Written by Dino K.
Welcome to the Smart Home Founders series, where the founders of leading smart home companies get to tell their stories. In this edition, we interviewed Eric Carreel, the founder and president of Withings, a leading innovator in the modern smart health space.
Withings is a French consumer electronics company specializing in connected health tracking devices. It designs and manufactures various products, including smart scales and smartwatches with body and health monitoring features.
Withings envisions a future where individuals can clearly understand their journey towards improved health and feel empowered to follow that path. Their mission is to achieve this by developing technology that users appreciate and enjoy, seamlessly integrating the pursuit of better health into everyday life.
Hello Eric! Thanks for joining me today. What was the initial spark or problem you identified that led to the creation of Withings? Can you tell me how the company was founded?
“The story of Withings began in 2008, when I co-founded it with two other brilliant minds. At the time, we saw that while technology was rapidly transforming our lives, it had not yet truly entered the space of everyday personal health. Our vision was simple yet ambitious: to create beautifully designed, connected devices that empower people to take charge of their own health at home.”
“Our very first product was the Wi-Fi Body Scale, which launched in 2009 and was a real breakthrough. It was the first smart scale of its kind, offering effortless tracking of weight and BMI. We wanted people to see their health data not as something abstract, but as something alive and evolving—something they could act on. That was the spark: putting powerful health insight into people’s hands, without friction.”
Can you share the story behind the name “Withings” and what it represents for the company?
“Ah, the name! “Withings” is a combination of “Wireless Things.” When we began, our dream was to connect everyday objects through seamless wireless technology—and most importantly, to make these things meaningful, not just gadgets.”
“Over time, the name Withings has come to stand for elegance, reliability, and privacy-first healthcare innovation. It’s more than a name; it reflects our philosophy of blending technology with purpose, without overwhelming the user.”
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early days of building Withings, from product development to market adoption?
“Back then, the idea of connected health was almost science fiction to many. One big challenge was convincing people that they could actually benefit from tracking their health metrics at home—and that these devices were accurate, secure, and easy to use.”
“Another was on the engineering side: building hardware that was precise, durable, and elegant, while maintaining medical-grade standards. Finally, raising awareness and educating the market was a long journey. But we believed in a future where preventive, accessible health was the norm, not the exception.”
What have been some of the most rewarding product launches or technological breakthroughs for Withings? Which product would you consider to be your hero product?
“Our first Wi-Fi scale holds a special place in my heart because it started it all. But one of our hero products today is the Withings ScanWatch. It combines medical-grade ECG, SpO2, sleep apnea detection, and activity tracking in a classic analog design. Numerous clinical studies have validated it, and it’s a favorite among doctors.”
“Another big breakthrough is U-Scan, our in-toilet urine analysis lab. It was such a complex challenge—miniaturizing a lab, making it hygienic, and useful in a daily context. Yet the insights it offers into hydration, nutrition, and hormone tracking are game-changing.”
U-Scan represents a significant departure from urine analysis for at-home health monitoring. What was the core motivation behind developing this innovative product, and what unique health insights do you believe U-Scan offers that were previously difficult for consumers to access?
“U-Scan was born from a simple idea: your urine is full of health information, but no one uses it. We wanted to change that, to make daily health tracking invisible, passive, and deeply informative.”
”It’s not just about hydration—U-Scan can detect ketone levels, menstrual cycle phases, and soon, disease biomarkers. This opens the door to a future where your toilet becomes a health dashboard, allowing preventive actions before problems occur. And it’s all done discreetly and elegantly.”
How does Withings approach innovation and the development of new products in a rapidly evolving tech landscape?
“We are obsessed with meaningful innovation. At Withings, we don’t innovate for the sake of novelty—we innovate to make health more predictable, accessible, and personal. We combine internal R&D with insights from the medical community and co-develop with real users. Also, we are a French company—we care deeply about design, privacy, and trust. We keep our cloud servers in Europe and give users full control over their data. That’s part of innovation, too!”
Nokia acquired Withings in 2016. How did the experience with Nokia ultimately shape the company’s direction? Why did a re-acquisition happen in 2018?
“The Nokia chapter was a learning moment. While it brought visibility and scale, I felt that the original mission of Withings—to deeply innovate in health—was being diluted. That’s why, in 2018, I decided to re-acquire the company. It was about bringing the heart and vision back. Since then, we’ve returned to our start-up roots, with even more strength. We’ve expanded into clinical-grade devices, lab testing, and proactive health programs.”
With the introduction of Withings+, how has the subscription model enhanced the user experience and allowed Withings to provide more personalized insights and guidance compared to its previous product-focused approach?
“Withings+ is the natural evolution of our mission. Hardware is just one piece of the puzzle—people also need personalized insights, motivation, and guidance. With Withings+, we can now offer science-backed health improvement programs, behavioral nudges, and more intelligent trends analysis.”
“It’s not about selling more devices; it’s about helping users understand themselves, improve their routines, and prevent long-term conditions. The subscription model allows us to deliver value over time.”
Looking ahead, what are the biggest opportunities and challenges you foresee for Withings in the future of digital health, particularly in areas like preventative care and personalized medicine?
“The big opportunity is to move healthcare upstream—from reaction to prevention. From cure to care. With our devices and services, we can help people detect early signs of hypertension, heart arrhythmias, sleep disorders, and much more.”
“The challenge is to navigate the complexity of medical regulations, data privacy, and interoperability with health systems. But I’m optimistic: if we can keep building trust, working with clinicians, and staying close to user needs, Withings can become a cornerstone of preventive digital health worldwide.”
Based on your journey with Withings, what advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build a successful hardware and software company in the health tech space today?
“Start with real problems, not trends. Health is personal, emotional, and complex. If you want to build trust, you must care about quality, user privacy, and long-term outcomes. Hardware is hard—but it’s worth it when you see how it can transform someone’s life.”
“Also, be patient. Building a company that marries medical-grade accuracy, beautiful design, and deep tech takes time. But if you believe in your mission, stay humble, and surround yourself with good people, you’ll get there.”
