Health is often discussed in terms that separate the physical from the emotional. Yet, the two are deeply intertwined. At the center of that intersection is PhiliaHealth, a company founded on the belief that stress should be measured, understood, and addressed with the same precision as any other biological process.
"Stress is a physiological response that tells us a lot about how the body and mind are functioning," says Dilpreet Buxi, CEO and co-founder of PhiliaHealth. "The problem is, most of us don't have a reliable way to measure it," adds Alexander Senior, CPO and co-founder of PhiliaHealth.
PhiliaHealth has introduced a wearable platform designed to help users and clinicians better understand the body's stress responses. Worn on the wrist, the device collects data that can be interpreted through a mobile app. "The goal is to give people and professionals alike a clearer picture of the nervous system's reactions to daily stimuli, from minor frustrations to moments of intense anxiety," Buxi explains.
For Senior, the mission is personal. The inspiration for PhiliaHealth traces back to his experiences supporting a sibling with autism. "That journey helped us see how differently people can process stress and how difficult it can be for families to understand what triggers certain emotional responses," he says. The name Philia, derived from the Greek word for friendship, captures the company's guiding purpose to help people build healthier, understanding relationships with themselves and those they care for.
PhiliaHealth's technology goes beyond typical heart rate monitoring. The device is designed to measure both heart rate variability and blood flow to the skin. "When someone becomes pale during stress, that's a visible sign of reduced blood flow to the skin," Buxi explains. "We capture that data to understand the physiological underpinnings of stress."
To interpret this data, PhiliaHealth uses AI trained on detailed physiological signals that correlate with the body's sympathetic nervous activity. "Our focus has always been on data that is clinically relevant," says Buxi.
Although PhiliaHealth's work began with individuals with autism in mind, the technology is intended for anyone seeking to understand their stress triggers and improve overall well-being. Families and caregivers can use it to anticipate periods of heightened stress, while healthcare providers can review longitudinal reports to inform care plans or therapy strategies. "We wanted to create something that helps families prevent emotional overload before it happens," says Senior.
The device is intentionally minimalist, with no display or notifications that could overstimulate users. It is sleek enough to be worn during sleep, a period when stress and recovery patterns can become evident. Through its accompanying app, users and clinicians can access detailed data reports that highlight trends in sleep quality, body stress responses, and emotional regulation.
PhiliaHealth also offers resources for clinicians, including educational material and professional development courses to help interpret the data. "We are inviting clinical leaders to trial the product," Buxi says. "Use it for a month or two, experience the data firsthand, and see how it can fit into your practice."
Looking ahead, Senior and Buxi envision expanding compatibility to integrate with other mainstream wearable platforms. "We understand that different users have different preferences," they note. "Our priority is accessibility, both in the data we provide and in how people choose to use the technology."
For Buxi, whose career spans engineering, biomedical research, and sensor design, PhiliaHealth is a mission-driven company. It's an evolution of years spent studying how human physiology can be better understood through technology, as well as the personal journeys of the co-founders and their experience with stress and anxiety. "We have built something that can bridge emotional and physical health," he says. "If we can give people the tools to see and manage their stress, we can help them live more balanced, independent lives."
