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Eight Sleep Secures $100 Million to Transform Sleep Health With Cutting-Edge AI Technologies

Revolutionizing Sleep Monitoring

In a market where nearly one in three U.S. adults struggles with insufficient sleep, Eight Sleep is poised to redefine how we approach rest and health. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York, the startup has emerged as a leader in AI-driven sleep technology, turning everyday sleep into a predictive health monitoring system.

Strategic Funding Fuels Expansion

The company recently announced a $100 million funding round led by prominent investors including HSG, Valor Equity Partners, Founders Fund, and Y Combinator, along with notable sports figures such as Ferrari F1’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown. This new round brings Eight Sleep’s total funding to an estimated $260 million, propelling the firm toward its ambitions of international growth and the development of condition-specific interventions. As co-founder and CMO Alexandra Zatarain noted, with the successful execution of its AI roadmap, the path to unicorn status is within reach.

Advanced Products Enhance Sleep and Health

Eight Sleep’s flagship offering, the Pod, exemplifies its commitment to harnessing technology for better sleep. The smart mattress integrates sophisticated software and AI to track sleep stages, heart rate, breathing patterns, and movement. This data drives automatic adjustments in temperature, elevation, and firmness—tailoring the sleep experience while even responding to snoring through adaptive base elevation. With over $500 million generated in Pod sales and more than a billion hours of sleep data recorded, the startup’s growth trajectory is both impressive and data-driven.

AI-Driven Innovations and Future Prospects

Beyond the Pod, Eight Sleep is pioneering the Sleep Agent, an AI-powered system that utilizes large language models to create digital twins for personalized sleep optimization. This evolution from reactive tracking to proactive intervention is emblematic of the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. The company’s innovative approach is further underscored by its introduction of Health Check—a system that monitors cardiovascular and respiratory patterns with up to 99% accuracy without relying on wearable technology.

Compliance, Global Expansion, and Market Leadership

With shipping operations in over 30 countries including Canada, the UK, EU nations, Australia, Mexico, and the UAE, Eight Sleep is now setting its sights on expanding into China, a market ripe with a growing middle class that prioritizes health and wellness. Amid increasing competition from wearable technology and traditional medical devices, Eight Sleep differentiates itself through its Autopilot feature, which tailors sleep environments independently for each side of a bed and adapts continuously to changing conditions like travel, stress, or illness.

Data Security and Consumer Trust

Amid growing concerns over personal health data, Eight Sleep maintains stringent compliance with local data protection regulations, including GDPR and CCPA. The company emphasizes that all sleep and health data is encrypted, not sold, and secured without the use of invasive microphones, underscoring its commitment to consumer privacy.

As the boundaries between technology, sleep, and health continue to blur, Eight Sleep stands at the forefront of a burgeoning industry. Its innovative and data-centered approach promises not only to enhance individual sleep quality but also to integrate comprehensive health monitoring into our nightly routines.

Cyprus Foreclosure Reform Debate Intensifies Amid Rising Non-Performing Loans

Political Stakes And Foreclosure Regulation

Cypriot political parties are engaging in a high-stakes debate in parliament as they deliberate changes to the legal framework governing foreclosures ahead of the May parliamentary elections. The proposed shifts are aimed at curbing the rapid escalation in the value of non-performing loans, a trend that has sparked significant public and legislative concern. Confidential data from the Central Bank of Cyprus indicates that the nation has not yet moved away from its longstanding issues related to so-called “red loans.”

Non-Performing Loans: A Mounting Financial Challenge

Recent figures show that the value of distressed loans has continued to rise, surpassing €20 billion following transfers involving banks and credit recovery companies. This level exceeds the approximately €15 billion recorded during the economic crisis period. Central Bank data indicates that after loan sales, credit recovery firms now manage portfolios totaling €19.7 billion, of which €18.5 billion are classified as non-performing. About 87% of these loans are considered terminated, while the firms acquired 141,478 loans for €3.2 billion, roughly 80% below their original value.

Credit Recovery Companies: Overshooting Investment Returns

By June, credit recovery companies had recovered €5.7 billion through a combination of cash repayments, judicial asset auctions and property-for-debt exchanges. Cash repayments accounted for €3.6 billion, judicial recoveries contributed €619 million, and property swaps added €1.5 billion. These recoveries exceeded the original purchase cost of many loan portfolios while overall balances continued to increase due to accrued interest, a development that remains a concern for policymakers.

Bank Portfolios And The Impact On Financial Stability

Data from the State Guarantee Fund for Deposits and Loans shows that 77,561 loans valued at €7.5 billion were transferred, leaving a remaining balance of €5.7 billion by June 2025, of which €5 billion are non-performing. Within the banking sector, non-performing loans totaled €1.45 billion across 24,736 accounts as of last June. Since December 2024, these figures have improved by approximately €86 million due to repayments and asset recoveries. The reduction in problematic loans has lowered bank exposure compared with levels recorded during the 2013 crisis.

Legislative Proposals And Government Considerations

Political leaders argue that adjustments to foreclosure procedures can be introduced without undermining banking stability. Parliament’s Economic Committee is scheduled to begin discussions on March 9, with an estimated 20 to 30 legislative proposals currently pending from multiple parties. While the Ministry of Finance has not announced immediate legislative action, officials are evaluating the potential reintroduction of elements of the Rent-Versus-Rate plan for vulnerable borrowers, subject to fiscal impact assessments.

Advocacy From AKEL And Environmental Groups

Proposals supported by the AKEL party and several civil organizations focus on strengthening legal protections for borrowers. Among the suggested measures is restoring the right to seek judicial relief to delay foreclosures in cases involving disputed charges or alleged abusive contract clauses. AKEL representative Aristos Damianou criticized the pace of foreclosure proceedings and warned of risks to primary residences and small businesses.

Proposals Targeting Guarantors And Foreclosure Processes

The Democratic Rally party has introduced a proposal aimed at limiting guarantor liability during foreclosure procedures. Under the draft measure, if a property is auctioned or repossessed, the guarantor’s responsibility would be capped at the original loan amount adjusted by recovered sums. The proposal also requires that enforcement actions against guarantors be suspended until a court ruling is issued if the borrower formally disputes the debt.

Revisions Proposed By The Democratic Party of Cyprus

The Democratic Party is also preparing new legislative measures to be introduced on Thursday. Party leader Mario Karogian outlined plans to suspend the foreclosures of primary residences valued up to €350,000 until the end of the year, allowing time to address legislative gaps. Additional proposals include broadening the powers of the Financial Ombudsperson to make binding decisions on disputes up to €50,000, enforcing the Central Bank’s code of conduct, and ensuring strict adherence to refinancing guidelines for first residences.

Outlook And Strategic Implications

The range of proposals reflects an ongoing effort to balance financial system stability with stronger consumer protections. Decisions made in the coming months are expected to shape the regulatory environment for foreclosures and influence broader confidence in Cyprus’ financial sector and economic outlook.

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