Rise Science is a technology company.
Rise Science has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round.
Rise Science has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Rise Science has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Rise Science's investors include Alpine Ventures, Courtney Robinson, Batshit Crazy Ventures, Baukunst, Black Jays Investments, Freestyle Capital, Goodwater Capital, Learn Capital, Lerer Hippeau, Trace Cohen, RRE Ventures, Torch Capital.
Rise Science is a Chicago-based healthtech company founded in 2014 that develops the RISE app, a sleep and energy optimization tool for consumers.[1][2][3][5] The app serves individuals seeking better sleep and daily performance by tracking sleep debt (accumulated sleep shortfall) and circadian rhythm (natural sleep-wake cycle) using phone data or wearables like Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Oura, then delivering personalized recommendations to reduce sleep debt, predict energy peaks/lows, and build habits for improved productivity.[1][3][4][5] It solves the widespread problem of sleep deprivation—affecting nearly half of Americans who feel sleepy multiple days weekly—by going beyond mere tracking to provide actionable science-based insights rooted in nearly 100 years of sleep research, including the two-process model of sleep regulation.[3][4][5] The company has raised $15.5M total ($5.5M seed in 2018, $10M Series A), achieved over 1M beta downloads globally, and reports users feeling benefits in 7-10 days.[1][3]
Rise Science emerged from the academic pursuits of co-founders Jeff Kahn (CEO, engineering background with sleep science studies at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine) and Leon Sasson (CTO, Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering '15), who cofounded the company in 2014-2015.[2][3] Kahn, driven by independent sleep research during his sophomore year, customized his health systems engineering curriculum to study sleep science deeply, including seminars and papers; he and Sasson published the first paper showing sleep apps can improve sleep and well-being.[3][4] The idea crystallized from building tech to optimize athletes' performance: starting with pro sports teams like the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bulls, and New England Patriots, using sensors, research, and coaching to measure and enhance sleep for training timing.[1][3] Pivotal traction came from these B2B contracts with college/pro teams, leading to a consumer pivot; they launched the RISE app beta in 2020 (full launch with $15.5M funding in 2021), shifting from elite athletes to everyday users.[1][3]
Rise Science stands out in the crowded sleep app market through science-driven, actionable features rather than passive tracking:
Rise Science rides the quantified self and wellness tech boom, capitalizing on rising awareness of sleep's role in mental/physical health amid chronic deprivation (e.g., 50% of Americans sleepy 3+ days/week).[3] Timing aligns with wearable proliferation (Fitbit, Oura, Apple Watch) and post-pandemic focus on performance optimization, extending B2B sports science to B2C via accessible mobile apps.[1][2][5] Market forces like HealthKit integrations and passive data trends favor it over device-heavy competitors, while its research grounding differentiates from gimmicky trackers (e.g., REM focus or scales without action).[4] It influences the ecosystem by validating sleep apps' impact via founder publications, potentially normalizing energy scheduling in productivity tools and inspiring athlete-to-consumer pivots in healthtech.[3][4]
Rise Science is poised for scaled growth, leveraging its $15.5M war chest to expand RISE's user base beyond 1M, deepen wearable partnerships, and explore enterprise applications (e.g., corporate wellness post-sports success).[1][3] Trends like AI-enhanced personalization, mental health integration, and remote work demands for sustained energy will propel it, as sleep optimization becomes table stakes in performance tech.[5] Its influence may evolve toward ecosystem leadership—perhaps acquiring rivals or powering third-party apps—cementing Chicago's healthtech hub status while empowering users to unlock peak potential through everyday biology hacks, much like its athlete origins transformed elite performance.[1][3]
Rise Science has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in June 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2021 | $10.0M Series A | Alpine Ventures, Courtney Robinson, Batshit Crazy Ventures, Baukunst, Black Jays Investments, Freestyle Capital, Goodwater Capital, Learn Capital, Lerer Hippeau, Trace Cohen, RRE Ventures, Torch Capital, Gokul Rajaram |