Christopher Thompson might not be alive today had he not met the right people at the right time.
At the time, Christopher was struggling with substance abuse fueled by isolation.
But, he said, “Others empowered me when I was at my weakest. So I wanted to create a world where empathy is measurable and scalable.
Christopher considers the current substance abuse health provider system to be deeply flawed. Compounding the problem is the fact that, with many cases, including his own, connecting at a pivotal point with the right people is beyond random.
To spur healing, recovery and connection, Christopher launched Sidekick Mobile Technologies, the company behind the Sober Sidekick app.
“We designed our Empathy Algorithm to create a world where meeting the right people at the right time is no longer left up to chance,” he said. “And we’ve found it to be a scalable driver of positive behavioral outcomes and ‘real-life comeback stories.’
“Our key thesis from day one has been, ‘The opposite of addiction is connection,’” he said. “Toward that end, our Empathy Algorithm motivates people to help people at scale. Our goal is to fuel the most epic wave of real-life comeback stories the world has ever seen.”
Wow.
Sober Sidekick is an app and healthcare engagement platform that helps those struggling with substance abuse to maintain their sobriety. Sober Sidekick serves as a catalyst for connecting with a community of people who can empathize with you, regarding your current state of mind and health.
The philosophy at the heart of Sober Sidekick is the power you have to help others by posting and sending messages through the app. The more support you give to other members, the more you receive in return. All posts are anonymous, but they all carry a means for empowering sender and recipient.
“The pain point of isolation is the biggest determinant of health for this population.” Christpher said, “The Empathy Algorithm is the only solution that meets that need, with human support, in real time, 100 percent of the time. With something as simple as congratulating another person on their sobriety, you can have a positive, empathetic impact on someone else’s journey.”
The Empathy Algorithm’s 100 percent peer response rate could mean the difference between someone taking a step toward recovery versus someone falling deeper into despair.
“No member has ever posted on Sober Sidekick without receiving written support from their peers in minutes, if not seconds,” Christopher said. “This is leading to peer-to-peer engagement at a scale we’ve never seen before, and user-generated content that details the mental health journey of our members, from the lows to the highs.”
The Sober Sidekick app is enjoying colossal growth, from 10,000 members to 175,000 members over the last 22 months. Underscoring the effectiveness of this app is the fact that Sober Sidekick attracted 75,000 of those members without a single dollar in outside capital.
Sober Sidekick’s bright future is illustrated by the endeavor’s lead investor—the American Heart Association. Long-term goals include 20 million members in the next five years; with $10 billion in revenue by 2026.
And even just one year from now, Christopher envisions grand success for Sober Sidekick.
“We will be the category king,” he said, “of healthcare engagement.”
Sober Sidekick has the potential to radically disrupt the mental healthcare provider system, for the better.
Members who have engaged with the Empathy Algorithm more than five times are 68 percent less likely to relapse. This carries the potential to create billions of dollars in yearly savings for health insurers, who shell out $43 billion annually on failed substance use and substance use disorders treatment.
As far as any competition, Christopher said, “No one has successfully engaged this population at scale, and the Empathy Algorithm has created an unfair advantage and an enormous barrier to entry for the next organization to try.”
Visit sobersidekick.com to learn more.
