Nexense

In 2001, in Yavne, Israel, a company called Nexense was founded by Arik Ariav and Bary Molchadsky. Their idea was to create sensor technology that could measure physical parameters by tracking the propagation time of energy waves. This core technology had broad potential, attracting collaborations with major industrial players like Boeing, General Motors, Ford, and Samsung for various applications. The company found a primary focus in the health tech space, specifically addressing sleep apnea. They developed a non-intrusive, wearable system—in the form of a chest strap or wristwatch—that monitors a person's physical state during sleep. When the device detects snoring or apnea events, it vibrates gently to shift the sleeper's position without waking them. A significant moment in the company's journey occurred in January 2016. Nexense raised $3 million in a Series A funding round with a single, strategic investor: General Electric. This investment, which gave GE an 8% stake, valued the company at $30 million and was intended to help develop the next generation of their product, which had already received CE marketing certification and sold units in Europe and Israel.