A Back Injury Led Him to Rethink How Mattresses Are Made

Jeremiah Curvers

CEO, Polysleep

After a serious back injury left him bedridden, entrepreneur Jeremiah Curvers began questioning how mattresses are designed and how sleep could be improved.

“I realized how important your sleeping surface is to your overall comfort and capacity to recover.”

For Jeremiah Curvers, that realization came after a fall left him bedridden with a double herniated disc. Forced to spend weeks recovering, he began paying close attention to how his body responded to the mattress he was sleeping on.

Sleep is one of the most important pillars of everyday wellness. It influences everything from energy, concentration, stress management, and recovery. Yet, when people think about improving their sleep, they often focus on habits or routines and overlook the role their mattress plays. Curvers’ experience led him to rethink how mattresses are designed and to launch Polysleep, a Montreal-based company focused on improving sleep through thoughtful design.

Perfecting the sleep equation

Finding the right mattress can be challenging. From Curvers’ perspective, better sleep depends on maintaining stable body temperature, ensuring proper muscle alignment so muscles can truly relax, and addressing pressure points to promote healthy circulation.

“If you’re able to create a sleeping surface that addresses these three problem areas, the rest comes down to consumer preference,” he explains. Developing a mattress capable of balancing those elements required experimentation. It took more than 20 prototypes before the team finalized the Signature Collection.

A design process that keeps evolving

Sleep technology continues to evolve as new materials and manufacturing techniques emerge from advances in foam technology, airflow design, and durability.

One of the ways Polysleep approaches mattress design differently is through its vertically integrated manufacturing model. Instead of assembling components sourced from multiple suppliers, the company designs and produces most of its materials internally.

“We have the flexibility to make adjustments as we learn more about what people need,” says Curvers. “That consistency and control allow us to keep improving the product over time.”

Over the past decade, the Signature Collection has evolved through several refinements, incorporating improvements in airflow, durability, and support.

“We have an element of consistency other companies don’t have and the ability to make adjustments based on consumer feedback.”

Online convenience and in-store experience

Consumer habits around mattress shopping have also changed. While online purchasing has become increasingly common, many people still prefer the opportunity to try a mattress before making a decision. Today, Polysleep products are available online as well as in more than 100 retail stores across Canada, giving consumers the flexibility to explore both options.

Custom solutions for unique needs

Control over design and manufacturing has also allowed Polysleep to develop mattress solutions for more specialized applications. As part of its mission to offer high-quality sleep products while maintaining full control over production, the company has begun developing custom mattresses for certain niche markets.

One example is the growing demand from manufacturers of wall beds. The company collaborates with these manufacturers to design mattresses adapted to their specific furniture systems.

For Curvers, this flexibility is a natural extension of the company’s approach. “When you control the design and manufacturing process, you can respond to very specific needs,” he says.