FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MYND THERAPEUTICS TO BEGIN MVP PILOT OF REVOLUTIONARY OBESITY PRODUCT
VANCOUVER, BC – SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 – MYND Therapeutics today announced it has received a grant from Unity Technologies that will enable it to begin MVP (Minimal Viable Product) usability and feasibility testing of its first digital therapeutic (software-as-therapy) obesity and weight management product. The grant will be used to improve access, delivery, and equity to African American and Hispanic women with obesity from Houston, Texas.
This followed MYND Therapeutics’ participation in the SoCal Tech Highway Telehealth program organized by the Trade Commissioner Service at the Consulate of Canada in San Diego, in partnership with Nex Cubed Digital Health. As part of the conclusion of this program in mid-April, MYND Therapeutics delivered a pitch where representatives of the Unity Social Impact saw the potential of the company using RT3D (Real Time 3D) software to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes in the US and globally.
Unity Technologies, headquartered in San Francisco, describes itself as the world’s leading platform for creating and operating real-time 3D content. The grant was made through the Unity Charitable Fund, which was created by its new Social Impact division. The grant was offered to INTERFACE Health Society, which is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC.
MYND Therapeutics is a purpose-driven digital health startup based in Vancouver, Canada that develops and distributes smart digital therapies that are customer-centric, effective, and fun. The company develops science-based, clinically proven, and socially-engaging digital programs to promote behavioral change and prevent obesity that combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), with augmented reality, virtual reality, advanced biosensors, AI and machine learning, and gamification to achieve results that are four to seven times more effective than CBT for obesity alone.
Michael Bidu, co-founder and CEO of MYND says the health problems caused by obesity – type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and some cancers as well as mental health-related conditions like depression anxiety, and stress — are a global epidemic, costing the world’s healthcare systems over $2 trillion, yearly.
“There are about 2.1 billion people with overweight and obesity in the world, most of whom have little or no access to health care. Millions of people - including more than 800 million women with obesity and overweight - try different diets, naturopaths, boot camps, drugs, or surgery in an attempt to lose weight and keep it off. Most of them fail,” says Mr. Bidu. “Our revolutionary approach is not only more effective but, according to our research, produces lasting results because it focuses on lifelong behavior change, mental health, and physical health and takes into consideration social determinants of health.”
“Unity’s goal is to empower employees and creators of all backgrounds to foster a more inclusive, sustainable world and to help creators to dare to dream, to foster change that will result in making healthcare more accessible and affordable to everybody. And that aligns perfectly with the goals of Unity Social Impact program” - says Alana Selkowitz, Manager Programs and Partnerships Social Impact Creators at Unity Technologies.
The MVP pilot is scheduled to start on March 1st and end on June 30th, 2022. The pilot will test the quality, feasibility, and viability of a new way to deliver preventive and personalized healthcare at home – through self-care assisted by digital technology and AI algorithms - instead of in a clinical setting and with assistance from therapists.
The target market is women with obesity in urban areas and underserved communities in Canada and the US who are most in need of improved access to healthcare. It will determine how well MYND’s MVP works, indicate where changes may be needed, and determine the product-market fit and potential social impact.
“We are thankful to our partners at the Canadian Consulate in San Diego and Nex Cubed Digital Health for putting us in front of a company like Unity Technologies. We are grateful for this grant and for the recognition that our work is contributing to improving access to healthcare, sustainable health and well-being,” says Mr. Bidu.
For more information about MYND and the MVP pilot contact:
Michael Bidu, Founder and CEO, MYND Therapeutics Inc. email: news@myndtx.com
ABOUT MYND THERAPEUTICS INC.
MYND Therapeutics is a purpose-driven digital health company based in Vancouver, Canada that makes software therapy. MYND’s smart digital therapies are using Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Extended Reality (aka immersive technologies for virtual health) to prevent, manage or treat a range of physical, mental, and behavioral conditions in a new way that is customer-centric, effective, and fun. For additional info please visit myndtx.com
ABOUT UNITY FOR HUMANITY SOCIAL IMPACT
Creators around the globe are using Unity to tell stories and build tools that will have positive and meaningful impacts on their communities and the planet. We devote funding, time, and resources to support creators in getting their projects over the finish line and amplifying their reach. We believe the world is a better place with more creators in it – and creativity can and should come from anyone, anywhere. Unity supports Social Impact visionaries in driving change, facilitates educational programs for the next generation of real-time 3D creators, and collaborates internally and externally to protect our planet.
For more information about UNITY for HUMANITY Grants, visit https://unity.com/social-impact
ABOUT SOCAL TECH HIGHWAY TELEHEALTH PROGRAM
The SoCal Tech Highway - TeleHealth program was developed by the San Diego office of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service to offer high-intensity services and programming to high-potential Canadian telehealth companies that are already on a strong growth trajectory and are interested in opportunities in the Southern California market.
This program is designed to accelerate the growth of selected Canadian telehealth companies as they enter this market and navigate several complex themes, such as procurement, regulations and certifications, pricing strategy, strategic partnerships, and more. Participants receive connections to top-tier customers, industry partners, and/or investors, and are also provided with strategic and targeted mentorship and advisory services, based on each company’s needs, to help scale their business in the SoCal region.
For more info, please visit: https://connect2canada.com/2021/04/canada-socal-partner-for-the-socal-tech-highway-telehealth-program/
ABOUT INTERFACE HEALTH SOCIETY
INTERFACE Health Society is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in Vancouver, Canada. The company is dedicated to helping Canada’s and the world’s most talented startups and entrepreneurs build, market, and grow successful companies and to make a difference in Canadian and global health through technology, innovation, and social impact. For more information please visit: www.interfacehealth.com