The terms “sober curious” and “mindful drinking” have gained traction in recent years, with nearly 47% of U.S. adults expressing a desire to reduce their alcohol consumption. In light of this trend, Sunnyside, an innovative app focused on promoting healthier drinking habits, has successfully raised $11.5 million in Series A funding. This round was led by Motley Fool Ventures, with significant contributions from Will Ventures and others. The new funding will be used to launch "Sunny," an AI-driven mindful drinking coach designed to enhance user support by generating tailored guidance for Sunnyside's human coaching team.
Additional investors in this funding round include Uncork Capital, Offline Ventures, Joyance Partners, Wisdom Ventures, Eudemian Ventures, Adjacent, Scribble Ventures, Cooley LLP, and MyFitnessPal founder Michael Lee. In total, Sunnyside has raised $14.6 million to date.
In conjunction with the funding announcement, Sunnyside introduced its latest executive hire, Steve Lloyd, as chief product and technology officer. Lloyd brings previous experience from fitness app Strava. "Two years ago, I started using Sunnyside to help manage my own drinking habits," Lloyd shared. "From the beginning, I experienced nothing but positive reinforcement and understanding regarding my goals. I’m excited to leverage my technology and wellness background at Sunnyside, creating experiences that unite our community as they pursue their mindful drinking journeys."
For an annual fee of $99, Sunnyside offers features including daily drink tracking, SMS reminders for goal adherence, personalized one-on-one coaching, and a community chat area for sharing experiences and successes. This pricing aligns closely with Reframe, a similar app available at $8.33 per month or $100 annually.
The app also includes an analytics dashboard that calculates your savings in both money and calories from reducing alcohol intake. Users can engage in accountability challenges like a 30-day alcohol reset or friendly competitions to see who can reduce their consumption the most.
For those seeking additional support, Sunnyside offers a $298 premium subscription, which includes weekly Zoom check-ins with coaches and quicker response times. A free 15-day trial is also available for newcomers looking to explore strategies for cutting back on alcohol.
Sunnyside's new AI coach, "Sunny," serves to assist human coaches by providing pre-approved responses to simple member queries. For example, if you’re attending a party but wish to limit yourself to just one drink, Sunny can offer strategies to help maintain your commitment. However, the AI does not interact directly with users; rather, it generates recommendations reviewed by a human coach before they are sent via SMS.
“Our coaching team will remain central to our service,” Allen explained. “The AI is designed to enhance the human experience, allowing coaches to focus on deeper, individualized support rather than routine inquiries.” Built on a ChatGPT foundation, the AI utilizes Sunnyside’s comprehensive dataset regarding member drinking patterns and behavioral changes.
Sunnyside hires coaches who are experienced members of the program. Each of the approximately 20 coaches has completed an independently developed coaching certification program in collaboration with licensed counselors. “Our model is similar to traditional sponsor/sponsee relationships, emphasizing support from those who understand the journey,” Allen added.
However, it’s important to note that while Sunnyside coaches receive professional training, they are not licensed therapists and cannot offer medical advice. "We're transparent about the fact that our coaches are peers, providing support rather than professional therapy," he stated.
(Note: If you have a dependency on alcohol, quitting suddenly can pose serious risks, including symptoms such as hand tremors, anxiety, or seizures. If you face such challenges, seeking professional help is crucial.)
Founded by Allen and Ian Andersen (CGO), Sunnyside was established as an alternative to traditional sobriety programs, fostering dialogues about the effects of unmanaged alcohol consumption. "Our funding aims to propel the mindful drinking movement into mainstream wellness conversations. Our mission is to become a recognized name for those seeking to transform their relationship with alcohol," Allen emphasized. He shared his personal story of growing up in a household with recovering alcoholics, alongside Andersen, whose own family has faced challenges related to alcohol.
"This is a deeply personal endeavor for both of us," Allen confirmed.
Since its launch in 2020, Sunnyside claims to have helped over 200,000 individuals eliminate 13.5 million drinks from their lives. Notably, during a time when alcohol usage surged due to the pandemic, Sunnyside members reported a 32% reduction in consumption, 1,500 calories cut, and savings exceeding $50 in their first month of use.
Sunnyside is available for download on the Apple Store.
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