Cambridge-based digital health company Epicore Biosystems announced an additional $6 million in Series B funding, bringing its total Series B raise to $32 million. The expanded round includes new investment from a San Francisco-based investor and angel investors, with continued support from Alumni Ventures and Joyance Partners.
This latest capital injection follows Epicore's initial $26 million Series B led by the Steele Foundation for Hope, positioning the company to accelerate global expansion of its sweat-sensing wearable technology and analytics platforms.
Revolutionary Sweat-Sensing Technology
Epicore's wearable devices measure sweat composition, fluid losses, and critical physiological markers including skin temperature, motion, and thermal flux. These measurements enable early detection of fatigue, heat exhaustion, and performance issues. The company's flagship product, Connected Hydration, has been clinically validated in studies published in Nature Digital Medicine and deployed at major sporting events, including the 2025 Super Bowl.
"Connected Hydration seamlessly captures multiple sweat and physiology biomarkers, and provides real-time haptic feedback, allowing the wearer to manage their hydration, fatigue, and recovery needs," said Dr. Roozbeh Ghaffari, CEO and co-founder of Epicore Biosystems.
The technology represents a significant advancement in personalized hydration management, as it's the first smart wearable solution to capture comprehensive hydration data streams while delivering real-time haptic alerts to guide individualized hydration routines.
Expanding Product Portfolio
Epicore has developed a diverse suite of sweat-sensing wearables for different applications:
- Gx Sweat Patch®: Commercialized in partnership with PepsiCo and Gatorade for athletes' hydration and wellness management
- Discovery Patch® Sweat Collection System: FDA Class I registered device for clinical trials
- Connected Hydration®: Wearable and cloud platform designed specifically for industrial workers
These solutions provide both real-time point measurements and continuous monitoring capabilities, addressing needs across physically demanding occupations and wellness applications.
Strategic Growth Initiatives
With the fresh capital, Epicore is focusing on three key growth areas:
- Expanding its Connected Hydration solution into industrial markets across Australia, the Middle East, and Asia
- Scaling real-time cloud analytics with personalized hydration guidance and recommendations
- Validating novel biomarkers for applications in kidney health and stress management
Michael Edelhart, managing director of Joyance Partners, highlighted the value proposition: "Epicore's biosensing technologies deliver precisely what large industries and enterprises need — science-backed digital tools to protect workers, boost productivity and improve lives."
Beyond Hydration: Future Applications
While hydration monitoring forms the core of Epicore's current offerings, the company is exploring expanded capabilities. According to Dr. Ghaffari, sweat contains numerous biomarkers including ketones, calcium, iron, zinc, and kidney biomarkers like urea and creatinine.
In collaboration with Gatorade, Epicore is also developing technology to monitor muscle glycogen depletion, addressing what Ghaffari describes as "the yin and yang" of athletic performance: hydration and fuel. A prototype called Gatorade Fuel Gauge was recently showcased at a pre-Super Bowl event, demonstrating the potential to provide athletes with real-time information about carbohydrate needs.
Additionally, Epicore is researching the use of sweat for tracking performance-enhancing drugs in partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Industry Partnerships and Global Reach
Epicore has established partnerships with major corporations and organizations including Chevron, PepsiCo, Gatorade, United Airlines, Bechtel, Denka, Nitto, the U.S. Air Force, the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. Army. Its biowearable solutions are deployed worldwide across energy, construction, manufacturing, aviation, and shipping sectors.
The company's expansion into international markets, particularly the Middle East, has driven significant inbound interest and contributed to the need for additional funding.
Climate Change Applications
The Steele Foundation for Hope, which led Epicore's initial Series B round, was particularly drawn to the technology's potential to help industrial workers and vulnerable populations amid rising global temperatures attributable to climate change. As heat-related illnesses become more prevalent, Epicore's real-time monitoring solutions could play a crucial role in prevention and early intervention.
As climate challenges intensify globally, the company's technology offers a proactive approach to managing hydration health, with implications for worker safety, productivity, and public health in heat-vulnerable regions.
