Arya uses AI to understand couples’ intimacy goals and then offers advice, recommends activities and sends “fantasy packages” curated by an in-house sexologist.
Artificial intelligence is being introduced into the bedroom to help couples become more adventurous and rekindle lost passion while improving their physical and mental health.
Arya, a confidential, unbiased, holistic AI-based sexual health platform, has raised $7.5M in a seed round and added sexologist and relationship expert Shan Boodram to the team as (aptly enough) Chief Intimacy Officer. The platform plans to support and grow its community of over 250,000 users.
The seed round was co-led by Patron and Play Ventures, with additional investments from At.inc/ and Heracles Capital, along with several angel investors including Casper co-founder Neil Parikh, former Oura CEO Harpreet Singh Rai and BetterHealth founder and CEO Naama Breckler.
With Boodram on board as a partner, Aalia plans to expand the offering of Aalia’s AI-driven concierge service, which learns about couples through comprehensive questionnaires and algorithms developed by relationship researchers and sex therapists.
The Arya Concierge takes the time to understand couples’ intimacy goals before offering advice, recommending activities, and even sending “fantasy packages” curated by Arya’s in-house sexologist. Users can also access an intimacy mentor if they need more support.
“We have collectively made the mistake of thinking that healthy relationships are filled with never-ending passion,” says Boodram. “As I have seen in my work, research, and personal life, that is simply not true. As a relationship deepens, passion wanes. Throughout my career, I have helped couples accept this inevitable reality and the exciting responsibilities that come with it. In the early stages of romance, we desire and love each other. As a relationship matures, we love and desire each other.”
As Aarya co-founder and CEO Ofer Yehudai points out, consumers have become increasingly focused on health and wellness since the pandemic, and sexual wellness plays an important role in a holistic approach to health.
“Our goal is to help couples make sexual health a greater priority,” Yehudai said. “That’s why we welcomed Shan to our team. Her authentic, empathetic approach to intimacy reflects our mission to help individuals integrate sexual health into their health and longevity goals.”
No longer taboo
Sexual health is becoming more commonplace, fuelled by a plethora of sexual health-focused startups.
And some collaborations are emerging: Last month, women’s health app Rosy partnered with online fitness company obé to create educational content on women’s health that addresses the intersection of exercise and sexuality. Dallas-based, doctor-founded Rosy has raised $5 million since launching in 2019.
HeHealth, a doctor-approved sexual health app for men, launched in 2019 and has raised $2.6 million, according to Pitchbook. The AI-powered app scans images to detect penile issues and instantly receives possible symptoms. A doctor reviews the case within 24 hours, and users can connect with a partner clinic if needed.
Founded in 2021, female-founded, AI-powered vaginal healthcare startup Evvy raised $14 million last September. The company offers vaginal microbiome testing, STI and antibiotic resistance testing and treatment on demand.
