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Nirva raises $33M for a pendant that only listens to you
Devices2 min read
Nirva is a startup that raised $33 million for a jewelry-like pendant. The device listens only to the person wearing it, and it aims to give them personal insights.
A pendant that listens only to you
Nirva has announced a new $25 million funding round. It adds to the $8 million the company raised earlier this year, for a total of $33 million. Its first device is a small pendant that can also be worn as a bracelet. The device is designed to listen only to the person wearing it. Its companion app turns what the wearer says into insights about their mood, communication style, and habits.
Key facts
- Total money raised: $33 million ($25 million in the new round, $8 million earlier this year)
- Device weight: about 8 grams
- Battery life: up to 3 days on one charge
- Price: $249, in silver, brushed silver, black, or gold
- Orders open in November, with early users shipped by the end of the year
Why ambient AI is hot
Ambient AI means devices that listen and help in the background, without a user typing or talking to them. Several companies are building this kind of gadget right now, including Amazon with Bee, Ambi, and Apple with its Voice Intelligence features. Nirva was founded in 2025 by two former Meta Reality Labs employees, Wei Lyu and Jason Chen, with Hanying Hu, who founded a fashion and jewelry brand.
Why it matters
Privacy is a big worry for devices that listen all the time. People may not like being recorded, and smart glasses like Ray-Ban Meta have made people nervous about being filmed. Nirva says it filters out other people's voices and does not keep audio or transcripts by default. Still, the idea of a device that always listens to its owner shows how far wearable AI may go in everyday life.
What to watch
- Whether the device ships to early users by the end of the year
- How well the app's insights about emotions and habits help real users
- How Nirva's privacy promises hold up as the product grows
- How it competes with Taya, Friend, and Bee
Glossary
- Ambient AI
- Helpers that listen or watch in the background and act without being asked directly.
- Nirva
- A startup that makes a jewelry-style AI pendant that listens only to its wearer.
- Meta Reality Labs
- The part of Meta that works on virtual and augmented reality devices.
- Taya
- A startup, founded by former Apple employees, that is building intelligent jewelry.