Backed by Mayo Clinic, Nutrix's hardware monitors worker stress

Nutrix's cortiSense: A New Way to Monitor Stress

Workplace stress is a significant issue for businesses, costing over $300 billion annually in the U.S. due to factors like absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased medical expenses. Nutrix, a health technology company, has developed a new device called cortiSense to help address this by measuring cortisol levels in saliva. This article explores the technology, its integration, funding, and future plans.

Understanding Stress and Cortisol

Cortisol is a key hormone that indicates stress levels. To accurately assess stress, it's important to track how cortisol levels change throughout the day. Nutrix's cortiSense device facilitates this by allowing users to collect saliva samples conveniently at home. This method is more practical than clinic visits and captures crucial daily variations, including levels taken right after waking up, which are vital for accurate assessment. The innovation behind cortiSense was recognized with a CES Innovation Award 2025 in the Digital Health category.

Nutrix's Technology and Vision

The cortiSense device integrates with Nutrix's broader digital health platform, gSense. This platform offers a range of services, including continuous glucose monitoring, AI-powered dietary management, and telemedicine. While Nutrix initially focused on diabetes, its overarching goal is to help manage chronic diseases. The company acknowledges cortisol's significant role in both mental well-being and metabolic health. The development of cortiSense received support from the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland.

Funding and Global Expansion

Nutrix has secured $4 million in funding to date. This includes a $2.5 million seed round co-led by Simpact and OIST-Lifetime Ventures, with an investment from Mayo Clinic following their meeting at CES 2024. The company has already expanded its gSense platform internationally, establishing operations in Chile's public health system, Mexico, and Peru. The next major step is the U.S. launch of cortiSense, supported by plans to open offices in Silicon Valley and a forthcoming Series A funding round.

Corporate Wellness and Data Privacy

Nutrix is targeting corporate clients to promote employee wellness. In many countries, employers have an obligation to support their employees' health. Nutrix assures that when providing services to corporations, only aggregated data will be shared, ensuring individual privacy. The company believes that highlighting the economic impact of stress can also serve as a reminder to employers about the importance of mental health.

Future Research

Looking ahead, Nutrix plans to use its funding to conduct further research into cortisol's role in women's health, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, an area that has been historically under-researched. This focus aligns with the company's commitment to addressing overlooked aspects of chronic health conditions.

Image Credits: Nutrix