Apollo Neuro Wearable

Key numbers

The product

Apollo Neuro is a small, screen-free wearable that clips to the wrist, ankle or clothing and delivers silent, soothing vibrations rather than measuring data. Its patented Apollo Vibes use different vibration frequencies to shift the wearer out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer rest-and-digest state. Users pick from eight modes - energy, social, focus, recovery, calm, unwind, sleep and nap - through a paired app, or let SmartVibes AI adjust automatically. It targets stressed professionals, athletes, parents and anyone seeking drug-free help with sleep, focus and recovery. Unlike Oura or Whoop, which quantify the body, Apollo's differentiator is actively intervening through the sense of touch.

How they did it

Apollo Neuro began in 2014 when psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Dave Rabin, studying depression, anxiety and PTSD, developed a patented vibration technology at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. He co-founded the company with Kathryn Fantauzzi, who had helped commercialize university research, and the first wearable prototype debuted in 2017. The original Apollo 1.0 launched publicly in 2020 at $349, sold directly to consumers in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. In March 2022 the company raised a $15M Series A led by the Noetic Fund at a valuation above $100M. Its technology has been studied in more than 1,700 research subjects across eight completed clinical trials, with 14 more underway. In late 2024 Apollo 2.0 raised $1,179,308 from 2,804 Kickstarter backers. The brand also syncs with Oura Ring and Apple Health, and reports that 10,000+ users gained up to 60 extra minutes of sleep per night. Apollo remains a small, founder-led team of roughly 19 employees.

Why it worked

• Wearable replaces data-tracking with direct touch-based nervous-system relief
• Peer-reviewed clinical studies across 1,700+ subjects build rare credibility
• Founder is a psychiatrist-neuroscientist, giving the brand scientific authority
• Apollo 2.0 crowdfunding tapped an existing loyal DTC customer base