2013-18 | Brooklyn, NY + San Francisco, CA / Role: Founder

Addicaid:

Personalized, community-enhanced addiction support for everyday life.

A somewhat corny commercial I co-write and co-directed that went unreleased. That said, I still stand by & enjoy it.

  • I was inspired to build Addicaid after creating a simple AA / 12-step meeting finder to address the issues I had in locating groups easily. After seeing the traction this initial MVP received, I was motivated to make a go of building the app into a full-fledged behavior change product.

  • As founder of Addicaid, I juggled my time between:

    • Prioritizing product focus

    • Designing and developing the product

    • Fundraising and grant applications

    • Creating resources and content for our users

    • Public speaking, press relations, and marketing

  • Building Addicaid was my pride and the highlight of my 20s. I...

    • Learned how to bootstrap a startup from zero to one

    • Led a cross-functional team of eight in healthcare, technology, and marketing

    • Presented at international conferences, including WEF

    • & Most importantly, gained valuable lessons on what NOT to do in entrepreneurship

Product

An award-winning, user-centric web/mobile platform

that underwent a number of visual identity, feature set, and UX incarnations based on user feedback.

  • The addiction crisis overwhelming communities and straining social systems calls for innovative solutions. Traditional treatment models struggle to meet escalating needs due to limitations of resources, accessibility and ongoing care.

    • Resource Gaps: Existing public and private treatment options

    • Affordability Barriers: The high cost of quality treatment puts it out of reach for many suffering from addiction and their support networks.

    • Lack of Support Systems: Insufficient ongoing support post-treatment leaves many without tools, community or accountability - leading to high relapse rates.

    • Stigma and Isolation around addiction discourage those struggling from seeking help due to fears of judgment or disrupted relationships.

    • Inequitable Access: Individuals in underserved communities disproportionately face barriers to comprehensive, culturally-appropriate addiction services.

  • Seeing the need for a holistic solution, I took an iterative approach to developing Addicaid - a digital platform delivering the full spectrum of care anytime, anywhere. Each upgrade drew from evidence-based therapies and customer insights. The result was a comprehensive all-in-one platform empowering individuals to curate personalized lifelong recovery plans independent of resources or geography.

  • Through personalized therapeutic journeys, supportive community features and real-time assistance, Addicaid aimed improve wellness outcomes and promote long-term recovery with:

    • Meeting locator: comprehensive in-person & online meeting finder

    • Personalized Recovery Plans: users build custom schedules and track goals/progress using evidence-based tools and content.

    • Peer Support Forums: moderated message boards foster accountability and camaraderie among community members at all stages of recovery.

    • Therapeutic journaling: activities help users identify and change unhelpful thought patterns

  • By the end of Addicaid's run as one of the world's leading addiction recovery app, it:

    • Engaged over 50,000 active users in issues including alcoholism, opiates, gambling and more

    • 90% of users said the 24/7 support community and real-time counseling improve their ability to maintain recovery

    • Exceeded 50% 12-month retention, far surpassing averages for traditional treatment

Highlights

  • 50k+ active users

  • 200k+ meeting database

  • 1k+ unique therapeutic prompts

  • $350k in academic grants & venture capital

Marketing & communications

A memorable brand identity for a diverse user base.

In addition to being the CEO and Head of Product, I also developed a compassionate brand and design system for Addicaid that resonated inclusive of all communities and stages of recovery.

Press & awards

Widely recognized as an effective solution to a serious problem.

In addition to transforming individual lives through accessible support, Addicaid earned prominent mentions in major media outlets, speaking engagements at global health conferences, and prestigious awards.

2017 CNN tech feature segment

2016 Harvard Innovation grant finalist

2014 NYC Social Media Week Winner

2013 Launch.co special prize

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Logos of various educational institutions and initiatives, including Civic Hall Labs, DreamIT, 1776, Penn, NYCEDC, Launchpad Digital Health, Robin Hood, LSE, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Harvard Business School, Harvard Medical School, and Independence.

With a lasting impact long after its decommissioning.

In addition to transforming individual lives through accessible support, Addicaid earned prominent mentions in major media outlets, speaking engagements at global health conferences, and prestigious awards.