Switch2Health

Switch2Health (S2H) was a health and wellness company focused on incentivizing physical activity through a rewards-based system. Founded in 2006 by Seth Tropper and Amado Batour, the New Jersey-based startup aimed to address the growing issue of obesity by motivating individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles. The founders spent over a year researching the market before launching, driven by a mission to make a societal difference.

The company's business model evolved from a direct-to-consumer platform to a B2B corporate wellness solution. Initially, S2H gained public attention through partnerships with celebrities, appearing on shows like "Dr. Oz" and "Good Morning America". However, facing challenges in raising the significant capital required to build a major consumer brand, the company pivoted to focus on the corporate market. This led to the creation of the "S2H Challenge," a customizable and social-media-based wellness platform for businesses. Corporate clients, such as National Semiconductor and National Grid, utilized the platform to encourage employee activity, track health metrics, and potentially lower healthcare costs.

S2H's core product was a web-based platform integrated with activity-tracking technology, initially using a proprietary pedometer. The system's key differentiator was its patented technology that validated physical activity, moving beyond the honor system common in other wellness programs at the time. The platform provided analytics for companies and a robust rewards system for employees, creating an engaging and competitive environment to foster healthy habits. In 2013, citing a competitive and difficult financing environment, Switch2Health sold its intellectual property portfolio and shuttered its consumer division to focus solely on its corporate wellness platform. The company had previously raised $800K in a 2009 seed round and received a $200,000 investment from the Edison Innovation Fund in 2008.

Keywords: corporate wellness, employee health, activity tracking, rewards platform, physical activity incentive, pedometer technology, health motivation, S2H Challenge, Seth Tropper, Amado Batour, digital health, B2B wellness, employee engagement, health analytics, preventative health, corporate health programs, wellness solutions, patented technology, behavioral change, employee well-being