Brain technology, acupuncture, a surprisingly intense wellness machine, and the people building the business of feeling better.
By: Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance | Oct 2026
I went to BioHack SF curious about the latest in wellness, longevity and technology and especially the people behind it.
The plan was simple. Meet a few founders. Explore some technology. Ask questions. Maybe try something new.
But somewhere along the way, I found myself on wellness machine at full intensity, wondering what exactly I’d gotten myself into.
And honestly? That’s one of my favorite things about these events.
You walk in curious about one thing and leave thinking about something entirely different.
Because behind all the devices, treatment and conversations about living longer, I kept finding something even more interesting.
People building businesses around how we want to feel.
Inside BioHack SF at SHACK15, San Francisco. On camera reporting & video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance
Inside BioHack SF
On September 19, I headed to Shack 15 inside San Francisco’s Ferry Building for BioHack SF, presented by BioHack Miami.
The event brought together wellness founders, practitioners, health technology companies, and people curious about longevity and performance.
Yoga, pilates, breath work, a sound bath, keynote conversations, and an entire lineup of wellness experiences.
Basically, if there was something about your body or mind you wanted to optimize, someone probably had an idea.
But what made this event interesting was the opportunity to actually meet the people behind the products and services.
And if you know me, you know iI have questions.
Usually several.
BioHack Miami co-founders Mari Sophie Baier and Alexander Ellis brought this community together in San Francisco, creating a space where you could move between emerging technology and traditional wellness practices in the same afternoon.
What I love about events like this is getting to meet the people behind the ideas.
It’s one thing to hear about a new wellness technology or treatment. Its another to stand across from the person building the business, ask how they got started and hear why they believe in what they’re doing.
And most of the time, you get to try it yourself.
That’s usually when things get interesting.
More Than a Room Full of Wellness Gadgets
Here’s what I loved about BioHack SF. It wasn’t just a lineup of treatments and technology.
There was actual movement. Yoga, Pilates, guided breath work and a sound bath. And DJs providing the soundtrack throughout the day.
Video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance
One minute you could be exploring a futuristic wellness device and the next you could be taking a class or slowing down with a sound bath.
I also came across experiences ranging from infared sauna and hydrogen therapy with Healing Saunas to the Ascension Capsule presented by Aura O3 Wellness Systems.
The event brought together instructors including Denelle and Jenny Clise for yoga, Alexis Haynes for Pilates, Kira Maekazuko for breath work and Caitlin Ryan for sound healing. Musica was part of the experience too, with Femme Fatale, Lume, and VIA on the DJ lineup.
And that combination is what made the day feel different.
It wasn’t simply about buying another wellness product. It was about bringing movement, recovery, technology and community into the same space.
Because sometimes feeling better isn’t about adding another device to your routine.
Sometimes it’s about moving your body, slowing down, listening to music and connecting with people.
When the Technology Gets Personal
Let’s talk about The G Spa.
I tried one of their machines.
And things escalated.
At some point, I had to wonder whether I was testing the machine or the machine was testing me.
Fortunately, there’s video evidence.
Experiencing wellness technology with G Spa at BioHack SF. Video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance
The G Spa was showcasing technologies including Emsculpt NEO and Emsella, which use energy based approaches for muscle stimulation and related treatments.
But what caught my attention wasn’t just the technology.
It was how quickly the experience went from something I was curious about to something I could actually feel.
And that got me thinking,
We’re seeing more wellness and aesthetic businesses introduce equipment that once seemed reserved for specialized clinical settings.
But experiencing a treatment in one thing. Understanding what it does, who it’s designed for and what results people can realistically expect in another.
Because an impressive demonstration might get someone through the door.
But trust is what brings them back
The Brain is Having a Moment
Now, I’m fascinated by the brain.
Focus, stress, sleep, recovery. We talk about these things constantly. But what happens when technology enters the conversation?
The event featured brain focused wellness technologies, including neurofeedback and light based equipment.
Exploring Bay Area Brain Spa, wellness technology at BioHack SF. Video & hosting by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance.
Some of the equipment looked like something you’d expect to see in a futuristic wellness clinic.
But the part I find most interesting is how these technologies are making their way into everyday wellness conversations.
And then, naturally, my mind went somewhere else.
Hotels.
Imagine checking into a beautiful resort and having access to personalized recovery experience alsongside the usual spa treatments.
Would people travel for that?
They already travel for wellness.
The bigger question is which of these technologies will become part of the hospitality experience and which will remain niche.
An Ancient Practice in a Very Modern Room
Then I met Dr. Debbie from Puzzle Acupuncture Clinic.
And I loved the contrast.
Here we were, surrounded by new technology, talking about a practice with a much longer history.
Puzzle Acupuncture was introducing visitors to techniques including cheek acupuncture and Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling, also known as FSN.
In conversation with Dr. Debbie of Puzzle Acupuncture Clinic. Interview & video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance.
What interested me was how practitioner introduce something unfamiliar to people who’ve never experienced it and also how your organs are connected to parts of the cheek.
How do you explain what it does? What makes someone comfortable enough to try it? And how do you build trust?
Because whether it’s a new machine or an established practice, people want to understand what they are signing up for.
Preferably before they’re sitting in the treatment chair.
The Business of Feeling Better
As I continued exploring, I started noticing something.
Everyone was talking about wellness.
But they weren’t necessarily talking about the same thing.
Seflishly Aesthetics was presenting personalized skin analysis.
On camera reporting by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance
Pause Wellness Clinic brought recovery focused vitamin injections.
In conversation with Pause Wellness Clinic. Interview & video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance.
Be Well IV Medical Spa presented medical wellness services along with Vitamin treatments
In conversation with Be Well IV. Interview & video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance.
Dr. Gonzalez Chiropractic showcased spinal alignment assessment and chiropractic treatments
In treatment with Dr. Gonzalez. Video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance.
And the wider event lineup included women’s health technology, Petal, saunas, and immersive wellness equipment.
On camera reporting with Petal. Interview & video by Laura Hidrobo | The Provenance.
Different services. Different audiences. Different business models.
But a shared ambition: helping people feel better, perform better, or understand their health differently.
And here’s where I started thinking about the business behind it.
What makes someone try a service for the first time?
What makes them tell a friend?
Because having interesting technology doesn’t automatically mean you’ve build a successful business.
The real challenge is creating something people value enough to come back for.
What I’m Watching
Will more hotels and resorts introduce recovery technology into the guest experience?
Will personalized wellness services become something people expect rather than something occassionaly splurge on?
And which of today’s biohacking trends will actually become part of everyday life?
I don’t know the answer yet.
But I suspect the business that last will need to offer more than an interesting experience.
They’ll need to give people a reason to return.
The Provenance Note
I came to BioHack SF curious about the technology.
I left thinking about the people.
The founders who see an opportunity.
The practicioners introducing their work to new audiences.
And the organizers bringing everyone into the same room.
Because sometimes the most interesting part of an experience isn’t what you’re trying.
It’s discovering who’s behind it.
Thank you to Marie Sophie Baier, Alexander Ellis and the Biohack Miami team for welcoming me to BioHack SF, and to the participating brands and practicioners who shared their work with me.
Would I go again?
Absolutely.
Although, next time I might ask about the maxium intensity before volunteering.
If you’re building something intersting in wellness, hospitality, sport or technology, I’d love to hear about it. Hit reply.
And if you know someone who would enjoy The Provenance, forward this issue.
Laura Hidrobo
The Provenance | People. Places. What They’re Building.
Sources & Reporting
BAYDREAMING X BIOHACK SF event program, September 19, 2026.
Original event photography, video, and on-camera hosting by Laura Hidrobo.
Treatment descriptions to be checked against the respective providers’ published information before publication.