Moona

Moona, founded in Paris, France, in 2016 by Coline Juin and David Stoikovitch, operated in the sleep technology market before being acquired. The founders, both former insomniacs, were motivated by personal experiences with sleep problems. Stoikovitch, who served as CTO and later CEO, has a background in large-scale software and data science projects, which he applied to develop Moona's technology. The company identified a market need based on scientific research showing the critical role of temperature in regulating sleep. A key insight was that the head and neck area is a major zone for the body's heat exchange.

The company's business model centered on the direct-to-consumer sale of its hardware product through its website. Moona’s flagship product was a smart, active temperature-regulation system for pillows. This system consisted of three main components: a bedside pod, a pillow pad, and a mobile application. The pod, which sits on a nightstand, circulates water to the pillow pad to actively heat or cool it to programmed temperatures, ranging from approximately 71 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 36 degrees Celsius). The thin, memory foam pillow pad was designed to fit inside a standard pillowcase without significantly altering the pillow's feel. This active system differentiated Moona from passive cooling pillows that use gels or special materials, which lose their cooling effect over time.

The accompanying mobile app allowed users to create personalized temperature profiles for different stages of the night: falling asleep, deep sleep, and waking up. The system would cool the pillow to help users fall asleep faster and maintain deep sleep, then gently warm it in the morning to facilitate a natural awakening. Beyond temperature control, the system incorporated sleep tracking. A motion sensor in the pillow pad, along with sensors in the pod monitoring ambient room temperature, humidity, and light, collected sleep data. The app then used machine learning algorithms to analyze this data, providing users with insights and personalized recommendations to optimize their sleep quality over time. The company launched a second-generation product, Moona 2, via a Kickstarter campaign, promising improved durability and personalization. Recent developments indicate a pivot in strategy, with Moona Health announcing a clinical partnership with BlueSleep to offer comprehensive treatments for sleep apnea and insomnia, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). According to PitchBook, the company was acquired by Athana in June 2024, while other sources indicate the company is now closed.

Keywords: sleep technology, temperature regulation, smart pillow, cooling pillow pad, thermoregulation, insomnia solutions, sleep tracking, sleep quality, David Stoikovitch, Coline Juin, active cooling, sleep health, smart home, wellness technology, e-health, sleep aid device, night sweats, hot flashes, personalized sleep, sleep data, Moona Health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, CBT-I, sleep apnea treatment, telehealth sleep services, body temperature, circadian rhythm, sleep improvement.