6 days Ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently offered a recommendation to new parents, revealing that his baby sleeps in a crib designed by Bengaluru-born entrepreneur Radhika Patil’s startup, Cradlewise. This endorsement has garnered attention, particularly because of Altman’s reputation in the tech industry and the startup’s innovative approach to infant sleep solutions. Altman recommended the crib, calling it one of the few baby items truly worth buying.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Altman, who became a father earlier this year, endorsed the product as one of the few worthwhile baby items he and his partner bought.“We bought a lot of silly baby things that we haven't needed. But definitely I recommend a Cradlewise crib and a lot more burp rags than you think you could possibly need,” wrote Altman.
Altman, 39, and his husband, software engineer Oliver Mulherin, welcomed their baby boy in February. The couple revealed the baby had arrived prematurely and had spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit. Since then, Altman has been open about how parenthood has impacted his life.
Speaking at a TED event, he said, “Having a kid changed a lot of things. The kind of cost of not being with my kid is just like crazily high.”Cradlewise: A Homegrown Startup with Global ReachCradlewise is a tech-enabled baby crib company co-founded by Radhika Patil and her husband Bharath Patil in 2016.
The company operates in both the United States and India. The idea for the smart crib came after the birth of their daughter Anushka. According to Founderoo, the first prototype was developed in Bengaluru before the family moved to the U.
S. during the COVID-19 pandemic to launch the product commercially.The smart crib retails for around $1,999 in the U.
S. and Rs 1.5 lakh in India.
Unlike more well-known brands like the Snoo — which retails at $1,695 and includes a swaddle — Cradlewise offers a different approach. It skips the swaddle, includes a built-in baby monitor and music features, and gently bounces the baby in response to early signs of waking rather than waiting for the baby to cry. It also grows with the child, transitioning from a bassinet to a crib suitable for children up to two years old.
Radhika Patil Responds to the EndorsementRadhika Patil, who holds a Master’s degree in Electronic Design from IISc Bengaluru and a Bachelor's from Stanford University, expressed her gratitude on social media.“Thanks for loving us Sam Altman. The AI god’s trust in the smarts of Cradlewise means a lot to us,” she posted.
How Cradlewise Stands Out in a Competitive MarketWhile the Snoo has garnered attention over the years with endorsements from celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Zoe Saldaña, Altman's choice to back Cradlewise has brought new visibility to the startup. The Snoo offers motion, white noise, and swaddling features and can be rented for $159 a month, but it is only suitable for infants up to six months.Cradlewise, on the other hand, emphasizes long-term use and proactive sleep support.
With Altman’s high-profile endorsement, Cradlewise now finds itself under a brighter spotlight in the baby-tech industry..
