Julia Hu is doing something dozens of others are doing. But she is doing it right and she is doing it better. Hu created a wristband called LarkLife that tracks sleep patterns, diet, and exercise. Millions of people attempt to log their food intake and fitness for the day through phone apps and website, but have trouble keeping up. This is not the only issue – Hu and her 21 employees at Lark Technology believe that people are not challenged to change their life simply with raw data. “When you look at everyone in the world, about 3 to 4 percent are motivated by data. These are Olympic athletes, highly goal-oriented people, and tinkerers,” Hu explains. “The rest of the population is not at all motivated by numbers–or is actually negatively motivated by seeing numbers.”
In fact, the major innovation in her idea is in the interpretation and delivery of the data recorded by the wristband. The various versions synchronize with your smartphone every day and then turn that information into real tips at the end of the week on how to change your life. Inc.com asks the consumer to imagine the tips are a health or lifestyle magazine written specifically for you.
Hu is as unique as her ideas. At age 28 she is a second-generation Chinese immigrant, serial entrepreneur, violinist and former gymnast. Like many entrepreneurs, Hu did not finish the degree she set out to graduate with. She received her master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Stanford University, but dropped out of business school at MIT to found Lark. A colleague commenting on the savvy business woman said, “She’s disarming, sweet, and kind, and then you realize she’s completely out-negotiated you.”
One of the most entrepreneurial and inspiring aspects of Hu’s idea are the opportunities it has to continue growing. The business is collaborating with hospitals to assist patients in reworking sleep routines and is looking to create similar relationships with other health-related organizations. Hu also has the chance to create the world’s largest sleep database with data from its thousands of users. She responds to this opportunity by wishing “that benefit can be applied to everyone’s health,” which is the most impressive characteristic of this entrepreneur. For Hu it is not only about the money, but the ability to aid the entire world, not only Lark users, in the quest for a healthier life.
Hu’s idea is revolutionary. She is focused on the idea so fitness (which is not uncommon). Her innovative idea is to attack it from both sides. Hu is not only attempting to make people healthier with her bracelet, she is also creating a research database to assist professionals. She is also working with hospitals which is something that I have never heard of. Her customer base is probably so much larger then she could of ever imagined.
This idea is incredible. It is innovative and brings a lot of improvement to fitness.
Lu’s product is a very innovative one, and a very cool idea that has wide applications to a wide audience of consumers who struggle with sleep and fitness on the whole (I know I would look into this product). She did a remarkable job creating and launching her product with such a small team.