GRIT EDITION THREE - Flipbook - Page 18
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20
BEST USE OF TECH
CLASS OF 2020
LUCID
LUCID is an AI-music therapy company building products that increase
access to effective and safe methods for improving mental health and
wellness. Their first product VIBE is for those suffering from moderate
to severe stress and anxiety who want a fun and personalized alternative for maintaining their mental health.
Co-founded by Zach McMahon & Aaron Labbé; Next AI - Toronto
CTO Aaron Labbé (right) has 8+ years of professional experience
as an audio engineer and psychoacoustics researcher.
During his studies at Ryerson University, Aaron began
to experiment with ways of using sound and music
to offset the symptoms he was dealing with and
ultimately discovered the foundation for what
LUCID has become today.
CEO Zach McMahon (left) is a graduate of the
Rotman School of Business and holds a BSBA in
Management Information Systems from Kansas
State University. Previously, he has worked in
strategy and BD across quantum, biotech
and oil and gas.
ZACH MCMAHON
NEXT AI - TORONTO
VALEDICTORIAN
18
GRIT
turning music
into a tool for
good with ai
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING WITH LUCID?
Currently, LUCID has 3 patent-pending technologies. The first is LUCID’s groundbreaking affective
music recommendation system, a deep reinforcement learning system that learns from one’s emotional state to recommend outcome-driven music.
Secondly is our novel method for integrating auditory beat stimulation into music. This powerful
sound-based stimulus is scientifically validated to
help with indications of anxiety, panic, and cognitive
performance. Lastly, our generative music methodology leverages the data we generate in VIBE to
create fit-for-purpose functional music, with the
help of generative deep learning algorithms such as
GANS.
WHAT TRACTION HAVE YOU SEEN TO DATE?
LUCID has partnered with organizations
such as Steelcase and the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies to launch
numerous employee wellness programs.
Additionally, VIBE is available on numerous
corporate benefits platforms and marketplaces - including US-based Fringe Benefits, League, and Honeybee. Moving forward,
we’re also collaborating with key music industry players to produce music for functional
outcomes. Our recent partnership with Toron-
to local Grayson Music provided Grayson musicians
with musical features correlated to desired emotional outcomes, as analyzed from VIBE’s entertainment data.
HOW IS LUCID HELPING PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD?
During the trying months of lockdown, the LUCID team spoke with users around the world who
were using the app to maintain their mental balance. A user located in Italy proclaimed to listen
to VIBE daily to cope with the nation’s strenuous
extended lockdown. Another user struggling with
PTSD and panic attacks relied on the app for their
chronic sleep issues.
After a thorough analysis of the aggregated user
cohort, LUCID found overwhelmingly positive data
with reports of lower anxiety, increased valence
(positive emotions), and moods moving closer to
their cognitive targets. After a single VIBE session,
users were averaging an outstanding 20% percent
reduction in anxiety levels, across all modes.
EXTRA CREDIT
Learn more about Zach and LUCID
on RBC Disruptors
GRIT
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