Melatonin, sedating medicines, and familiar supplement blends each serve a different purpose, but many consumers want another option.
Investor briefing
Melatonin-free sleep support for adults whose sleep has changed with age.
SleepEQ is a melatonin-free sublingual tablet built around BiofactorE®, our proprietary formulation of Epitalon, also known as AEDG. It is designed to support the body’s nighttime melatonin signaling rather than supply melatonin.
Explore the evidence
The problem
They’ve tried melatonin. Magnesium. Gummies. They still wake up at 3 a.m.
Not because they have not found the right product, but because the sleep aisle was not built around what can change in the body with age.
For many adults—especially in midlife and beyond—the frustration is familiar: they can fall asleep, then wake up wide awake. They want a clear, non-sedating approach they can understand and trust.
A melatonin-free sublingual formulation built around BiofactorE®, supported by education and an evidence program.
The opportunity
A large sleep problem. A clearly defined customer. A different approach.
SleepEQ is focused on adults whose sleep has changed with age, with an initial emphasis on women in midlife. The opportunity is not simply another sleep supplement. It is a melatonin-free option for customers seeking a more biology-led approach, paired with direct education, trial, subscription, and ongoing customer learning.
A differentiated product, a clearly defined customer, and a direct path to learning what drives repeat purchase.
Melatonin-free
A differentiated option for adults who do not want to add melatonin nightly.
2 studies
Early product-specific results that guide the research roadmap.
DTC first
A trial, subscription, and repeat-purchase model with direct customer learning.
Evidence program
Two observational studies. One consistent signal.
These studies are not presented as placebo-controlled clinical proof. They do provide early, product-specific evidence to inform investor diligence, product development, and the next phase of research. Published AEDG research provides scientific background; the SleepEQ studies are separate product evidence.
Formulation disclosure: Both observational studies used the original 5 mg formulation. SleepEQ’s current commercial formulation is 2.5 mg, refined based on published Epitalon dosing literature, internal user experience, and study observations that consistency of use, not dose, tracked with stronger outcomes. Our planned placebo-controlled trial will include multiple dose arms to establish the optimal dose.
30-night wearable-enabled pilot
34 adults completed a 30-night observational pilot with wearable tracking and participant-reported outcomes.
26/34
reported improved sleep quality
Participants used the original 5 mg formulation. IRB-reviewed, real-world pilot. Results are descriptive and should not be interpreted as causal clinical claims.
29-day comparative real-world study
128 participants were included in the comparative observational analysis using self-assessment and validated instruments; 96 completed the Day-29 exit survey.
25% → 47%
reported easier sleep onset
19% → 58%
reported feeling refreshed
Participants used the original 5 mg formulation. The two studies guide our research roadmap and will be shared in appropriate diligence context, including protocols and limitations.
Participant voice
What participants said in their own words.
“I fell asleep a lot easier on the nights I did take the product, I rarely woke through the night. I woke up more refreshed than when I was not taking the product.”
“I am in peri-menopause and so used to wake up 4-5 times a night. Now I only wake up once, and my sleep is more restful.”
“I’m sleeping better and have better recovery.”
Participant comments are presented anonymously from their individual observational study reports. They describe personal experiences, not typical results or clinical proof.
BiofactorE®
What is BiofactorE®?
01
Epitalon, also known as AEDG
BiofactorE® is SleepEQ’s proprietary formulation built around Epitalon, a four-amino-acid peptide also called AEDG.
02
Melatonin-free and sublingual
SleepEQ does not add melatonin. Its current commercial formulation is a 2.5 mg sublingual tablet designed to be simple to use and distinct from the capsule and gummy sleep aisle.
03
Why the science matters
Published AEDG research provides the rationale for studying its relationship to age-related nighttime melatonin signaling. That background research is separate from SleepEQ’s own observational studies.
What SleepEQ does not claim: The current commercial formulation has not been proven to treat insomnia, and individual results vary.
Business model & traction
A direct relationship with the customer.
SleepEQ is built DTC-first. A $9.95 seven-day trial lets customers experience the product directly; a $47 monthly subscription and $57 one-time purchase create a straightforward path from trial to repeat purchase.
Our early work has established a customer base, a live commerce foundation, and a meaningful learning loop around trial conversion, retention, creative, and product experience. Over time, the model can expand through carefully selected professional wellness channels and strategic partnerships.
$9.95
7-day trial entry point
$47
monthly subscription
$57
one-time purchase
~22%
subscription attach in the early paid cohort
Order reporting
Paid commercial orders reported separately from study shipments, comped orders, and internal/test activity.
~$5K
initial Meta test spend
107
orders during the test period
Early operating metrics are directional and subject to change. Revenue, customer counts, and detailed financial information are reserved for qualified diligence conversations.
Marketing execution
Building a brand that can earn attention.
SleepEQ is already creating and testing original storytelling—not simply buying generic supplement creative. The “Baby Doctor” commercial is an early example of a clear, memorable emotional hook built for fast learning across paid channels.
We also create value before the purchase: the SleepEQ education section translates the biology into plain English, while a Sleep Scientist-created menopause questionnaire gives women in midlife a relevant, low-friction way to understand their sleep pattern and begin a relationship with the brand.
Illustrative brand creative shown for investor context. It is not a product-performance claim.
Education as engagement
Sleep Education for Real Life
SleepEQ uses education and self-assessment tools to attract high-intent prospective customers before purchase. Resources on melatonin, women’s sleep, and menopause give people a useful next step while introducing the SleepEQ point of view.
Should Parents Give Their Kids Melatonin?Read the article ↗
Sleep Apnea in Women: Why It Can Be Easy to Miss in Your 40s and 50sRead the article ↗
Sleep Scientist-Created Menopause QuestionnaireTake the questionnaire ↗
Educational content by SleepEQ Medical Advisor Brian Harris, MD; it is not a product endorsement.
Founder perspective
Built from a personal problem and decades of consumer-health experience.
SleepEQ began with James Slatic’s own long search for better sleep. That experience led him into circadian biology and ultimately to a simple business question: could a melatonin-free product support the body’s nighttime signaling rather than add another familiar sleep aid?
James has built consumer health and wellness businesses before, including a supplement business acquired by Neurohacker. He documented the discovery arc behind SleepEQ in The Sleep Reset, a practical, personal account of the problem that led him to build the company.
Defensibility
What SleepEQ owns and is building.
SleepEQ does not claim ownership of Epitalon itself. Its defensibility is the BiofactorE® brand, trade-secret formulation and manufacturing know-how, sublingual product experience, direct customer relationship, and accumulating product-specific evidence.
Registered marks
SLEEPEQ® and BiofactorE® establish a clear, ownable market language around the company and its ingredient platform.
Protected know-how
SleepEQ’s synthesis work is held as trade-secret know-how and has received independent legal review. The specific process is not publicly disclosed.
Sublingual format
BiofactorE® is delivered as a sublingual tablet, creating a distinct product experience and positioning versus conventional capsule, gummy, and injectable formats.
Research flywheel
Product-specific observational data, customer learning, and a growing evidence roadmap create a stronger diligence base over time.
Platform horizon
Beyond a consumer product: potential BioPeptide manufacturing capability.
SleepEQ is developing a long-term BioPeptide Manufacturing Platform thesis: apply biological fermentation and proprietary manufacturing know-how to supplement conventional chemical peptide synthesis. The strategic objective is a more scalable, resilient production pathway, potential cost advantages, and a platform that could extend to future peptide products and partnerships.
Manufacturing work is developmental. Detailed methods, yields, and commercial terms are reserved for qualified diligence.
Competitive awareness
Where SleepEQ fits in the sleep market.
SleepEQ operates in a well-developed sleep market with established brands, conventional ingredients, and direct peptide alternatives. The strategy is not to pretend those choices do not exist; it is to earn a differentiated position with clearer consumer language, a melatonin-free biology-first story, and evidence that can withstand scrutiny.
Melatonin and OTC sleep aids
Familiar options that many customers use to help them fall or stay asleep.
Magnesium, botanicals & modern DTC blends
Nonprescription wellness options with different ingredient systems and brand experiences.
Prescription sleep medicines
Physician-directed treatment for more serious sleep problems.
Clinical & biohacker alternatives
Specialist peptide companies serve a narrower, technically fluent audience. Their existence makes transparent delivery education and credible expectation-setting essential.
Melatonin-free, made consumer-clear
A BiofactorE® formulation delivered sublingually, built for adults whose sleep has changed with age and who want a distinct alternative to the familiar sleep-gummy route.
Our market work recognizes the central credibility question around peptide delivery. SleepEQ addresses it through a distinct sublingual format, clear study boundaries, and a commitment to share appropriate product and delivery evidence in qualified diligence.
People
A team with consumer-health, DTC, and growth experience.
James Slatic
James built and exited a prior supplement company, acquired by Neurohacker and now part of Qualia. He brings 30+ years of consumer and health-company building to SleepEQ, where he leads strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and the biology-first position.
Prior supplement-company exitJames Freeman
Leads Shopify, Klaviyo, order fulfillment, and the operating systems behind the DTC customer experience.
John Davis
Builds SleepEQ’s technology and digital-content foundation, translating the company’s biology and customer insight into a scalable online experience.
Joe Montgomery
Founding shareholder at Overfuel and a founding-team member at 250ok, the email-deliverability platform acquired by Validity. Joe brings enterprise growth, performance marketing, and category-building experience to SleepEQ’s go-to-market work.
250ok acquired by ValidityBrian Harris, MD
Board-certified physician providing educational and scientific perspective to SleepEQ.
Capital plan
Capital to turn early demand into repeatable growth.
SleepEQ is seeking aligned investor conversations around the resources required to scale customer acquisition, maintain inventory as demand grows, and advance the research roadmap.
We do not publish financing terms, financial statements, cap-table information, or offering documents on this site.
01
Inventory for growth
Maintain product availability as subscription and repeat orders grow.
02
Customer-acquisition scale
Expand creative, channels, and offer testing while maintaining compliant, science-aligned communication.
03
Research and education
Advance additional observational work and credible education that strengthens the customer decision process.
04
Operating capacity
Build the capabilities required to move from early traction to a more repeatable growth engine.
Next step
Contact us for further information and data-room access.
Investors who want to examine the study reports, IP approach, product economics, customer learning, and growth roadmap can schedule a focused conversation with James and request access to the data room.
Schedule an investor conversation