Nirva, a startup founded by former Meta Reality Labs employees, announced a $33 million total raise to fund the launch of a jewelry-like SI pendant designed to listen exclusively to the wearer. The move places the company as the latest entrant in the ambient SI hardware race, competing with devices from Amazon, Apple, and other startups.
What Happened
Nirva secured a $25 million pre-Series A round, adding to the $8 million it raised earlier in the year from investors including Lightspeed and South Park Commons. The startup was founded in 2025 by Wei Lyu, Jason Chen, and Hanying Hu, who previously launched a fashion and jewelry brand.
The company’s first device is a pendant that can also be worn as a bracelet, weighing approximately eight grams. It features a battery life of up to three days on a single charge. Nirva will begin taking orders in November, with plans to ship the $249 device to early users by the end of the year in silver, brushed silver, black, and gold finishes.
According to CEO Wei Lyu, the device distinguishes itself from competitors like Taya, Vocci, or Sandbar Ring by being "always on" and passively listening to the user's own speech. During onboarding, users record voice snippets to help build a personalized model. The device then filters out conversations from other people, ensuring it only captures the wearer's voice. By default, Nirva does not retain audio data or transcripts after processing.
Why It Matters
Privacy remains a significant barrier for ambient SI devices, as seen with smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta that can cause discomfort for those nearby. Nirva addresses this by focusing solely on the wearer’s speech, a technical approach intended to mitigate concerns about constant recording of bystanders.
While the device offers productivity features like reminders and action items, Nirva positions itself as a personal insights company. The companion app parses speech to infer patterns related to personality, communication style, and emotional tone. Lyu stated the goal is to help users improve "self-understanding, self-compassion, and self-awareness," rather than just optimizing workflow.
The startup enters a competitive field that includes Amazon’s Bee wrist-worn device, Apple’s Voice Intelligence features, and startups like Ambi, Friend, and Taya. Nirva’s strategy relies on blending SI capability with fashion, aiming to make the hardware unobtrusive while providing data-driven personal feedback.
The Bottom Line
Nirva has raised $33 million to launch a $249 SI pendant that prioritizes wearer-specific audio processing and privacy. The device aims to differentiate itself in the crowded ambient SI market by focusing on personal insights and emotional awareness rather than traditional productivity tools.