Interview with MomentStrong’s CEO Liz Pierce

MomentStrong's CEO Liz Pierce

In our second interview, we had a pleasure to talk to Liz Pierce, President and CEO of MomentStrong. Before this latest gig, she was CIO at The St. Joe Company, a real estate development firm and the second largest landowner in the state of Florida. Liz’s CIO tenure is complemented by more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience.

Here’s what she had to say:

How would you pitch MomentStrong? What’s your elevator-pitch?

MomentStrong is “Strength When You Need It” – a patent-pending, mobile health and wellness application for both iPhone and Android. Users create “Moments” – locations and/or times that they know they’ll need help. A motivational message using text, photo, video or music arrives at that Moment’s location or time. MomentStrong helps change unhealthy behaviors in real time and gets users past weak moments for diet, exercise, smoking, drinking and stress; thereby helping people achieve their health and wellness goals.

What sets you apart from competing solutions?

MomentStrong is unique from any other mobile motivational product. It uses geo-fencing technology to deliver motivation where the user needs it, and/or time-based technology to deliver motivation when the user needs it – real time “strength.” Additionally, the service is made to address multiple lifestyle issues simultaneously such as diet, exercise, smoking, drinking and stress.

Although MomentStrong gathers anonymous, aggregate data on “weak moments” and what motivates users across multiple areas – it delivers personalized information like inspiration, tips, deterrent or distraction in the form of text, photo, video or launched call.

What’s your business model?

Currently, MomentStrong is available exclusively through company health and wellness programs. The app is provided for free to company employees, the company pays $5 per user per year.

Can you share some numbers? How many users do you have?

MomentStrong is used by approximately 20 companies, organizations and groups.

Where do you see MomentStrong going from here?

We are looking to expand our reach through partnering with a larger app or wearables organization. There’s also a demand from individual users and we’re looking into launching a service anyone could buy.

Where do you see the mHealth industry going?

It is an exciting time for mHealth, particularly with wearables. MomentStrong is the perfect complementary application for wearables, since it expands the appeal to a broader group of users beyond the “super-fit.” MomentStrong supports people who struggle to get past a certain time or place that derails their wellness efforts. The motivation they receive is personalized to more effectively change behavior.

How long are we from seeing modern mHealth technologies going mainstream?

Consolidations and acquisitions are happening at a faster pace. This will result in both larger market reach and cost drive-down for consumer/public type mHealth apps and wearables. I think a huge push will occur for the holiday gift-giving season. Medical mHealth apps will take longer because of government regulatory issues, but the push to drive down medical costs will mean these apps/wearables will not be far behind.