For everyone who woke up feeling groggy, wishing sleep came easier last night, keep reading. After giving consumers the jolt they need to start their day, the Harvard dropout behind Sprayable is helping people put a peaceful end to their day, as well.
Sprayable Sleep launched Tuesday, billed as "the world's first topical sleep spray." Simply spray the melatonin-based product on your skin roughly an hour before you want your head hitting the pillow and then rest easy, knowing you'll fall asleep more soundly. When your alarm annoyingly chirps at you, wake up feeling refreshed instead, ready to take on the day.
Ben Yu, who dropped out of Harvard to become one of the first 20 Under 20 Thiel Fellows, developed the product, working alongside Deven Soni, a former partner at VC firm NEVEQ, and Chongxi Yu, who boasts a PhD in chemistry, as well as several drug delivery patents.
The trio's first product, Sprayable Energy, made its debut roughly a year ago. To date, tens of thousands of units of the topical caffeine spray — which equates to roughly one-fourth a cup of coffee per spritz — have been shipped to customers in more than 50 countries.
All that energy, though, makes it harder to fall asleep and, as of 2011, about one in four U.S. workers suffered from insomnia. In more alarming words: that's $63 billion in lost productivity.
Melatonin is known to help people sleep better, among having other health benefits. Sprayable Sleep users can then reap those benefits — and with a much lower dose gradually over time, because the melatonin is applied directly to the skin and can bypass the digestive system altogether, as opposed to the pills on the market.
A lipstick-sized aluminum case of Sprayable Sleep costs $15 and contains "a month of good sleep." Early users are already praising the product, claiming they've woken up feeling more rested than they have in years.
It's hard to argue them when the startup has already surpassed its $15,000 goal on Indiegogo, raising more than $21,000 with 41 days still left in the crowdfunding campaign. Co-founder Ben Yu described the mission in a statement succinctly:
Sprayable Sleep is our answer to those who find it hard to stay well rested in today's sleep-deprived culture. With it, we've built a tool to combat the daily stresses, artificial lights and constant stimulation that disrupts good sleep.
Like what you hear? Hear more about Sprayable Sleep by tuning in to the video below:
