In an exclusive interview with Podcast, host Matt Zahab spoke with Edison Chen, the co-founder and CEO of CUDIS, the company behind the first Web3 and AI-powered wellness ring.
Chen discussed the CUDIS 001 ring, its advantages over watches and bands, the importance of individuals owning their data, and how they can financially benefit from it. He explained why charging monthly fees is a “weird” business model and highlighted the $5 million funding round led by Draper Associates.
### One Smart Ring to Rule Them All
CUDIS 001 on Solana is “the first AI smart ring that rewards your wellness journey,” according to its creators. Users fully own their data and earn daily rewards, “turning a healthy lifestyle into a new store of on-chain value.”
Chen explained that rings are primed for growth in a market crowded with watches and bands. He believes the smart ring can outperform existing market products, citing improved data accuracy and the need to bridge the gap between user and product.
Popular wearable brands often use a subscription model, but Chen argues it’s “actually a bad business model.” He compared it to buying a house but being denied access due to unpaid maintenance fees. In contrast, Apple provides continuous access to its phones and charges for additional apps, not basic usage.
### Your Data, Your Choice, Your Money
Chen emphasized that companies should not charge users monthly fees that restrict access to their data. He noted that data is valuable and should be an accessible asset for users to manage like they do their bank accounts. CUDIS aims to change this by making it easy for users to check their health and wellness data, including their complete history, similar to checking wallet transactions.
Chen mentioned that this feature might be available by the first or second quarter of next year, returning data ownership to users who can then decide what to do with it. Users can financially benefit from selling or sharing their data for project development.
### The Future is Bright
Chen argued that wellness data will become increasingly important over the next decade. People are investing more time and money into wellness and becoming more aware of data ownership. In the future, users could share data with doctors for comprehensive health insights. Currently, CUDIS helps users track and store data on IPFS, but plans to move it on-chain for permanent ownership and accessibility.
Users will be able to transfer data to other wearable product applications and manage data from multiple sources like Strava, Comms, and SleepCycle in one app. CUDIS supports syncing with Apple and is working on Google Play integration.
### If You Build It, They Will Come
CUDIS, a startup, aims to generate funds to survive and ultimately do more for end users. Initially, they are focusing on serving around 8,000 ring buyers and plan to open the app to more users for feedback and growth. The company currently doesn’t charge a monthly fee for its app but may introduce premium features later.
CUDIS is inviting builders to join its program, offering real quality users to help build their business. Unlike other companies, CUDIS facilitates direct communication between builders and users. Builders pay for user data and CUDIS helps promote their products.
### Going After General Consumer Market
Recently, CUDIS raised $5 million from Draper Associates, Skybridge, and other notable investors to expand its supply chain, increase production capacity, and invest in R&D, branding, and marketing. The team aims to target the general consumer market, promoting the ring as the first AI/Web3 wellness product and the first crypto-related consumer product. They plan to work with large brands and conduct offline and online campaigns to advocate for data ownership and control.
### Twitter Text
Have you put a ring on it? A fitness ring, that is.
CUDIS is revolutionizing the wellness industry by bringing crypto and AI to wearable tech. and we want to tell you more about it on Chomp, live at @SolanaConf.
If you can’t wait till then, the CUDIS app is live in App Store.…
“There are a lot of wearables, but one thing that has always bothered me is that I cannot tap into my own data” – @EDCBeatBit CEO @CudisWellness at #DeSciSeoul
Watch the full video: #DeSci #wearable #smartring
Stage 2 is ALIVE 🔥🔥🔥
Thanks Nick for making this happen💪
2.
As technology advances, we are seeing an increased variety of wearable wellness devices. CUDIS takes the next step in bringing blockchain backed data authorization and flexibility, AI empowered personal coaching service, as well as rewarding and refreshing gaming system into…
