San Francisco-based AI wearable startup Nirva has announced $33 million in total funding to develop AI-powered jewelry designed to help users better understand their thoughts, emotions and communication patterns. The financing includes a $25 million Pre-Series A round and an earlier $8 million Seed investment, with backing from Lightspeed Venture Partners and South Park Commons. The announcement comes as Nirva prepares to introduce its first wearable device, which combines personal AI with jewelry designed for everyday use.
Founded by Wei Lyu, CEO, Jason (Qianyuan) Chen and Hanying Hu, Nirva is building an AI companion that uses speech analysis to develop a personalised understanding of its wearer over time. The company operates from San Francisco’s South Park neighbourhood and currently has a team of approximately 20 employees, including former members of Meta Reality Labs, Headspace and Hatch.
Developing AI Jewelry Focused on Self-Understanding
Unlike conventional wearable devices that primarily track physical activity, sleep or health metrics, Nirva focuses on analysing speech to provide insights into a person’s behaviour, emotions and communication. The device is designed to listen to the wearer’s own speech and use AI to identify patterns that may not be immediately apparent to the user, gradually building a more detailed model of their preferences, needs and personal development.
The company’s first product is designed as a piece of jewelry that can be worn around the neck or wrist. Created by co-founder Hanying Hu, it features a continuous curve of polished metal and is available in silver, brushed silver, black and gold finishes. The device can be paired with different chains, allowing users to change its appearance while retaining the same core hardware.
Nirva’s approach reflects the founders’ experience in consumer technology and wearable devices. CEO Wei Lyu and co-founder Jason Chen previously worked at Meta Reality Labs, while the company’s research and marketing leadership includes professionals from Headspace and Hatch. According to Lyu, the team has prioritised making the device attractive as jewelry even when its electronic functions are not in use, addressing a common challenge for consumer wearables that are abandoned after initial adoption.
The company was also recognised among CNET’s Best of CES 2026 selections, reportedly becoming one of three startups chosen from more than 1,000 exhibitors. The recognition comes ahead of Nirva’s first commercial launch, as the company works to translate its AI technology into a consumer product.
Funding to Support Product Launch and Team Expansion
Nirva’s $33 million in total funding includes its newly announced $25 million Pre-Series A and an earlier $8 million Seed round. The company has received backing from Lightspeed Venture Partners and South Park Commons, although the announcement does not specify which investors led or participated in each individual round.
The startup reports more than 9,000 people on its waitlist and plans to open orders during winter 2026, with an expected starting price of approximately $249. Initial devices are scheduled to ship before the end of the year, marking the company’s transition from product development towards commercial availability.
Nirva is also expanding its team across engineering, AI research, design and marketing as it prepares for launch. The company is focusing on developing a personal AI system that can interpret speech patterns over time and provide users with insights into how they think, communicate and respond to different situations.
With the new financing, Nirva aims to establish a category of AI-powered jewelry that combines personal technology with wearable design, positioning its first product around self-understanding rather than conventional activity tracking.
