NightWare

NightWare was created to help America’s military veterans get a good night’s sleep.

It’s a digital-therapeutic system that works in conjunction with the Apple Watch and iPhone — could this be Apple’s next acquisition? — to disrupt nightmares related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Available by prescription only, it’s the first and only digital therapeutic specifically to treat nightmares that is cleared by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

NightWare uses information from the Apple Watch heart-rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope to detect a nightmare and then disrupt it through haptic feedback. It generates gentle pulses on the wrist that gradually increase until the user is roused from the nightmare, but not from sleep.

The prototype for this system was created by Tyler Skluzacek in 2015, when he was studying computer science at Macalester College in Minnesota. Tyler’s father had developed PTSD during his two-decade military career — eighty-percent of those with PTSD experience nightmares and, if left untreated, they increase the risk of suicide by as much as 500% — and Tyler wanted to see if technology could offer a solution. The concept was based on the way a service dog gently nudges its owner to help stop a nightmare.

With its system, NightWare is targeting the markets for PTSD treatment and sleep disorders. The PTSD market is projected to reach nineteen billion dollars by 2032, while the U.S. market for sleep disorders is projected to reach seventy-eight billion dollars by 2033.

Those suffering from PTSD and nightmares often resort to drugs or talk therapy as solutions. But these aren’t effective for everyone and come with intolerable side effects.

In a published study in the Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders, twenty-two percent of NightWare users experienced an excellent or life-changing result. And close to seventy percent reported at least some clinical benefit.

NightWare can be used alongside other treatments for nightmares and PTSD. And it can improve sleep quality within two weeks.

NightWare has received FDA clearance for its system and more than 1,500 users have been prescribed NightWare for help. The company has generated more than seven million dollars in sales to-date, including more than four million dollars in 2024.

NightWare has secured a $640,000 clinical-trial grant and was selected for the Veterans Affairs Pathfinder Innovation Pilot, an incubator/accelerator for ideas to help out veterans.

Team Background

Matthew Tucker - Chief Executive Officer

Matthew has more than twenty years of experience in the medical-technology space.

In addition to his role with NightWare, he owns Breakthrough Medtech Strategy, a consulting business that guides healthcare companies. Previously, he worked for Highmark Health, a healthcare company.

Before that, Matthew was Vice President of Brand Strategy with Mylan, a pharmaceutical-manufacturing company. Prior to that, he founded Arithm Medical, a medical-device distributor.

Earlier in his career, Matthew spent eight years with Baxter International, a medical-equipment manufacturing company. Before that, he worked as an IT manager with Pace Analytical, an environmental-services company.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and an MBA from Butler University.

Spencer Levy - Chief Operating Officer

Spencer has more than thirty years of experience in operations, including eighteen years in the medical-device and healthcare industries.

Most recently, he was Director of Operations with HealthTronics, a hospital and healthcare business. Before that, he spent twelve years as Vice President of Operations with Universal Hospital Services, a surgical-technology provider.

Spencer studied at the University of Minnesota and earned an MBA at Capella University.

Grady Hannah - Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer

Prior to starting NightWare, Grady spent fifteen years in Silicon Valley, working in venture-backed software startups as a commercialization lead. These included companies in the gaming and energy sectors.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from Macalester College.

Co-Investors