Dr. Tom Andriacchi, PhD, is Professor Emeritus at Stanford College, President of SomaTX Design, and co-inventor of KneeMo, “the primary good wearable designed particularly to scale back knee ache throughout motion,” he advised Entrepreneur. We requested Andriacchi how his firm developed the product, the enterprise strikes he is made to get it out into the world, and his finest recommendation for entrepreneurs within the well being tech area.
Are you able to clarify how KneeMo is totally different from different knee ache merchandise?
In contrast to customary braces that merely assist or compress the joint, KneeMo actively makes use of motion-sensing expertise and vibration remedy to scale back ache in actual time. The result’s that folks can keep energetic, protect their independence, and keep away from the bodily and psychological penalties of a sedentary life-style. What makes KneeMo distinctive is that it is not simply an thought—it has been rigorously developed and clinically examined at Stanford College in a peer-reviewed trial. We started with a gentle launch in 2024, however KneeMo formally launched earlier this 12 months. My function is to information the corporate’s course whereas ensuring the science we developed interprets into one thing helpful, accessible, and impactful for individuals residing with knee ache.
What impressed you to create it?
The inspiration got here from a elementary query: may we transfer past passive assist and truly change how individuals expertise knee ache whereas in movement? Given KneeMo’s distinctive design, we knew we would have liked to check whether or not it may make a measurable distinction. We ran a rigorous placebo-controlled trial with sufferers experiencing documented knee ache. The “aha second” got here once we noticed the outcomes—sufferers had been strolling extra simply and climbing stairs with much less ache, generally after only a few steps. The enhancements in operate had been speedy, seen, and much exceeded our expectations. That pivotal second satisfied me to commit the following decade to constructing an organization that would take KneeMo out of the lab and into individuals’s lives.
Any classes about efficient advertising you may share?
Completely. First, do not underestimate the fee and complexity of going head-to-head with established manufacturers in direct-to-consumer advertising—it is advisable be strategic, not simply loud. Second, with a novel medical product, training is the whole lot. Individuals want to grasp not simply what it’s, however why it really works. Which means explaining the science clearly, sharing actual affected person outcomes, and pointing to scientific information. Lastly, it’s important to justify your product’s price in comparison with rivals. Should you’re asking individuals to spend money on one thing new, you owe them transparency concerning the worth and affect.
How has the suggestions been from customers?
In our preliminary scientific research at Stanford, 95 % of individuals confirmed immediate enchancment in quadriceps operate, generally inside only a few steps of utilizing KneeMo. That quantity is highly effective not simply scientifically, however personally—it represents individuals regaining mobility, independence, and hope.
Associated: He Hated Furnishings Purchasing. So He Constructed a Enterprise to Do It for Him.
What does the phrase “entrepreneur” imply to you?
For me, entrepreneurship is outlined by innovation, motivation, dedication, and perseverance. It is about seeing potential the place others see limits, and having the grit to push by way of setbacks to deliver that potential to life. It isn’t nearly making a product—it is about creating a chance for actual change.
What’s one thing many aspiring enterprise homeowners suppose they want that they actually do not?
There is a widespread false impression that having absolutely the “finest” product ensures success. However historical past proves in any other case—consider VHS overtaking Betamax. In actuality, certified and skilled management is essentially the most vital asset. The precise crew and execution could make a great product profitable, whereas the “finest” product with out sturdy management typically fails.
Dr. Tom Andriacchi, PhD, is Professor Emeritus at Stanford College, President of SomaTX Design, and co-inventor of KneeMo, “the primary good wearable designed particularly to scale back knee ache throughout motion,” he advised Entrepreneur. We requested Andriacchi how his firm developed the product, the enterprise strikes he is made to get it out into the world, and his finest recommendation for entrepreneurs within the well being tech area.
Are you able to clarify how KneeMo is totally different from different knee ache merchandise?
In contrast to customary braces that merely assist or compress the joint, KneeMo actively makes use of motion-sensing expertise and vibration remedy to scale back ache in actual time. The result’s that folks can keep energetic, protect their independence, and keep away from the bodily and psychological penalties of a sedentary life-style. What makes KneeMo distinctive is that it is not simply an thought—it has been rigorously developed and clinically examined at Stanford College in a peer-reviewed trial. We started with a gentle launch in 2024, however KneeMo formally launched earlier this 12 months. My function is to information the corporate’s course whereas ensuring the science we developed interprets into one thing helpful, accessible, and impactful for individuals residing with knee ache.
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