Ever thought your saliva could reveal how much stress you’re under?
It turns out, it can—and that’s exactly what CortiSense is developing on.
Workplace stress is at an all-time high, taking a serious toll on businesses and employees. In the U.S. alone, stress and burnout contribute to a staggering $300 billion in lost productivity annually.
That’s right—every single day, nearly one million workers call in sick due to stress-related issues, and more than half of U.S. employees admit to feeling burned out.
With stress becoming a full-blown epidemic, we need smarter solutions.
CortiSense is a first-of-its-kind device that detects cortisol levels in saliva and delivers results within minutes. It enables individuals and organisations to monitor stress levels in real time. This can help mitigate workplace burnout and improve employee well-being.
Let’s learn how CortiSense plans to achieve this.
Why cortisol matters: Understanding its impact
Before we dive into how CortiSense is revolutionizing stress tracking, let’s talk about cortisol—the so-called “stress hormone.” It plays a key role in metabolism, immune function, and sleep quality.
But when cortisol levels go haywire, the body starts waving red flags:
Too much cortisol can lead to:
- Insomnia
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Sugar cravings
- Anxiety
- Indigestion or acid reflux
- Irregular periods
- Unexplained weight gain
Too little cortisol can cause:
- Chronic fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Low blood pressure
- Depression
- Salt cravings
Clearly, keeping cortisol in check is crucial for overall well-being. However traditional testing methods are slow, expensive, require lab visits and do not provide real-time data.
That’s where CortiSense comes in.
Introducing CortiSense: Your personal stress monitoring device
CortiSense, part of Nutrix’s gSense Healthcare System, is an at-home, Swiss-engineered stress monitoring sensor for real-time cortisol tracking. It integrates with various smart health trackers and lab tests using AI-driven analysis.
Unlike traditional lab tests that require time-consuming processes like ELISA assays and LC-MS machines, CortiSense delivers results in just 10 minutes—all at home from your saliva.
How does CortiSense work?
Using CortiSense is simple and efficient:
- Apply a sample of saliva to the sensor.
- Wait 10 minutes for the measurement and analysis to complete.
- Check results in the gSense app and consult with a wellness coach.
That’s it—no needles, no waiting days for lab results, and no guesswork.
Recognition and investment: CortiSense is making waves
It’s no surprise that CortiSense is turning heads in the healthtech world. The device recently won the CES Innovation Award 2025 in the Digital Health category and has secured backing from key players like Swiss innovation agency Innosuisse and private investors.
Nutrix, Cortisense’s parent company, has raised $4 million, including a $2.5 million seed round co-led by Polish impact fund Simpact and Japan deep tech fund OIST-Lifetime Ventures. Even the Mayo Clinic has joined the journey, showing their support after meeting the team at CES 2024.
The future: Expanding into corporate wellness
With plans to expand CortiSense into the U.S. market, Nutrix is setting up offices in Silicon Valley. It has successfully integrated its gSense platform into public insurance systems in Chile, with further operations expanding to Mexico and Peru.
However, the U.S. presents a unique challenge—some companies are hesitant about the idea of stress monitoring in the workplace. Nutrix, however, is committed to protecting employee privacy, ensuring that businesses only receive aggregated, anonymized data.
Why this should matter for businesses
Let’s face it—stress isn’t just an employee problem; it’s a business problem. Burnout leads to absenteeism, lower productivity, and higher healthcare costs. With CortiSense, companies can track and manage workplace stress to foster a healthier and more productive workforce.
If Nutrix has its way, stress tracking will become as common as step counting. And that could mean fewer burned-out employees and happier workplaces. Isn’t it a future worth embracing?
-By Rinkle Dudhani and the AHT Team
