From the growing focus on fitness and wellness to the increasing demand for digital health tools, technology is improving lives around the world more than ever. Our quality of life has been greatly improved as a result of startups’ innovative technical solutions, especially ones that disrupt and advance established health care systems. But startups tapping into this space face unique challenges, such as limited market awareness, technical complexities, and lack of funding, all of which stand in the way of people reaping the benefits of their new and innovative technologies.
Within this challenging landscape, OPPO, a global smart device manufacturer, is fueling the rise of startups to change the status quo and brings innovative solutions to life. Last year, OPPO’s Inspiration Challenge fostered the creation of a revolutionary brain-sensing device by supporting and providing resources to IDUN Technologies. OPPO’s visionary approach propels the advanced technologies forward, stirring a ripple effect of change towards technology that prioritizes human-centric approach.
One startup’s dream to improve sleep quality
Quality sleep directly improves concentration, focus, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. It also supports the immune system, helping to fight off infections and diseases. However, sleep disorders and poor sleep quality are prevalent issues that affect a significant portion of the population, and it’s estimated that 50 to 70 million American adults suffer from chronic or ongoing sleep disorders.
“We were really struck by how many issues in the world can be traced back to sleep,” says Abigail Holland, Product Owner at IDUN Technologies, a winning team of the OPPO Inspiration Challenge last year that works to improve the quality of sleep through their EEG hearables that monitor brain activity during sleep.
Holland added: “There is a prevailing lack of understanding of the importance of sleep. It’s become very normal for people to sacrifice their rest and just wake up and drink coffee, which is specifically designed to mute your understanding of how tired you are. We’ve just socially developed a norm where sacrificing sleep is not only accepted, but in some circles, even praised.”
Enabling sweet dreams for everyone
The availability of data and insights on personal sleep patterns have the potential to change that dynamic. By providing individuals with concrete data that supports the need for sufficient sleep and highlights the long-term consequences of sleep deprivation, people can make more informed decisions about their sleep habits.
“The existing methods were often bulky, uncomfortable, and limited to clinical settings. However, consumer-grade devices like watches and smart rings provided some data but lacked direct measurement of brain activity,” Holland says. “We need a more human-centric approach to propel a collective shift in solutions to a more quality sleep for everyone.”
Their vision and ambition led them to partner with OPPO, with the goal of ensuring healthy sleep for more people worldwide with their IDUN Guardian brain-sensing earbuds. OPPO’s experience in developing smart devices, as well as the professional setups of the OPPO Health Lab, have given the IDUN team a big boost in advancing algorithms for more accurate sleep characterization and expedite hardware development.
The IDUN Guardian brain-sensing earbuds s work by capturing an EEG (electroencephalogram) via electrodes integrated into the earbuds, allowing researchers to analyze brain waves and provide valuable information about sleep architecture, as well as patient-specific insights based on factors such as age, physical health, and overall circumstances without being chunky and uncomfortable.
“Aside from the research and development, OPPO has brought us to some of the world’s largest technology events, such as OPPO INNO DAY 2022 and Mobile World Congress 2023,” Holland says. “The unusual opportunity for businesses of our size to meet with some of the world’s biggest investors and tech lovers has been a huge boost for us to turn ideas into practice.”
Through the efforts, IDUN released their device on the market earlier this year, making it available for industry partners to rent or acquire. They aim to collaborate on projects that will ultimately bring the device to consumers.
Winning a big boost from the OPPO Inspiration Challenge
“Sharing the same hall with industry giants allowed us to connect with extremely smart people and receive valuable feedback on our product,” says Auriel Valtancoli, Business Developer at IDUN Technologies.
IDUN Technologies found a perfect fit with OPPO Inspiration Challenge in the Digital Health category. Last year, OPPO was seeking out innovative startups that focus on algorithms, sensor technology, and hardware-software combinations that make medical-grade technology more accessible by bringing it out of clinical settings into people’s homes.
Guided by their mission of “Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World,” OPPO is dedicated to driving progress in areas such as environmental protection, digital empowerment, and health and wellbeing. Initiatives like the OPPO Inspiration Challenge reflect their goal of fostering innovative solutions that democratize access to technology. This comprehensive program encompasses demo days, pitching opportunities, and tight-knit collaboration with industry experts.
For this year’s Inspiration Challenge, OPPO selected “Inspiration for People” and “Inspiration for the Planet” as the two main categories. Inspiration for People focuses on leveraging technology to improve people’s lives, such as promoting digital health and enhancing the convenience of accessible technology. Inspiration for the Planet emphasizes the importance of developing green technology.
“We should prioritize using technological innovation to promote environmental protection,” says Elvis Zhou, OPPO Overseas Chief Marketing Officer. “It is crucial we reduce the impact of electronic product manufacturing on the environment.”
In addition, the OPPO Inspiration Challenge 2023 expanded to include three regional challenges in Shenzhen, Bangkok, and Boston. The top five teams from each regional challenge will be invited to an innovation acceleration camp to meet with OPPO tech experts and its industry partners. At the global final demo event, the top five finalists overall will each receive a grant of $50,000, and the top 15 teams from each region will have the chance to secure incubation funds amounting to $190,000, plus strategic partnerships and opportunities to showcase their projects at global technology events.
“OPPO believes in real-time attention to social issues and innovation for a better future. We invite peers to join us in addressing social and environmental challenges and demonstrating corporate responsibility,” Zhou says.
For this year’s challengers, IDUN has one key piece of advice: “Seize every opportunity that comes along,” Valtancoli says. “While some startups apply mostly for the stipend, the real value lies in the friendships you’ll make and the advice you’ll receive.”
CTA: Join OPPO in building a better future by proposing your pioneering solution for the Inspiration Challenge before June 30, 2023.
