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People On The Move - Seth Tropper
03/04/2010 - By Gayle Davis
MAKING THE SWITCH
It’s no secret that obesity rates amongst children and adults alike are on the rise. In fact, the United States tops the charts! Seth Tropper and his business partner, Amado Batour, knew they could not sit back without helping to move full steam ahead on their idea that could ultimately change the mindset of many by helping to increase daily activity and reward people for it! The two spent about a year and a half researching the issues of obesity and became passionate about seeing the problems many people face. They saw a void in the market to reward people for activity.
That’s where their company “Switch2Health” comes into play…“Replay” that is. That’s the name of the patent pending product that has recently been launched. It looks like a watch and even tells the time and date, but more importantly it keeps track of activity performed throughout the day. Tropper says they asked themselves, “How do we motivate individuals, children and adults, to become more physically active? What we’ve come up with is an activity rewards band.” At the end of 60 minutes of physical activity the owner is given a special reward code to be entered on the S2H.com website. Rewards such as gift certificates to retailers like Best Buy® and GameStop®; ring tone downloads, iTunes® song credits; movie tickets and much more is offered there. Once the encrypted reward code is given, the watch can be reset for anther 60 minutes of physical activity, hence motivating the consumer to stay active.
The Replay was developed by carefully studying the technology of heart rate monitors and pedometers, but Tropper says, “Although the pedometer technology is the lowest in cost, it didn’t meet our needs for several reasons. An accelerometer, typical of an $80.00 heart rate monitor, on the other hand is at the higher end …so we set out to have the function of the accelerometer at the price point of the pedometer.” He says, “We set out to develop our own sensor, and that’s what we’ve done.”
After several trial programs where the bands were distributed and used by the Harlem Globetrotters, State Farm Insurance, and the NFL’s Play 60, along with several schools, Seth says, “We learned a great deal about what consumers want.” The Replay was launched several months ago and has received a great response. “Switch2Health” is focusing on more schools becoming involved to get kids motivated to move. The entrepreneur says, “One of the ways we are doing it is by trying to align ourselves with key athletes and celebrities to help bring awareness to the cause and by helping to curb obesity rates by using this product. Tropper notes close to over two years ago they had done a program with “Oprah’s health expert” Dr. Memhet Oz. He has a foundation called HealthCorps® in New York City, which motivates high school children to be physically active. When it came time for his annual gala to raise money for the cause, Oz turned to Tropper and his team to participate by donating and distributing customized “Dr. Oz HealthCorps® Bands!”
Shortly after this interview, NBA All-Star Paul Pierce, Captain of the Boston Celtics, agreed to team up with Switch2Health to help inspire kids by incorporating use of the band with his FitClub34 and Truth on Health Initiatives. Pierce will also take a stake in the venture. “We are trying to create a movement by using a little bit of a grass roots campaign and promotion. We even did a fund raising and awareness program with the PTO of Marlboro Elementary School. Over the next few weeks we are looking to pilot more programs throughout the area,” Seth explains.
Seth Tropper is both technically gifted and has a knack business strategy. Since graduating from St. John’s University his career has included government and commercial business development; strategic planning, intellectual property management, technology transfer, finance and capitalization, as well as the design and optimization of information technology architecture, applications and infrastructure. Prior to Switch2Health, he was a founding partner of high-tech startup, PlasmaSol Corp., acquired by Fortune 100 medical device maker Stryker Corporation for $20 million.
When Tropper isn’t focusing on making the world a more “physically fit” place, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children. Seth says, “It’s all about family.”
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
Vento Trattoria, NYC
FAVORITE MUSICIAN
Don McLean; “American Pie”
FAVORITE MOVIE
Rudy
PET PEEVE
Being late
THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sir Richard Branson, Captain Charles McVay - USS Indianapolis
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