HelpWear

HelpWear, a Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based medical device company, develops the HeartWatch, a continuous, clinical-grade ECG monitor worn on the biceps for individuals with heart rhythm disorders. This device operates 24/7 without requiring surgery or wet electrodes, and is designed to automatically contact emergency medical services with the patient's medical history and location if an abnormality is detected. The company has secured early funding, including $100,000 total from all six Dragons on Dragons' Den and investment from UCeed, a University of Calgary venture philanthropy fund. As of 2015, HelpWear reported 7 employees and is currently conducting paid, pre-commercial pilot deployments in Canada. Key personnel include Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Derek Exner, a practicing MD and electrophysiologist, and Chief of Staff Nabil Uddin. HelpWear was founded in 2015 by Frank Nguyen and Andre Bertram.

HelpWear is a medical device company focused on improving at-home healthcare by developing affordable, accessible, and clinically reliable wearable heart monitoring technology. Their flagship product, HeartWatch, is the world’s first medical-grade ambulatory ECG monitor designed for extended continuous wear without skin irritation, enabling better detection and management of cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, cryptogenic stroke, and syncope. This device is worn on the bicep and combines the comfort of consumer wearables with the precision of medical-grade sensors, overcoming limitations of traditional Holter monitors and consumer PPG devices. HelpWear serves patients with heart rhythm disorders and physicians by providing continuous, near-real-time ECG data to guide personalized treatment decisions, thereby improving patient outcomes globally[1][2][3][4].

Founded in 2015 by Frank Nguyen and André Bertram, with Dr. Derek Exner joining as Chief Medical Officer, HelpWear’s origin is deeply personal—Nguyen’s mother’s life-threatening heart condition inspired the creation of a solution that could provide continuous, non-invasive heart monitoring at home. The company has progressed from concept to paid pre-commercial pilot deployments in Canada, with plans to complete regulatory approvals in Canada and the U.S. and scale across health systems. Their collaboration with academic and innovation partners like UCeed and Innovate Calgary has been instrumental in clinical validation and market entry[5][3][4].

Core Differentiators

• Innovative dry-electrode, non-adhesive design that eliminates skin irritation, enabling longer continuous wear than traditional Holter monitors.
• Medical-grade ECG accuracy combined with wearable comfort, bridging the gap between consumer devices and clinical monitors.
• Extended monitoring capability without the invasiveness or cost of surgical implants.
• Embedded emergency contact system for enhanced patient safety.
• Strong clinical leadership with practicing electrophysiologist Dr. Derek Exner as CMO.
• Early pilot deployments demonstrating real-world usability and clinical value[1][2][5].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

HelpWear is riding the growing trend of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, which has accelerated due to healthcare system pressures and patient demand for at-home care. The timing is critical as cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and continuous ECG monitoring is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias. Advances in wearable technology, IoT, and AI integration in healthcare create favorable market forces for HelpWear’s solutions. By enabling continuous, comfortable, and clinically reliable heart monitoring outside hospitals, HelpWear is helping shift cardiac care toward proactive, personalized, and remote management, influencing the broader ecosystem of digital health and medical wearables[3][1][2].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

HelpWear is poised to expand its market presence as it completes regulatory approvals and scales deployments across health systems in North America. Future trends shaping its journey include increasing adoption of telehealth, integration of AI for arrhythmia detection, and growing patient preference for non-invasive, continuous monitoring solutions. HelpWear’s influence is likely to grow as it sets new standards for ambulatory ECG monitoring, potentially expanding into broader cardiac and chronic disease management markets. Their success could catalyze further innovation in wearable medical devices, improving healthcare accessibility and outcomes globally[5][3].

In summary, HelpWear is transforming cardiac care by delivering a unique, patient-friendly, and clinically robust wearable ECG monitor that addresses critical gaps in long-term heart rhythm monitoring, aligning with the global shift toward remote, personalized healthcare.