NEVARO Tackles Mental Health Gaps With Wearable Tools and Real-Time Support

NEVARO is not trying to replace therapy. It is not interested in glossy apps or short-lived wellness trends. What co-founder and CEO Rita Maçorano is building is a set of tools that give people back a sense of control over their mental health.

Founded in 2019 and based in Porto, NEVARO combines wearable sensors with data-driven software to help individuals and professionals track, understand and respond to mental health changes. The company’s system, which includes a discreet wearable and an integrated app, is used in both clinical and everyday settings.

Rather than position itself as a cure-all, NEVARO takes the stance that most people need small, consistent interventions that respond to real-life situations. Whether someone is dealing with stress, anxiety or long-term psychological conditions, the aim is the same: make care measurable, responsive and unobtrusive.

Born From Practicality, Not Theory

Rita, a neuroscientist by training, co-founded NEVARO with the belief that mental health support should be both rooted in science and adapted to how people live. While research-backed, the product is intentionally simple in form. The wearable monitors key physiological indicators such as heart rate variability, skin temperature and activity patterns.

These data points, when interpreted correctly, can flag stress and emotional dysregulation before they escalate. The user sees this feedback in the companion app, which also provides personalized exercises, breathing techniques and prompts tailored to their needs.

Unlike apps that rely on self-reporting or generalized meditations, NEVARO offers something more structured. The system works passively and actively. It senses change, not just hears about it.

A Tool for Clinicians and Individuals Alike

NEVARO has found a place in clinics, universities and corporations. Therapists use the tool to monitor patient progress in between sessions. Companies offer it as part of employee well-being programs. Students use it to cope with academic pressure.

That dual use is by design. Rita and her team are wary of tools that only serve professionals or only aim at consumers. By bridging both, NEVARO has created a feedback loop between personal use and professional care. It encourages continuity and early intervention.

The real-time insights give therapists a fuller picture of what clients experience outside their appointments. That context is especially valuable for patients who struggle to articulate feelings or recall episodes accurately.

Access and Privacy Matter Equally

NEVARO emphasizes that health data belongs to the user. All records are encrypted and controlled by the individual. The company does not sell data or use it for unrelated research without explicit consent.

That approach helps NEVARO gain trust in a space often clouded by vague policies and hidden data practices. Rita is candid about the risks of overreach in digital health. “We’re not here to track people. We’re here to support them,” she says.

The company also prices its tools with accessibility in mind. Institutions can subsidize access for those who cannot afford it, and the team regularly collaborates with public health groups and nonprofits.

Building With Care, Not Speed

NEVARO is not in a race to scale. It has chosen a slower path, one rooted in careful validation and feedback. New features are tested over months, not weeks. Partnerships are built on shared values, not just exposure.

Rita believes that staying small has helped the company stay focused. "We’re not under pressure to churn out updates. We have time to listen, test and improve."

This mindset has served NEVARO well in a crowded space. While other mental health tech startups have come and gone, NEVARO has quietly built a community of users and partners who see long-term value.

Avoiding the One-Size-Fits-All Trap

Mental health is complex. NEVARO doesn’t promise to fix it with a single app. Instead, the company focuses on personalization.

Users are onboarded through a short assessment that helps tailor the interface to their stress profile. The suggestions are not algorithmic guesses but based on ongoing interaction and actual biometric data.

Over time, the system adjusts its interventions based on what’s working. It might recommend a walk, a breathing session or just a moment of stillness—all grounded in how the user’s body is responding.

A European Alternative to Health Tech Hype

In a field dominated by American startups, NEVARO brings a quieter European sensibility. It isn’t advertising instant calm or five-minute fixes. It is promoting steadiness, reliability and deeper engagement.

That difference shows in its partnerships, too. NEVARO works closely with universities in Portugal, health clinics across southern Europe, and public bodies looking for sustainable solutions. Rather than chase venture capital headlines, it focuses on implementation.

The result is a product that evolves without losing direction. Rita and her team continue to refine NEVARO by working with real users—nurses, students, caregivers, and patients—rather than reacting to market chatter.

Staying Close to the Ground

Rita makes it a point to stay connected to the users. She still attends pilot sessions, talks to therapists directly, and reviews user feedback personally.

This kind of involvement is rare as founders step back into boardrooms or fundraising. But for Rita, it remains essential.

"We started NEVARO because we saw a real need. That hasn’t changed. I don’t want us to lose touch with why we began."

Future Arrangements

NEVARO is now preparing to expand into new European markets and release an updated wearable with improved battery life and comfort. The team is also exploring partnerships with mental health research centers to gather long-term efficacy data.

But none of these moves are rushed. Rita insists that scale must not come at the expense of reliability. The company’s pace, like its product, reflects care over flash.

For NEVARO, the mission is steady and clear: make mental health support more available, understandable and respectful. And do so in a way that serves both individuals and the professionals who guide them.

That approach won’t lead to overnight headlines. But it is building something that can last.

Rita Maçorano, Co-Founder & CEO, NEVARO

People don’t need more noise. They need support that fits their life, not the other way around.