Moodrise

Why now?

1) Remote work is the new norm, and managers desperately need tools and insights to track employee wellness–from afar.
2) People are consuming an unprecedented volume of digital content, and they need healthier, more transparent ways to monitor (and understand) their online behaviors, habits, and consumption patterns
3) Emotional resilience is the second greatest challenge posed by COVID-19, and we offer a critically important self-care tool kit

The Story

During my tenure as the Harvard Kennedy School’s first-ever entrepreneur in residence, I developed a new mental model for building magnetic brands and businesses at the intersection of public health. The three (3) basic pillars are:

Psychopharmacology–the product, service, or consumer experience must demonstrably trigger the release of at least one (if not several) neurotransmitters associated with pleasure release, energy elevation, mood enhancement or mood maintenance.
Deep behavioral ravines–the project, product, or enterprise must cater to, leverage, or directly address foundational human needs that occur multiple times a day. Like a digital messaging app, use cases should rival a biological imperative like breathing.
Magic–the product experience must trigger, alight, or arouse a child-like sense of wonder and awe. People want and need to be wowed.

In 2017 and 2018, working with leading neuroscientists, clinicians, and behavioral health experts at Stanford, Columbia, UofT Austin, and McGill, we developed a now-patented set of proprietary digital tools and interventions, informed and governed by the above mentioned criteria. We then trained our sites squarely on the mental health crisis in the U.S.–impacting 1 in every 5 Americans, even before Corona.

In 2018, we partnered with celebrities like Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Devendra Banhart (among many others) to create a vast library of unique digital content, and in 2019, we landed a major contract with the US Air Force.

With our current contract, we’re developing unique products for men and women in uniform, to help combat cognitive drift, improve emotional resilience, boost readiness, and promote better behavioral well-being. Twelve weeks ago, we were recognized by IFAH as one of the Top-100 Innovators in Global Healthcare.