“Fitbit for the brain”: Awear helps manage stress using AI
A startup founded by engineer Antonio Forenza has developed Awear — a compact analogue of a fitness tracker designed for continuous monitoring of brain activity and psychological stress management.
Forenza, who previously used the Apple Watch to track physical activity, set out to create a similar tool for mental health. Drawing on his engineering background, he developed Awear, a device that attaches behind the ear and uses electroencephalography (EEG) to detect and measure the brain’s electrical activity.
Awear measures high-frequency beta waves — an indicator of psychological stress. Prolonged elevation of these waves can lead to chronic fatigue, insomnia, and mental health disorders.
The collected data is transmitted to a mobile app, which uses artificial intelligence to provide users with insights into their emotional state and offers personalized recommendations for stress management and improving emotional resilience. According to its creator, Awear helps relieve excessive tension early on, before it leads to negative health consequences.
The device has already gained recognition: it became a finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 and won the pitch competition in the “Health” category. Stanford University’s Department of Psychiatry is currently testing Awear to detect confusion in elderly patients.
For individual consumers, the device is available through an early access program for $195, including a lifetime app subscription. The startup plans to raise $5 million in funding in early 2026.
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