Orion Sleep's $18M AI Launch Aims to Redefine Personal Health
Backed by $18M in seed funding, 25-year-old founder Harry Gestetner is launching an AI-powered smart mattress cover to transform longevity through sleep.
Orion Sleep's $18M AI Launch Aims to Redefine Personal Health
LOS ANGELES, CA – December 11, 2025 – The burgeoning sleep technology market has a new, well-funded contender. Orion Sleep has officially entered the scene, announcing the launch of its next-generation AI-powered Smart Cover alongside the closing of a formidable $18 million seed funding round. The move signals a significant strategic push into the high-stakes world of personalized health and longevity, led by a founder already seasoned by a major tech exit.
The company, founded by 25-year-old Harry Gestetner, is betting that the key to a longer, healthier life lies not just in what we do when we're awake, but in actively optimizing our physiology while we sleep. Its flagship product, a smart cover designed to fit over any standard mattress, employs biometric sensors and adaptive temperature control to create a personalized microclimate for each sleeper. This ambitious launch positions Orion to challenge established players in a market increasingly focused on data-driven wellness.
A New Contender in a Crowded Field
Orion's Smart Cover is entering a competitive landscape where companies like Eight Sleep and ChiliSleep have already pioneered temperature-regulating sleep systems. However, Orion aims to differentiate itself with what it describes as a more accessible and deeply personalized approach. The cover tracks key biometrics such as heart rate and breath rate, feeding this data into an AI engine that learns a user's unique thermal profile. It then dynamically adjusts the surface temperature—cooling or warming as needed—to help maintain the deep and REM sleep stages critical for physical and cognitive recovery.
A key feature is its dual-zone control, allowing partners to set and maintain their own ideal sleep temperatures independently. This directly addresses a common point of friction for couples and underscores the product's focus on individual optimization. The system's wider temperature range, lower EMF emissions, and compact design are also highlighted as key advantages. The market for such devices is expanding rapidly as consumers, armed with data from wearables like the Oura Ring and Fitbit, become more attuned to sleep's profound impact on overall health. Orion is capitalizing on this trend, shifting the narrative from passive comfort to active, AI-driven physiological management.
Capital, Credibility, and a Clear Strategy
An $18 million seed round provides more than just financial runway; it serves as a powerful vote of confidence from the investment community. Orion's backing comes from a notable list of investors, including Mucker Capital, known for its early investment in companies like Honey (acquired by PayPal), and Browder Capital, the venture firm led by DoNotPay founder Joshua Browder. The involvement of such seasoned firms suggests they see significant disruptive potential in Orion's technology and business model.
To bolster its scientific credentials, the company has brought on Dr. Michael Breus, a renowned clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist, as its Chief Sleep Officer. Dr. Breus, widely known as "The Sleep Doctor," brings a level of authority and public trust that is invaluable in the wellness space. His endorsement lends scientific weight to the product's claims. "Sleep follows the core body temperature cycle and body temperature is the #1 controllable component of sleep quality," said Dr. Breus in the announcement. "Orion's smart sleep system helps to balance your body temperature which should help reduce wakeups, extend deep sleep and REM and increase overall sleep quality." This strategic fusion of venture capital and scientific expertise forms the core of Orion's market-entry strategy.
The Second Act of a Young Entrepreneur
At the helm of this ambitious venture is Harry Gestetner, an entrepreneur who, at just 25, is already embarking on his second major act. His previous company, Fanfix, a monetization platform for Gen Z creators, was acquired by SuperOrdinary in 2022 for a sum reportedly in the range of $65 million. Gestetner's pivot from the creator economy to the longevity and health-tech sector reflects a broader trend of tech talent and capital flowing into industries focused on human wellness.
This background provides not only experience in building and scaling a tech company but also a compelling narrative that resonates with investors and the public. It frames Orion not as a legacy bedding company dabbling in tech, but as a technology-first innovator tackling a fundamental human need. "Sleep is the cornerstone of longevity, when you improve sleep, you improve every other part of your health," stated Gestetner. "Our mission is to transform longevity through better sleep." This mission-driven approach aims to elevate the product beyond a simple gadget to an essential tool for long-term health maintenance, with a vision to "make six hours of sleep feel like ten."
The Price of Optimized Sleep
Orion is marketing its Smart Cover as an "accessible" upgrade, but with a starting price of $2,295 for a queen-size system, it squarely targets the premium end of the consumer market. This raises the question of what "accessible" truly means in the high-tech wellness category. While less expensive than purchasing a complete smart mattress from a competitor, the price point still represents a significant investment for the average consumer.
The company appears to be defining accessibility not just by sticker price, but by removing other barriers to entry. The cover's ability to upgrade any existing mattress is a key part of this strategy, as is the offering of flexible financing options. Furthermore, Orion has introduced an at-home Sleep Optimization Test, which analyzes a user's natural temperature patterns so the device arrives pre-programmed, aiming for a more intuitive and effective out-of-the-box experience. Looking ahead, the company has indicated plans to develop more affordable products and introduce a recurring subscription model for ongoing biometric analysis. This suggests a long-term strategy to build a tiered ecosystem of products and services, potentially broadening its customer base over time while creating a sustainable revenue stream. As it stands, Orion's initial launch represents a calculated move to establish a premium brand foundation from which it can expand and potentially disrupt the broader sleep and wellness industries.
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