Hilo, formerly known as Aktiia, has secured $42 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round. The investment is aimed at transforming hypertension care through continuous, passive, and clinically validated blood pressure monitoring. The round was co-led by Earlybird Health and Wellington Partners, with new backers Kfund and naturalX Health Ventures joining existing investors like Khosla Ventures, Molten Ventures, redalpine, Translink Capital, and Verve Ventures. This funding brings Hilo’s total capital raised to over $100 million.
Traditional blood pressure monitoring methods remain outdated—intermittent, inconvenient, and often failing to detect critical trends. Hilo is tackling this issue by offering a wearable device and app that deliver automatic, 24/7 blood pressure monitoring. By eliminating the need for manual readings, Hilo empowers users and healthcare providers with accurate, real-time data to better diagnose, manage, and prevent hypertension.
“With billions living with high blood pressure and only 20% achieving control, the world urgently needs more advanced monitoring tools,” said CEO Raghav “Rags” Gupta. “This funding reflects investor belief in Hilo’s mission and the disruptive potential of our technology.”
From Aktiia to Hilo: A Rebrand with Global Ambitions
Founded in Switzerland in 2018 by Rags Gupta, Dr. Mattia Bertschi (COO), and Dr. Josep Solà (CTO), the company has deep roots in biomedical signal processing and non-invasive blood pressure technology. The team’s work at Swiss research institute CSEM laid the foundation for Hilo’s platform, which combines machine learning, optical sensors, and decades of research.
The rebranding from Aktiia to Hilo signals the company’s broader vision: to make cuffless blood pressure monitoring globally accessible and effortless. The new name reflects its evolution into a comprehensive blood pressure intelligence platform ready to scale across both consumer and enterprise healthcare markets.
At the core of Hilo’s platform is a powerful machine learning model trained on tens of billions of optical signals and hundreds of millions of calibration points. With data from over 120,000 users, this foundation model enables clinically validated monitoring without the need for an inflatable cuff. Hilo devices provide readings every 90 minutes, even during sleep, ensuring a holistic view of cardiovascular health.
This hands-off approach reduces errors, increases compliance, and captures critical nighttime data, setting Hilo apart from other wearables. Unlike competitors such as Omron’s HeartGuide or smartwatches from Samsung and Huawei, Hilo doesn’t require regular calibration or manual input.
Advancing Cardiovascular Care Through Data
Hilo plans to use the new capital to expand into global markets, enhance its product capabilities, and grow its enterprise offerings. By leveraging its real-world dataset, Hilo aims to set a new standard in cardiovascular risk monitoring and chronic disease management.
The company’s research-driven team has authored over 120 peer-reviewed studies and holds more than 35 patents. Hilo is CE-marked and trusted by physicians and researchers in multiple countries for its clinical accuracy and privacy protections.
“By combining medical-grade reliability with intuitive design, Hilo bridges the gap between clinical and consumer health,” said Christoph Massner, Principal at Earlybird Health, who will join Hilo’s board. “Its potential to empower users and close critical care gaps is significant.”
Johannes Fischer, Managing Partner at Wellington Partners, added: “Continuous access to blood pressure data will change how we prevent and treat hypertension. Hilo’s innovation is exactly what the healthcare system needs.”
