Wellness While You Work - Zen Posturehealth

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ion-Alexandru Secara, Co-Founder of Zen (PostureHealth Inc.), located in San Francisco, CA, USA.

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

Here at Zen, we are creating posture correction software that uses your computer's camera, along with artificial intelligence, to help people better monitor and improve their posture while they work in front of a computer.

The app gently alerts users when they slouch and reminds them to take regular breaks to stand, stretch, and walk. Our customers range from enterprises (i.e., Brex) who offer Zen as a benefit to their employees to consumers who pay a monthly or yearly subscription.

Tell us about yourself

For me, posture is a personal problem. From an early age, I have spent a significant amount of time at a desk in front of a computer. When I was in high school, my mom first noticed that I had developed a slightly hunched back. Hence, ever since, I've been following an exercise and stretching routine to combat bad posture. However, it was the stressful times during my university years and engineering internships at Adobe and Intuit that made me realize that my slouching would come back if I stopped following my routine, even for a short period of time.

I remember I was in the computer labs with an aching back, and I looked around me. I was surrounded by computers that had webcams attached to them. That's when I realized I could create an app that uses the computer's webcam to assess my posture while I work in front of the computer. This is how the first ever iteration of Zen was brought to life.

I'm motivated daily because I'm working on something that has changed my life for the better and because every day, I read messages from customers who share with me their stories of how Zen changed their life and health for the better.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It's hard to pinpoint a single accomplishment. However, one of the highlights so far has been having a customer tell me in a feedback session that Zen managed to do what two physical therapists did not. Zen greatly reduced her back pain, up to the point where she could barely notice it throughout the day.

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

I believe the hardest aspect that comes with being a business owner is growing into a leader as the business grows bigger. It's your leadership that will make the difference between running a great business and running a phenomenal business.

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

You have to be passionate about what you're building. Being a business owner puts you through a lot of high points and low points, so you have to be in love with the process and your vision.
Follow your principles. While you have to keep an open mind to all the feedback and criticism out there, you know your business better than anyone else. There are times when you have to be confident in your principles and processes.
Never give up. Your business stops operating only when you stop working on it. As long as you keep going, the business is still running.

The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself. If you want your business to operate at 100%, then you have to be at 110%.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.yayzen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesecara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesecara/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesecara
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ion-alexandru-secara/

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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