25-Year-Old Turns Sleep Struggles Into Eight-Figure AI Startup

Harry Gestetner, 25, knows what burnout feels like. After building and selling his last company, Fanfix, for more than $100 million, he developed a severe case of vertigo that sidelined him from work entirely. The experience pushed him to treat his own health with the same discipline he once reserved for his business, and that shift eventually led him to launch Orion, a smart mattress cover designed to track sleep and regulate temperature using AI.

A Sleep Specialist Sparks the Idea

The turning point came when Gestetner connected with sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, who convinced him that temperature is the single most controllable factor in sleep quality. Rather than settle for a device that only collected data, Gestetner wanted something that could actively respond to it. Orion was the result: a cover that fits under any sheet set, monitors biometrics overnight, and adjusts temperature in dual zones so two sleepers can each set their own comfort level.

Undercutting Premium Competitors

Orion’s main rival, Eight Sleep, sells comparable covers starting near $3,000 and climbing past $5,000, with mandatory WiFi connectivity. Gestetner priced Orion from $2,295, built in a personalized sleep test from day one, skipped subscription fees, and made core temperature control work without an internet connection. The cover went on to win the Red Dot and iF Design awards for 2026.

The strategy paid off. Orion crossed eight figures in revenue within three months of launching and has kept growing at roughly 112 percent month-over-month since, driven largely by word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid advertising. Gestetner is now in talks with major hotel chains to bring temperature-controlled sleep suites to guest rooms, betting that climate-controlled beds will eventually become as ordinary as air conditioning.