The Sleep Revolution – Steepsoft AI & Iceberg+
The Challenge
In a world where poor sleep affects billions, contributing to heart disease, depression, and chronic conditions, a small team in Brașov, Romania had a bold idea.
Could smartwatch vibrations enhance brain activity during sleep and improve health?
Steepsoft AI believed so—but like many visionary startups, they faced a familiar challenge: turning a promising concept into a funded, validated reality.
Beneficiary
Steepsoft AI SRL, a Romanian startup developing WakeZ—a clinically validated, non-invasive digital therapeutic that uses smartwatch-delivered vibrations to improve sleep quality.
Delivered by
Delivered with strategic support from Iceberg+, through BISNet Transylvania—the Enterprise Europe Network contact point in Brașov.
Key support team: Miruna Mureșan and Marius Apostu.
The
Solution
Iceberg+ and Steepsoft AI
followed a structured, collaborative pathway:
- In-depth assessment of WakeZ’s technological and market potential
- Mapping development needs and innovation gaps
- Custom action plan and proposal development for public funding
- Legal and contractual support for post-award phases
Technically, WakeZ combines smart vibration feedback via smartwatch with sleep phase detection and brainwave-responsive stimulus patterns—including both subliminal and supraliminal frequencies.
The
Impact
The technology’s potential reaches far beyond better sleep:
Reduces heart disease risk by 29%
Supports treatment of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain
Prevents metabolic disorders and stroke
Offers non-invasive intervention for sleep apnea and phobia management
The
Timeline
April 2022 – July 2022
Innovation and funding readiness assessment
June 2023
Financing contract signed under the 2014–2020 Regional Operational Program
The
Results
in non-dilutive funding secured for WakeZ development
Additional acquired for custom haptic device
raised in bootstrap round
peer-reviewed research papers published
implemented in earlier-stage research grants
Technology advanced from TRL 3 to TRL 5
Patent granted for digital depression treatment
Finalists in EIT Health WildCard program
Clinical trial successfully completed
Key Innovation Elements
Smartwatch-based, clinically validated sleep intervention
Fully digital and non-invasive
Scalable across multiple therapeutic areas: depression, sleep apnea, anxiety, chronic pain, phobias
Positioned for international market entry
Aligned with FDA 'Pre-Cert' and Germany's DiGA framework
OUT
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For startups, SMEs, academia, authorities.
For Bold ones.