MIT Solve

Step 2

Our Solution

TBH SPARKle

Our solution's stage of development:

Pre-Seed

Our solution:

TBH SPARKle empowers people to take control of their brain health through an online personalized brain wellness coaching program. A starting assessment results in an individualized training protocol focused on behavioral change targets. The system combines coaching, social networking and gamification to promote self-efficacy, socialization and compliance.

Our pitch:

https://vimeo.com/227957354

The problem:

The real science behind training for brain health is masked by the flood of online skills-building brain training apps and programs. People need help in understanding how they can act on the science and take control of their brain wellness in affordable, easy-to-do ways. Our solution combines the power of peer supportive coaching opportunities with action plans that harness the power of the brain’s neuroplasticity for brain workouts that spark better brain vitality. Our solution uses a digital delivery platform for education and engagement that is easily accessible, low cost and fun-to-use.

Why our solution will solve the problem:

Evidence shows the most effective brain health solutions are tied to brain healthy living, including robust socialization, regular exercise and intellectual engagement. The Lancet Commissions recently concluded that modifiable lifestyle factors like those we train for account for 35% of dementia cases worldwide.

TBH SPARKle is a scalable consumer-facing outgrowth of TBH Toolkits, group brain training courses. Research demonstrates our protocols significantly improve brain health knowledge, encourage engagement in healthier brain habits, and reduce depressive symptoms. Our emphasis on using social interactions in our programming helps disrupt loneliness and challenge the very skills we need to stay cognitively vital.

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Step 3

Step 4

The technologies we employ:

Consumer-facing software (mobile applications, cloud services)
Digital systems (machine learning, control systems, big data)

Why our solution is unique:

We are experts in the field of social-based brain training. Our mission is to use digital coaching in an effort to purposefully disrupt the trend toward computerized skills-based brain training, and return the focus to functional training that supports physical and emotional engagement for long term cognitive vitality.

Our group-led coaching fosters socialization, peer support and educational practice opportunities for lifelong cognitive training. Machine learning technology will help ongoing refinement of the individualized brain workout program algorithm and assessment tools. Bots will support teaching seminars and activate skills building and cognitive challenges. Gamification reward systems will incentivize adoption and retention.

Why our solution is human-centered:

Individual brain health assessments, personalized brain training plans and educational support materials will be accessible by individuals of a wide economic background.

To keep cost of entry affordable, TBH SPARKle will automate most of its coaching programs. Individualized daily workouts will be pushed digitally. Weekly online coaching will be topic–driven first by a video and followed by facilitated group discussions. Bots will supplement with skills building games in areas of cognition like speed of processing, reasoning and attention. Bots can also host self-improvement lessons on topics like stress management and affirmations. Online gamification elements will promote engagement and adherence.

How people will access our solution:

Assessments, training plans and online reward systems will be deployed through an app or website directly to the person’s smart device or computer. Group coaching will be provided by trained staff facilitating topic-specific online discussions.

Introductory information, assessment and basic coaching will be available free online to everyone. Personalized cognitive wellness plans and access to group-led online coaching will involve a low-cost monthly fee. 1-to-1 premium coaching will be available for a higher premium. Advertising and sponsorships will help offset program costs.

Technology-Readiness Level:

1-3 (Formulation)

Step 5

Our organization:

For-Profit

Where we are located:

United States

How we will sustain our team financially:

TBH Brands is an established company with an existing brain training product line aimed at professionals. Our goal is to scale our market share with the launch of TBH SPARKle, a consumer-facing, brain wellness personalized coaching product. We are seeking private investment to fund the platform build out. We are also seeking distribution partnerships with established industry leaders to gain exposure in exchange for sponsorships. As our reach grows, we will seek advertising revenue to offset costs. Finally, we will look to the wider wellness/care market segments for bulk sales of SPARKle memberships.

The factors limiting our success:

We have limited funding to build out this direct-to-consumer product, including for the hiring of technologists to develop and maintain the platform, coaches for the online discussion groups and 1-to-1 upsell opportunities, and marketing/sales efforts
While we have pilot efficacy data on the TBH Toolkits, we do not have research data on our online consumer-facing programmatic model
We are seeking relationships with established wellness brands for alternative market distribution channels to drive early adoption
We could benefit from a strong advisory panel

How long we have been working on our solution:

2 years

How long it will take to develop a pilot:

6-12 months

How long it will take to scale beyond our pilot:

6-12 months

Our expected annual budget:

5000000

How much of our budget we've secured to date:

0

Our promotional video:

https://vimeo.com/191188280

Our promotional materials:

http://tbhtoolkits.com/

http://totalbrainhealth.com/

https://tbhtoolkits.com/media/TBH-TOOLKITS-PILOT-PROTOCOL-EFFICACY-DATA-AS-OF-5-17.pdf

Step 6