Minneapolis mental health startup HabitAware has been awarded a grant for just under $225,000 from a division of the National Science Foundation to continue the development of Keen, a bracelet intended to stop body-focused repetitive behaviors.
HabitAware estimates that nearly 4% of Americans suffer from BFRBs like skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting. Keen, the company's flagship product, helps users detect repetitive motions and vibrates when it catches them in the act. The device retails for $149.
HabitAware said in a statement that it will use the grant money to improve upon Keen. It will also work with sensor specialists and electronics manufacturers to conduct a study about new sensor technologies and their suitability for mass production.
The company believes that its research has the potential to greatly improve the accuracy of current products on the market and provide new offerings to those struggling with BFRBs.
"This project has the potential to be a game-changing innovation for those suffering from these under-addressed disorders," Dr. John Pritchard, HabitAware's lead hardware engineer and research grant principal investigator, said in a release. "HabitAware is proud to support the BFRB community and excited to embark on this work."
HabitAware previously received a $300,000 federal research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.
In 2018, the company won the Minnesota Cup, beating out 89 other local companies and walking away with combined winnings of more than $80,000. Keen was also recognized by TIME Magazine for being one of the Best 2018 Inventions.
