Eccrine Systems

About Eccrine Systems

Eccrine Systems, founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in late 2013 by Robert Beech and Jason Heikenfeld, focused on developing wearable electronic systems to analyze biomarkers in sweat. The company's core technology, trademarked "Sweatronics," was based on intellectual property licensed from the University of Cincinnati and the Air Force Research Labs. Co-founder Jason Heikenfeld, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, was a lead researcher in the field, driven by a request from the US Air Force to find better ways to monitor pilot performance. Robert Beech brought substantial experience in leading high-technology ventures, having previously founded and led a healthcare IT software company.

The business developed non-invasive, disposable electronic patches designed to measure and transmit real-time data from human sweat. This technology was engineered to track various biomarkers, including electrolytes and stress levels, with applications in medicine, industry, and sports. For the medical sector, potential uses included monitoring medication adherence for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, such as in oncology and organ transplants, as well as managing conditions like cystic fibrosis. Other targeted areas were clinical trial management, industrial safety, and performance optimization for athletes.

Eccrine Systems operated on a platform business model, aiming to establish partnerships with companies in various market segments to integrate the Sweatronics technology into their products. The company sought to provide a scientifically rigorous alternative to consumer wellness wearables by offering data with high accuracy and chronological assurance. Over its lifetime, the company raised a total of $15.5 million in funding over seven rounds from investors including CincyTech, the Ohio Innovation Fund, and Connetic Ventures. A significant milestone was a $3.96 million contract awarded by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a next-generation non-invasive sensing system. Despite its efforts and funding, Eccrine Systems ceased operations, with records indicating it was out of business by October 2020. Subsequently, in May 2022, Epicore Biosystems acquired the assets and intellectual property of Eccrine Systems.