A revolutionary pillow supply business has been launched by University of Sydney students, with the aim of solving the sleep market’s most frequent problems.

Biomedical engineering PhD candidate Suri Susilo and Tycho Hugh, a former Bachelor of Commerce and Liberal Studies student, developed the ‘MuTu’ pillow to relieve pain and optimise sleep. The world’s-first filler-less, height adjustable pillow has 66 positions which can be customised through air suspension. 

The pair’s Somnium Labs won the 2017 Student Challenge at Innovation Week, a prestigious start-up competition. As the winners of the Richard Seymour Memorial Prize for best start-up business pitch, the team won $10,000 in grant funding, mentoring and services from Genesis and INCUBATE, the University Student Union start-up accelerator and entrepreneur program.

“Winning the 2017 student challenge meant we would continue to develop the MuTu prototype into what we have today,” said Mr Hugh. “It was also a great step in further validating our concept and business model, which really helped to keep us hustling every day.”

“Seeing that people actually really want the product, and seeing that what we're doing actually provides value to people's lives, I know it's all been completely worth it,” said Mr Hugh.

The idea for the pillow began with Ms Susilo’s research in biomedical engineering, where the concept was developed with clinical assistance from University of Sydney academics and the Sydney Spine Institute. The pillow was then developed into a commercial product by award-winning industrial design firm Shakes.

“There are so many applications – from treating sleep apnoea and reducing chronic neck pain, to helping people have a more restful night sleep,” said Ms Susilo.

Mr Hugh now works as a tutor in the Business School’s marketing faculty and credits the school with providing the inspiration, help, and support to get the team this far. “I actually met my co-founder, Suri, through a friend I made in my Business Capstone tutorial,” he said.

“The Marketing discipline relentlessly hammered in the need to listen and understand the consumer to provide value and meaningful connection, which has been so important for this kickstarter campaign,” added Mr Hugh.

The MuTu pillow is available for pre order on Kickstarter.

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