UCL Computer Science associated spin-out secures £2.2 million in funding

The investment includes £1.5M from Parkwalk Advisors and £700K from Innovate UK, supporting the company’s mission to transform sleep health through olfactory science - the study of smell and its effects on emotions, memory, and wellbeing.

Founded by Dr Emanuela Maggioni and Professor Marianna Obrist (UCL Computer Science), Hynt’s technology delivers personalised scents at key moments during the sleep cycle, helping users fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up more refreshed.

With 74% of UK adults experiencing sleep difficulties, this innovation could significantly reduce sleep-related health issues, boost mental and physical wellbeing, and enhance productivity.

Beyond personal health benefits, the technology also has economic implications. Poor sleep costs the UK economy £40 billion annually due to lost productivity, and Hynt’s solution offers a science-backed approach to addressing this challenge.

The funding will enable real-world testing in collaboration with leading sleep research centres, paving the way for commercialisation.

Professor Obrist said, “We’re very excited to take a step toward realising our vision of transforming lives with our scent-tech innovation. This funding will be instrumental in advancing our research from the lab to real-world testing, allowing us to refine the technology in collaboration with leading sleep experts.”

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