Arya, an AI-driven sexual wellness platform for couples, has secured $7.5 million in a seed funding round co-led by Patron and Play Ventures. The funding increase coincides with the announcement that renowned sexologist and relationship expert Shan Budram has joined Arya as Chief Intimacy Officer.
The new funding will further Arya’s mission to enhance intimacy and sexual health for couples through an AI-powered concierge service. The platform leverages advanced algorithms and insights from leading relationship researchers and sex therapists to provide personalized advice and curated experiences. Arya aims to provide a safe and engaging environment where couples can explore new ways to be intimate and receive monthly or on-demand fantasy packages.
A renowned sex educator and popular YouTube personality, Boodram brings a wealth of experience to Arya. Her impressive resume includes appearances on major media outlets such as The Today Show, The View, and CNN, as an expert on Netflix’s “Too Hot To Handle,” and as a relationship expert on Bumble. With a master’s degree in psychology and extensive work in the field, Boodram is perfectly suited to enhance Arya’s offerings.
Reflecting on his new role, Boodram emphasized the importance of redefining passion in long-term relationships. “We have collectively made the mistake of thinking that a healthy relationship is one of never-ending passion. As I have seen in my work, studies and personal life, that is simply not true. Passion fades as a relationship deepens. Throughout my career, I have helped couples accept this inevitable reality and the exciting responsibilities that come with it. In the early stages of a relationship, we desire and love each other. As a relationship matures, we love and desire each other,” Boodram said. “After getting to know the Aarya team, I knew I wanted to be a part of the company’s future because we share a commitment to normalizing sexual health and equipping individuals with the tools they need to holistically thrive in their relationships. As Aarya grows, we look forward to guiding couples towards greater connection, exploration and experimentation, making intimacy fun and fulfilling at every stage of their partnership.”
“Since the pandemic, consumers have prioritized wellness in all aspects, from physical and mental health to work-life balance, and we see this trend continuing. Sexual wellness is a big part of a holistic approach to health, which is why we founded Arya,” said Ofer Yehudai, co-founder and CEO of Arya. “Our goal is to help couples make sexual wellness a greater priority, which is why we welcomed Shan to the team. Her authentic, empathetic approach to intimacy reflects our mission to help individuals integrate sexual wellness into their health and longevity goals. Her new role, coupled with our latest funding, will help us support and grow our community of more than 250,000 users.”
The seed round also saw participation from several angel investors, including At.inc/, Heracles Capital, Casper co-founder Neil Parikh and former Oura CEO Harpreet Rai. Amber Atherton, Partner at Patron, praised Arya’s innovative approach, saying, “Couple intimacy is a billion-dollar problem. Arya brings a game-like approach to the more nuanced endeavor of deepening emotional connection and intimacy in relationships in an entertaining, science-backed way. We’re excited to partner with Ofer, Shan and the team to help more couples discover new ways to explore intimacy on their own schedule.”
