Fitbit integrating Sickweather illness forecasting into new wearables
May 10, 2018 | Tommy Felts
Sickweather is stepping into the wearables market. A new partnership with industry leader Fitbit is expected to see the Kansas City-based startup’s illness forecasting technology integrated into Fitbit’s new products.
“Smartwatches provide a powerful platform to deliver important health tools that help our users manage conditions more conveniently than ever before,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit.
Sickweather is one of eight partner technologies announced this week by Fitbit.
“It’s great validation from Fitbit as a leader in digital health and among a cohort of trusted brands like Walgreens and Humana,” said Sickweather founder Graham Dodge. “It does impact our trajectory too, given some of the ideas they have workshopped with us on how best to engage their users, which could have profound impacts across our other products and partnerships.”
Created by a team of epidemiologists, Sickweather monetizes its platform by selling data licenses to public health organizations and a variety of enterprises. It also offers clients a dashboard that provides detailed analytics, data export tools and interactive forecasts.
When the Sickweather integration launches — as early as this summer, according to Fitbit — users will engage with a new clock face display, said Dave Switzer, Sickweather director of client and media relations.
“The addition of Sickweather app to the Fitbit lineup allows the users to get a SickScore for their current location along with top trending illnesses in that area with just a glance at their wrist,” he said. “That’s a big part of Sickweather’s mission — helping people make informed decisions about their health by providing hyperlocal health information.”
“Together, we aim to inspire positive behavior change that can ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce costs,” Park said.
In February, Sickweather closed a SeedInvest crowdfunding campaign with more than $1 million committed by more than 930 investors. Sickweather backers already included Kansas City-based Firebrand Ventures, Brad Feld, 500 Startups, Techstars Ventures and Sprint.
Very cool to see @FirebrandVC and @Techstars company @Sickweather included in the @fitbit announcement about new health-related apps and clock faces. https://t.co/lYG2ZJghbD
— John Fein (@johnfein) May 9, 2018
Featured Business
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Fund Me, KC: Maker of first girls wrestling shoe launches new feat — a pair for the champions
Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like Kansas City’s Deb North and the newly launched Champion1 girls wrestling shoe — to share their crowdfunding stories and…
UMKC unveils innovation studio, inviting students, entrepreneurs to collaborate within $32M research center
In a hiring environment where college graduates are expected to possess honed skills for even entry-level positions, a state-of-the-art innovation studio in the heart of Kansas City allows students access to technology to actually build products within their chosen professions. “We have never had a facility like this — with the diversity of equipment and…
An absent-minded workplace gaffe, a nationwide Starbucks controversy; why the CEO ‘leadership jersey’ demands fearlessness on diversity, inclusion
Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Morgan Stanley, a New York-based multinational investment bank and financial services company, and is a follow-up to this summer’s “Nothing to Fear” virtual panel discussion on diversity and inclusion efforts. The conversation was led by Carla Harris, vice chairman and managing director at Morgan Stanley, with moderator Channa…
Fulcrum herds oversubscribed $13.2M round for KC cattle tech startup with KCRise Fund, iiM in the corral
A Kansas City-based precision livestock company will use its fresh Series A funding harvest to accelerate genetic progress and sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, its top executive announced Tuesday. “Our mission is clear, and we are grateful for the support of our investors who join us on our journey to ensure meat and…