Oura embraces CGM technology with Veri acquisition
Oura has announced its acquisition of Veri. This is a metabolic health startup specialising in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology. The linkup is clearly a signal from the Finnish outfit, that it plans to widen its health monitoring offering.
The acquisition comes at a time when Oura is facing increasing competition in the smart ring market. In recent years, a plethora of new players have entered the space, many opting for the crowdfunding route to launch their products. More notably, established smartwatch makers like Samsung and Zepp Health have also thrown their hats into the ring, signalling growing interest in this form factor. It’s becoming a crowded space and companies are having to come up with innovative ways to stand out.
Oura’s response to this competition has been twofold. On one hand, the company has initiated legal disputes with several new smart ring makers, alleging patent infringement. We’re not sure if anything will come of this. On the other hand, this latest acquisition suggests a strategy of diversification and feature expansion.
Oura moves into metabolic health monitoring
The irony here is that – one can’t help but notice that Oura’s move into metabolic health monitoring appears to mirror a similar approach taken by Ultrahuman with its Ring Air. This is one of the companies the Finnish outfit is in dispute with over its smart ring patents. Ultrahuman has already integrated CGM data with information collected by its smart ring, creating a comprehensive platform for metabolic health insights.
The potential of such integration is significant. As observed in my hands-on review of the Ultrahuman M1 Live, combining glucose monitoring with other health metrics can provide users with a more holistic view of their metabolic health. The platform’s ability to turn complex data into actionable insights and personalized advice has the potential to transform users’ relationships with their health. It really was an eye opening experience.
Oura’s acquisition of Veri seems aimed at achieving similar goals. The company plans to introduce a new feature called Meals this fall, which will help users track meal timing and understand its impact on various health metrics. This feature will be available through Oura Labs, the company’s innovation hub within the Oura App. Beyond that, it seems Oura will also allow for the ability to connect with CGMs in the near future.
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The smart ring maker says the move into metabolic health tracking aligns with its members’ interests. Oura reports that 97% of its users express interest in understanding how food impacts their health. Additionally, 53% of surveyed members indicated interest in wearing a CGM in the next 12 months.
It is certainly an interesting development. Something Oura hopes will make it stand out from the crowd. The company ‘s acquisition of Veri is a clear sign of its intension to offer a more comprehensive health monitoring solution.
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