Mioglobal

About Mioglobal

Mio Global, founded in 1999 by Liz Dickinson, established itself as a key player in the wearable fitness technology market. Dickinson, an IT industry veteran, was motivated to start the company due to the discomfort of existing chest-strap heart rate monitors and a personal need to optimize her workouts. The company is recognized for introducing the first continuous optical heart rate sensor in a sports watch, the Mio ALPHA, which delivered EKG-level accuracy.

The business initially focused on designing and selling hardware, including a range of wristbands and watches like the Mio FUSE, Mio LINK, and Mio SLICE, directly to consumers. These devices served both performance athletes and health-conscious individuals by tracking metrics such as heart rate, steps, distance, pace, and calories burned. The company's products were designed to be interoperable, transmitting data via Bluetooth and ANT+ to popular fitness apps.

A significant milestone was the acquisition and integration of Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) technology. PAI is a scientifically-backed metric that translates heart rate data from any physical activity into a simple, personalized score, with a goal of maintaining 100 or above for optimal health. The PAI algorithm is based on the 20-year-long HUNT Study, which monitored over 60,000 individuals. To fuel growth and the launch of new products like the Mio SLICE, the company secured approximately $15-19 million in a Series B funding round led by Hydra Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Adidas AG.

In December 2017, Mio Global underwent a strategic pivot, rebranding to PAI Health. This change marked a shift from producing hardware to focusing on a B2B model by licensing its PAI software and sensor technology. The company now operates as a cloud-based software platform that integrates with other wearable brands, health platforms, insurers, and employers, aiming to make the PAI metric universally available.