Bio: Bharat is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ethos, a tech-enabled platform based out of Los Angeles, helping individuals and health systems manage alcohol before it reaches the stage of addiction. Bharat became passionate about finding individual and community-level interventions to substance abuse, a cause close to his heart and community during his Master’s Program in Biotechnology at University of Southern California. With a background in life science research, Bharat decided to pivot from medical school and examine how innovation and digital health can close gaps to improve community health.

Org Info: Ethos is on a mission to end binge drinking culture. We are a tech-enabled platform for individuals and enterprises to manage alcohol consumption before it reaches the stage of addiction. Ethos facilitates early detection, continuous monitoring, and appropriate treatment referrals to enable better, accessible care that meets individuals where they are at. Our platform integrates evidence-based strategies – CBT, motivational interviewing, personalized feedback – that help individuals stay proactive on their health journey aimed towards reduction. Ethos is currently developing partnerships with Universities and Health Systems to integrate our platform.

What motivated you to pursue your current work?

As a Punjabi-American, I’ve seen alcohol misuse ravage the lives and relationships of members in my community. Through Ethos, I’m turning personal pain into passionate action. I believe that it there is an opportunity to reconnect a number of different tapered communities by encouraging healthier relationships with alcohol. This initiative isn’t just about the statistics – it’s deeply personal, shaped by the shared experiences within our community. I’m committed to transforming these struggles into meaningful change for the benefit of not just my community, but for anyone battling this issue.

What distinct value does your work bring to the digital health field?

Ethos is bringing a fresh perspective to engaging marginalized communities to take agency over their health. With a proactive approach focusing on early intervention and stigma-free support to address alcohol-related issues we are disrupting the traditional care models that serve alcohol management. We engage our end-users at the heart of our platform, crafting a tailored experience that aligns with their individual goals. Our platform is powered by data science and behavioral health tools that generate personalized care plans, increase user engagement, and ensure better adherence to healthier lifestyles.

How does your work impact your target end-users or stakeholders?

Our platform serves individuals who are prone to excessive alcohol consumption. Ethos offers our end users a non-judgmental environment for self-monitoring and freedom to explore their relationship with alcohol. Many of our users fall within the at-risk category for alcohol misuse. By engaging open communication about alcohol consumption and promoting health-awareness, we are enabling our users to embrace healthier lifestyles and catalyze positive change.

What is one exciting update or near-term opportunity that you would like to share with the digital health community?

We’re utilizing AI/ML to develop a novel digital biomarker, capable of predicting an individual’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). This innovation democratizes the use of breathalyzers, making them more affordable and accessible while creating new opportunities to objectively understand the role that alcohol plays in the health of populations.