HIYD to unveil second-gen biometric sensor at TechCrunch Disrupt

HIYD will show its Gen 2 caseback health sensor at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco as part of the Startup Battlefield 200. The watch-mounted device is designed to track sleep, heart rate, recovery and stress without a smartwatch-style subscription, and the company plans a Kickstarter launch in November 2026.

Why it matters: - HIYD is targeting people who want health tracking without giving up the watches they already wear. - The Gen 2 sensor is built for mechanical and quartz watch owners who currently rely on a second device for sleep and fitness data. - The product uses a one-time purchase model instead of a subscription, which could appeal to buyers tired of recurring fees.

What happened: - HIYD will unveil its second-generation biometric sensor at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco from Oct. 13 to 15. - The San Francisco Bay Area and Toronto startup is part of the conference’s Startup Battlefield 200 program. - The company will demonstrate the sensor mounted on a Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711/1A-018 with a Tiffany & Co. blue dial. - The display watch is on loan from a private collector who asked to remain anonymous.

The details: - HIYD Gen 2 is an optical sensor that measures 2.7mm thick and 25mm across. - The sensor attaches to a watch caseback with a soft silicone microsuction pad. - The design does not use adhesive or magnets. - HIYD says the sensor is compatible with about 95% of watch casebacks. - The sensor can be removed without leaving residue. - When a watch is taken off, the sensor can move to the included fabric SoftBand. - The device tracks sleep, heart rate, recovery and stress data. - The sensor is sold as a one-time purchase and does not require a subscription to access data. - The Patek Philippe reference shown at Disrupt was produced in a limited run of 170 pieces in 2021 to mark Tiffany & Co.’s 170th anniversary. - One example of that watch sold at Phillips in New York in December 2021 for $6.5 million.

Between the lines: - HIYD is positioning the product as a compromise between traditional watch ownership and modern health tracking. - Founder and CEO Salah Batroukh framed the product as a way to avoid forcing customers to choose between a watchmaker’s design and health data. - Batroukh also said users should not need a subscription to track basic health. - The company is leaning on a luxury watch demo to signal that the sensor can fit into high-end timepieces, not just sport watches. - HIYD says a pilot of its first-generation sensor earlier in 2026 helped shape the Gen 2 design. - Validation of the sensor’s data against ECG is still underway with pilot users.

What's next: - HIYD plans to launch Gen 2 on Kickstarter in November 2026. - After Disrupt, the company will exhibit at WatchTime Düsseldorf and Micro Praha. - HIYD is backed by Antler. - The founding team includes people with prior experience at Apple, Tesla, Y Combinator and Synaptive Medical.

The bottom line: - HIYD is betting there is a market for discreet, subscription-free health tracking that works with the watch people already own and want to keep wearing.