Kimba, a sleep technology company focused on adaptive scent therapy, announced its launch alongside a $6.5 million funding round led by Selva Ventures. The company is introducing a clinically validated approach to improving sleep through AI-powered scent interventions designed to promote deeper and more restorative rest.
Founded by former special forces commander Ben Fuxbruner, Kimba was inspired by his personal experience with PTSD and chronic insomnia following a near-fatal injury. The company aims to move beyond sleep tracking by actively improving sleep quality through the olfactory pathway, which can influence brain activity during sleep without causing wakefulness.
Kimba creates personalized sleep profiles and proprietary water-based, plant-derived scent formulations tailored to individual sleep patterns and preferences. The platform continuously monitors biometric signals, including breathing patterns, movement, heart rate variability, and stress indicators, through built-in sensors and integrations with wearable devices such as WHOOP, Oura, Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin. Its AI system analyzes this information in real time and delivers precisely timed scent cues throughout the night to optimize sleep depth, continuity, and recovery.
The company said early clinical studies involving 50 participants over 48 nights demonstrated improvements in sleep quality and cognitive performance. The research was conducted with Dr. Anat Arzi, an expert in olfactory neuroscience. Kimba is also advancing additional clinical studies under the guidance of sleep expert Professor Peretz Lavie, including research focused on physiological sleep outcomes and the effects of the technology on PTSD and mental health recovery.
Selva Ventures, whose portfolio includes brands such as Grüns and OneSkin, led the financing. The funding will support Kimba’s commercial launch and efforts to establish a new category focused on active, personalized sleep enhancement.
Kimba’s system is now available for pre-order. The package includes the device, software, a six-month membership, and a six-month supply of personalized scents for $299.
KEY QUOTES:
“Kimba was built on a simple but powerful idea that sleep shouldn’t just be measured, it should be improved. We’re introducing a fundamentally new approach that uses scent to work with the brain during sleep, helping people achieve deeper, more restorative rest without drugs or disruption. For me, it was life-changing.”
Ben Fuxbruner, Founder and CEO of Kimba
“The influence of sensory input during sleep is significant. Olfactory stimulation is uniquely beneficial for this because it can influence brain activity without waking the individual. By aligning scent delivery with specific breathing patterns, sleep stages and physiological signals, this approach has the potential to meaningfully improve sleep quality.”
Dr. Anat Arzi, Expert In Olfactory Neuroscience
“Sleep is one of the most critical and underserved pillars of health. Kimba represents a breakthrough in how we improve sleep, shifting the category from passive tracking to active intervention. We’re proud to support the team as they bring this technology to market.”
Kiva Dickinson, Founder of Selva Ventures
