About two-thirds of adults within the U.S. drink alcohol, however about one in three are attempting to drink much less. Sunnyside, which introduced it raised $11.5 million in Sequence A funding final week, goals to assist individuals reduce on their ingesting with out having to stop altogether.

The San Francisco-based startup provides an app for customers. At $99 a 12 months, customers of Sunnyside have entry to drink monitoring, each day reminders of their objectives, personalised suggestions, group help with different customers of the app and one-on-one peer help.

“This strategy offers a much-needed various for these seeking to change their relationship with alcohol, however who aren’t open to quitting ingesting completely,” stated Nick Allen, CEO and co-founder of Sunnyside, in an e-mail.

The Sequence A funding spherical was led by Motley Idiot Ventures and included participation from Will Ventures, Uncork Capital, Offline Ventures, Joyance Companions, Knowledge Ventures, Eudemian Ventures, Adjoining, Scribble Ventures, Cooley LLP and MyFitnessPal founder Michael Lee. Sunnyside has raised $14.6 million since inception.

A Motley Idiot Ventures investor selected to put money into Sunnyside due to its concentrate on serving to individuals drink carefully and create more healthy habits.

“Sunnyside has a singular alternative into a large new vertical within the wellness trade,” stated Kristine Harjes, vice chairman of the agency, in a press release. “By making a non-judgmental strategy the place stability is the aim, the Sunnyside crew expands the addressable viewers to anybody seeking to enhance their well being by taking extra management over their ingesting habits.”

With the funding in hand, Sunnyside goals to concentrate on three key areas: product, model and group, Allen stated. The corporate lately employed Steve Lloyd, former chief product and expertise officer at health firm Strava. Lloyd shall be taking over the identical function at Sunnyside and can lead the product and engineering crew in creating a brand new characteristic that can supply challenges for customers, in addition to an AI ingesting coach named “Sunny” that can present personalised teaching for members.

The cash will even be used to spice up advertising efforts. Lastly, the startup will make investments extra closely in group constructing, Allen stated. For instance, its app provides each day journaling prompts that enable members to replicate on their expertise, and customers can work together with each other round these prompts.

“Key to eradicating stigma round proactive alcohol administration is to make this a journey of connection, somewhat than loneliness,” he stated.

The corporate was born out of Allen and co-founder Ian Andersen’s experiences. Allen grew up in a house with two mother and father recovering from alcoholism, and Andersen misplaced his mom on the age of 11 due to liver failure from alcohol abuse.

Allen beforehand informed MedCity Information that just a few years in the past, he determined to make a change to his ingesting habits, however didn’t need to go the total abstinence route like his mother and father did. Nonetheless, he struggled to seek out options that might assist him average his ingesting. That led to the founding of Sunnyside.

Different firms within the area embrace SoberBuddy and I Am Sober, however these largely concentrate on sobriety somewhat than chopping again on alcohol.

“It’s clear that the choice to stop completely is the proper selection for some drinkers, however there are lots of thousands and thousands extra who’re turned off by the all-or-nothing strategy,” Allen stated this week. “Sunnyside fills the hole for this inhabitants, increasing the addressable market for individuals who may benefit from more healthy habits round alcohol.”

Photograph: fizkes, Getty Photos