broad incumbents

• Casper: Major DTC sleep brand (mattresses, bedding) now expanded into broader sleep wellness products. Comparable as a consumer sleep brand with multi-category ambitions and retail/wholesale distribution, providing indirect competition for share-of-sleep-solution wallet.
• Therabody: Established recovery and wellness device maker (Theragun, TheraFace) with broad athlete/professional sports endorsement footprint. Comparable as a wellness hardware brand leaning on sports-league credibility and premium DTC positioning, though portfolio is much wider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/helight
• Facebookfacebook.com/helight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helight

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helight