Ex-Apple Engineer Unveils Hiyd, a Health-Tracking Disc for Traditional Watches

Hardware startup Hiyd has introduced a slim biometric sensor designed to attach directly to traditional wristwatches, aiming to offer health monitoring without requiring consumers to wear dedicated smartwatches. Founded by former Apple manufacturing design engineer Salah Batroukh, the company is developing hardware that integrates tracking capabilities into existing accessories without altering their appearance, as reported by TechCrunch Startups (https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/14/hiyd-is-a-health-tracker-that-attaches-to-the-watch-you-already-wear/).

The device is a disc measuring 2.7 millimeters thick and weighing 7 grams. Rather than using adhesives or magnets that could leave residue or disrupt mechanical watch movements, the sensor adheres using a 0.3-millimeter sheet of microsuction silicone. The pliable material contains hundreds of tiny molded pockets per square inch that push out air when pressed against a surface, forming a vacuum seal. Batroukh noted that the bond resists shear forces during daily wear while remaining easy to pry off.

Hiyd's sensor collects metrics comparable to major fitness wearables, including heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep stages, motion, calorie expenditure, and estimated VO2 max. To calibrate its movement recognition, the startup records video of team members performing activities such as walking, jogging, and running, manually labeling the footage to train its data analysis models. Readings sync with a companion mobile app for iOS and Android.

Beyond fitness metrics, the app is being designed to correlate lifestyle habits with physiological outcomes, such as highlighting how eating late at night or shifting workout times influences sleep quality. Batroukh co-founded Hiyd alongside Chief Technology Officer Omar Shakir, a mechanical engineer, and Head of Software Mahamad Charawi, who previously co-led the Y Combinator-backed startup Laudspeaker prior to its acquisition.

Hiyd presented the device at TechCrunch Disrupt as part of the Startup Battlefield top 20 competition. The company plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in November, with Batroukh reporting that more than 16,000 customers have placed deposits to reserve units ahead of the crowdfunding launch.