Improve Your Digital Health

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Hannes Bend, Founder of breathing.ai, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

breathing.ai provides novel AI-patented personalized, engaging screen experiences to effortlessly improve wellbeing and productivity - without additional app time - with optional remote vital sign detection. Our first customers are across industries, and we sell to executives, HR managers, and employee wellness directors.

Based on award-winning science (Stanford, MIT) and AI, our integrated and comprehensive employee wellness platform offers bio-adaptive breaks, colors, and sounds sold to companies across industries. Our digital health platform is being used by companies across industries, especially for remote/hybrid work. We are tackling the #1 problem of low employee engagement.

Our product has 40%+ engagement rates (industry average 1-5%), reduces stress by up to 50%, and increases productivity by 11%. They started our product as the only employee wellness offer they could find that is integrated into existing screen time and does not put the burden of stress - suffered from and at the workplace - reduction on the employees. They like it is not a "one-off" solution like a yoga class only accessible at a certain time without being able to work, but continuously guides the employees throughout their workplace to improve wellbeing and performance. The one-click activation to start our employee wellness product was also a highlighted feature, as well as the high engagement rates. The ability to personalize the product was also accentuated by the customers as many other products in the market don't offer any or only a few customizations.

Our most noteworthy customer is renowned global nonprofit organization based in NYC, with an entirely remote workforce and with high to very high-stress levels, over 80% of employees reporting stress symptoms, very high burnout rates, and turnover costs. They were seeking a solution that could help the remotely working employees on their screens at any time to reduce low motivation, stress symptoms, burnout, and turnover costs.

With up to 90% of screen users suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome with more than 4 hours of prolonged screen time with dry eyes, eye strain, neck pain, headache, and more, our breathing.ai team is providing a scientifically tested and uniquely simple solution for healthier screen time.

Tell us about yourself

I'm very passionate about helping humans feel happier and live healthier lives. I have been pioneering bio-adaptive technologies since 2014 with award-winning neuroscience-AI-art projects. I initiated the VR project "metaverses" at the University of Oregon from 2014-2016, worked with over 20 scientists, such as National Medal of Science winner Dr. Michael Posner, and initiated neuroscience studies on visual stimuli and the benefits of meditation. The project led to the development of a novel VR heart rate biofeedback app. I won the "Best Presentation Award" for my presentation and paper "Mindful Technologies" at the "Wellbeing Computing: AI meets Health and Happiness Science" panel at the renowned AAAI (Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence) conference at Stanford University. I have since worked with 30+ renowned scientists and institutions and/or presented at MIT and Harvard, worked with Wim "The Iceman' Hof, and led wellness initiatives at big tech companies and in education. I'm also the inventor of the machine learning patent "Adaptive Interfaces" (USPTO granted in 2019) with broad claims to customize output data from screens/audio/olfactory to the users' vital signs. I became personally invested in adapting technologies to wellbeing after overcoming years of anxiety and depression through breathwork and meditation and made it my life's mission to provide others with the tools to manage their wellbeing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

There are many: two broad machine learning patents granted, our first product being used by people in 143 countries to effectively improve wellbeing and performance without more screen time, selling it as an employee wellness offer to our first clients, being highlighted in 25+ global articles including Forbes - and learning how much our product has been reducing stress symptoms (by up to 50%).

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

The time it takes is underestimated. It's all about the details and ensuring the customers feel better while, at the same time, the business thrives with improved product and revenue. It's not an easy task that requires long work hours and weekend work. It's an unavoidable situation to run a startup that offers novel and unique technology.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Evaluate if people want your product, would use it, and pay for it. Or if it's well used but users won't pay, are there other revenue streams? What's most important - is to know if what you are passionate about is offering value to people.
Be curious - and passionate about running a business and/or your cause.
Never. Give. Up. Persistence and perseverance are needed. One hundred advisors and investors will give you 200 different opinions - keep being curious, and caring and continue the journey. But do not give up or get confused.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.breathing.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathingai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breathing.ai/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/breathing_ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breathingai/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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