Health optimization provider Welltok, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Zamzee, an award-winning health program developed by HopeLab, to strengthen its CaféWell Health Optimization Platform™ for children. Welltok’s CaféWell Health Optimization Platform organizes health and condition management programs, apps and digital tracking devices to improve engagement by providing personalized guidance via social, gaming and cognitive technologies.
Zamzee rounds out their offerings to include health and wellness programs for all ages. This will be the Denver-based company’s second acquisition in 2015, and fourth acquisition in less than two and a half years.
Zamzee Background
Developed by the philanthropic R&D organization HopeLab, Zamzee uses gamification, rewards and behavior-change science to boost physical activity in kids and families. While many blame technology for a rise in sedentary behavior, It kick-starts a lifetime of activity for kids through play, engaging them with customizable avatars, an activity tracker and challenges. Zamzee has an impressive track record of success, increasing physical activity in kids by nearly 60 percent. It has also demonstrated that motivating kids to improve health behaviors can have a positive impact on the entire family. Parents often join in and are motivated to change health behaviors as well.
“Zamzee will be an essential component of CaféWell since it gets the whole family involved in their health,” said Jeff Margolis, chairman and chief executive officer for Welltok. “Health optimization is achievable at every age, and engaging in healthy behaviors in adolescence is proven to have great impact on bending the curve over the long term and creating healthier, happier populations.”
Reasons for Acquiring Zamzee
The integration of Zamzee with CaféWell platform is a great fit as health plans, large employers and government organizations, such as Medicaid, are recognizing the importance of a multi-generational and family approach to optimizing health. Extending support beyond the primary beneficiary to include dependents provides both business and socioeconomic benefits. The average total health expense for children treated for obesity under private insurance is more than three times the average health costs of all children.
The company recently acquired Predilytics, a leading healthcare predictive analytics company to help enhance Welltok’s CaféWell Health Optimization Platform. Predilytics uses machine learning and propriety technologies to more accurately segment consumers based on risk, receptivity and impactabilty, which ultimately provides more actionable insights.