The idea was to move beyond the PSA, and to look how we could utilize emerging technology to build a tangible piece to the solution puzzle for all affected. Key insights that drove the development were:

1. Harvard University reported U.S. counties with the lowest levels of “social

capital" had the highest rates of overdoses.

-More connection: Act as a bridge between shame and the support/rehab pipeline.

2. Scientists who recently looked at text-chat as a supplement to videoconferencing therapy sessions observed that the texting option actually reduced interpersonal anxiety, allowing patients to more fully disclose and discuss issues shrouded in shame.

-Deliver more emotionally sophisticated usage of realtime data.

3. By the end of this year messaging will add 1.1BN users more than social.

4. In the next 3 years 85% of consumer to brand interactions will happen without human interaction.

-Leverage this trend to help people get well.

What we're doing differently:

1. P2P Matching System - Safely connect users with similar expressed interests, goals and behaviors in anonymous learning and support communities.

2. Personalized anticipatory wellness routines - Building on interactions and pattern recognition, we steer users to proven techniques and routines created by our team of behavioral psychologists.

3. Emotional and Psychometric Data Informed algorithms - Reorganizing algorithms away from biased demographic data to deeply connected psychographic data, causing new habits to be fueled by oxytocin in addition to dopamine.

4. Brand Partner Rewards and Reinforcement - Proprietary system reinforces growth and progress with tailored content and unique rewards.

5. Daily check-ins, and geo-locating NA/Rehab Meeting Finder.

6. Two conversational frameworks, one for those suffering and one for those looking to help.

7. Built in trigger words and NLP sentiment analysis will notify a human clinical psychologist if a user is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.

8. Custom Authoring System for a chatbot that allows for the interface to track and capture intent in a context across the length of a user’s experience with the ability to recommend new content according to the user’s changing emotional state and interaction behavior.

The opportunity is to use the anonymous data responsibly to create research to better understand how to more effectively build a pathway to support for the tens of thousands of people who are suffering. This research would not only inform organizations such as the CDC, but also direct the highest levels of government policy. We can estimate the likely increase in a given outcome based on the ability we have to both predict and, to influence behavior.

1. Stndby was used in 713 area codes.

2. We discovered after launch that over half the users were supporters of those suffering, so we quickly developed a "supporter conversational track" that addresses the nuanced needs of this often forgotten group.

3. On top of Addiction with the data findings the technology can be scaled to to also address: Parenting, Fitness and Health, Marriage/Relationship, Dating, Career, Pregnancy, Mental Health, and Stress Management.

Stndby, a machine learning powered messaging platform —built with neuroscientists and clinical psychologists, launched the first digital assistant that helps those affected by addiction through anticipatory wellness routines. The system is designed to offer encouragement, motivation, and teachings, giving users a pathway to practice healthier behaviors and develop deeper awareness and coping skills. It can connect people to resources such as nearby rehabilitation centers, Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and live human support. The chatbot also reminds users to explore additional content that was developed as part of Viacom’s Listen campaign to reduce the stigma around addiction.

March 15th 2017: Incorporated Behavioral Reinforcement System

September 1st 2017: Partnered with Twilio for customized short-code "LISTEN" (547-836) October 15th, 2017: Beta Launch

Patent filing pending as April 20th, 2018

The influences were not technological, but how could we bring the experiential and the human element into the technology.

Context: Drug overdoses killed more people in 2015 than HIV and AIDS at its peak in 1995. Every 19 minutes someone dies from an unintentional overdose. Stndby was designed to directly support those affected by this epidemic. Stndby is providing the key technology platform for Viacom’s LISTEN campaign, a national addiction initiative, offering resources to help turn addiction around and start the path to recovery.

Limitations: In order to be compliant with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Stndby does NOT give medical advice, and so is not subject to regulations concerning providing clinical or medical advice/diagnoses.