From Sleep Challenges to Sports and Medical Care: NUS-Based M.I. Cloud Tech’s Rare Earth Technology for Improving Blood Flow

For today’s business professionals, high-quality sleep is directly linked to daily performance, productivity, and long-term health. Globally, one in eight people is affected by snoring, and if left unaddressed, it can increase the risk of more serious conditions such as sleep apnea. Yet many of the solutions currently available on the market, including mouthpieces and other devices worn in the nose or mouth, are invasive and uncomfortable. As a result, as many as 70% of users reportedly stop using them within the first month.

Offering a fundamentally different approach to this global challenge is M.I. Cloud Tech, a startup spun out of the National University of Singapore (NUS). The company has developed a non-invasive device powered by proprietary rare-earth technology, designed to improve blood circulation in targeted areas of the body. Its core technology was discovered by Dr. Richard Chua, a biophysicist with more than 15 years of research experience at institutions including Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Hitachi.

We spoke with Mr. Zaid Khan, who spun out the company together with Dr. Chua and now leads its global expansion as co-founder, about M.I. Cloud Tech’s breakthrough technology, business roadmap, and future ambitions.

A Non-Invasive Device That Targets the Root Cause of Snoring — Simply by Placing It Under the Pillow

At M.I. Cloud Tech, we have developed a proprietary technology that uses rare-earth materials to rapidly improve blood flow in specific parts of the body. In the healthcare field, our current focus is on improving snoring and sleep quality.

Around 80% of snoring is caused by the relaxation of the soft palate muscles at the back of the throat. When these muscles collapse and partially obstruct the airway, the air passing through causes them to vibrate, producing the familiar sound of snoring. Many existing sleep improvement products either rely on supplements, which can create dependency, or on temperature-regulating or ergonomic pillows that do not address the underlying muscle relaxation.

Our product is designed to directly address this root cause: the collapse of the soft palate muscles. It is extremely simple to use. Users place the device behind the neck, under the pillow, before going to sleep. Within just three minutes, blood flow to the soft palate improves, helping the muscles regain tone and keeping the airway open throughout the night.

The device requires no battery or charging, and once purchased, its effect lasts for three years. In terms of safety, international guidelines for static magnetic fields set a threshold of 4,000 gauss for safe 24-hour daily exposure. Our device generates only 1,000 gauss, and when measured through a pillow, the level drops to around 50 gauss.

Strong Clinical Data and Enthusiastic Support from Users

Our technology is backed by 15 global patents and three academic papers. Over the past two years, we have already sold more than 3,000 units. While even top-tier anti-snoring products on the market typically reach customer satisfaction levels of around 70%, our survey of 800 users found that 96% were satisfied with the results.

Some of the scientific evidence supporting our technology includes the following:

• Joint study with a major European sleep products company In a test conducted by European sleep products company Hilding Anders involving 300 participants, our device reduced severe snoring by 70% and improved sleep quality by 70%.

• Sleep apnea study conducted in a medical institution In a polysomnography sleep study conducted at a hospital in Singapore, the device improved sleep apnea indicators by up to 90%.

• Double-blind trial involving students with insomnia In a two-month trial involving 50 students diagnosed with insomnia, sleep quality improved by more than twofold compared with the placebo group.

• Validation at Singapore Airlines’ sleep lab At Singapore Airlines’ sleep lab, the device was tested on people who snore in flight-like conditions and reduced snoring by approximately 50%. The product is also displayed in the airline’s lab.

We have also received many testimonials from users who say the product has changed their lives. One of our early users, Chris, had long struggled with snoring, which had put a strain on his relationship with his spouse. After using our product, the couple was able to sleep peacefully in the same room again. Other examples include Trevor, a father whose snoring had disturbed his daughter’s sleep, and a finance professional in Singapore who had been struggling with reduced daytime concentration but regained high-quality sleep and improved his work performance after using the device.

A Five-Part Roadmap Beyond Sleep

Our technology is based on a highly versatile mechanism: rapidly improving blood flow in targeted areas of the body. Leveraging this characteristic, we are currently pursuing business opportunities across five markets.

1. Consumer Wellness: Sleep This is our current anti-snoring device for the consumer wellness market. Next year, we plan to accelerate expansion into the U.S. and European markets through Amazon, while also working with influencers and public figures to increase awareness.

2. Medical Sleep Solutions We are conducting clinical research with medical institutions to explore the device as an alternative or complementary solution to CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, which is commonly used to treat sleep apnea.

3. Elderly Care: Nighttime Urination Many people aged 65 and older struggle with nocturia, or frequent nighttime urination. We have conducted proof-of-concept trials at elderly care facilities in Singapore, where the device reduced symptoms by between 20% and up to 70%.

4. Sports Technology: Recovery and Performance Enhancement We believe our blood-flow improvement mechanism can also be applied in sports. In a study involving cyclists in Australia, the device was associated with increased riding distance and improved recovery. In Hong Kong, we also conducted a pilot project with a sports equipment manufacturer, integrating the device into insoles and observing a reduction in fatigue. In another experiment with a European sports company, participants placed their feet in ice water while using the device. Their foot temperature remained four degrees higher than without the device, suggesting potential applications in frostbite prevention.

5. Diabetic Foot Management We are also exploring clinical partnerships to develop the technology as a device for improving blood flow in the feet of diabetes patients. The aim is to help reduce the risk of ulcers and gangrene caused by poor circulation.

Looking ahead, we plan to further expand into the medical and sports sectors. We are also preparing to secure ISO-certified manufacturing facilities in response to orders from Korea that require medical device approval, while seeking investors to support the expansion of our manufacturing capacity.

Full-Scale Expansion in Japan and Partnership Development

We are pursuing global growth and see particularly strong potential in the Japanese market. We have already signed contracts with Japanese nap-room operators and distributors, and the first product lot has been shipped. Through these partners, we are currently building a distribution strategy in Japan that includes hotel adoption and direct-to-consumer channels.

We are also actively pursuing partnerships beyond sales, particularly in medical and research fields. We have already received inquiries from Japanese companies regarding clinical research into the device as an alternative or complement to CPAP. After signing non-disclosure agreements, we have begun discussions and investment considerations with Japanese research institutions.

We are now seeking additional partners in Japan that can jointly conduct clinical trials in areas such as sleep apnea and diabetic foot complications, and support the commercialization process based on the resulting data.

Conclusion

M.I. Cloud Tech’s solution stands out in the sleep market, where many existing products have focused mainly on symptomatic relief. By using rare-earth technology to address blood flow — one of the underlying factors behind snoring and sleep disruption — the company is taking a highly innovative approach.

Backed by 15 global patents and clinical data, M.I. Cloud Tech’s non-invasive device aims to solve the global pain point of snoring and sleep debt, while already helping many users significantly improve their quality of life. Yet the company’s potential extends far beyond sleep. Its roadmap points to broader applications in sports performance, nocturia care for the elderly, and even serious medical fields such as the prevention and management of diabetic foot complications.

As this Singapore-born deep-tech company builds partnerships in Japan, the question now is what kind of new value it can create together with Japanese companies — and how significant its impact could become across the global healthcare and medical industries.

Interviewee Company Overview

Company Name: M.I. Cloud TechCompany

Website: https://www.micloudtech.com/

Product Website: https://quietosleep.com/

For inquiries regarding collaboration or business discussions with the interviewee company, please contact either Third Ecosystem, inc., the operator of this media platform, or the interviewee company directly.