Everything takes time, so patience is paramount.
As a part of our series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” we had the pleasure of interviewing Kamran Ansari — CEO & Co-Founder of FluxWear
Kamran Ansari is the co-founder and CEO of FluxWear as well as the inventor of the groundbreaking product, SHIFT. Over the course of three years, he transformed SHIFT from a design concept into a functional prototype to help users manage chronic pain and anxiety. His focus on user-centered medical device design has not only benefited patients, but also secured multiple international product design awards, 6 patents issued, and 5 patents pending.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you please tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
In 2017, my sister Nadia was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome, which caused her severe chronic pain and amplified her anxiety. Seeing her suffer, I wanted to find a way to ease her mental and physical pain. After some research, I came across pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. While existing devices did offer her some relief, I felt that there was a lot of room for improvement in the useability, form factor, and therapeutic effect. After almost 3 years of research, tinkering, and experimentation on Nadia, I found that a low-intensity magnetic field with a specific parameter set could rapidly modify neural activity and affect chronic pain and anxiety simultaneously. In 2020, I built the first SHIFT prototype which successfully alleviated Nadia’s pain and anxiety. Since then, Nadia and I have set out to share the benefits of SHIFT with others who need it and we are now initiating clinical trials with some of Orange County’s (CA) largest health systems.
Can you please share with us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
After my sister’s diagnosis with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and the subsequent peripheral neuropathy, my chief mission became delivering pain relief to her. However, after a couple months of Nadia using the first successful SHIFT (which was the 103rd parameter set I had tried), she frequently remarked on an unexpected sense of calm and diminished anxiety. This observation, coupled with insights from her electroencephalograms (EEGs) and emerging research, illuminated a clear connection: both generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and chronic pain exhibit overlapping brain wave patterns and symptoms. Individuals with GAD have double the risk of developing chronic pain, and a staggering 70% of those with chronic pain report anxiety. It dawned on me that while targeting her pain, I had simultaneously crafted a solution for her anxiety as well.
Which principles or philosophies have guided your life? Your career?
In both entrepreneurship and life, many are propelled by grand visions — whether that’s gathering legions of followers, attaining remarkable revenues, or impacting vast communities. While these expansive pursuits may be commendable, they can sometimes eclipse the profound value of just focusing on helping one individual. My journey began with a singular intent: to help a single person, my sister. After doing so, this purpose evolved into a daily commitment to try and help at least one struggling person. This dedication stemmed from an unwavering belief: possessing the capability to aid another bestows upon us the moral obligation to act, i.e. with great power comes great responsibility. This guiding principle has laid the foundation for all my successes so far.
Ok thank you for that. Let’s now move to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell us about your “Big Idea That Might Change The World”?
My “Big Idea That Might Change The World” revolves around leveraging the transformative power of the SHIFT neuromodulation technology platform, enhanced by the capabilities of machine learning (ML) algorithms. Our ambitious vision is to develop a closed-loop system powered by ML that initially measures a patient’s baseline using an array of sensor data — from EEG and heart rate variability (HRV) to heart rate values, and then dynamically adapts the delivered therapy in real-time to achieve specific therapeutic outcomes tailored to an individuals’ needs. While our premier product, SHIFT, mitigates anxiety and chronic pain in just 25 minutes using a predefined parameter set, the foundational, underlying technology is poised for broader applications. The patented SHIFT platform, when refined with the optimal parameters and ML algorithms, could be a game-changer in addressing a myriad of conditions, from neurodegenerative diseases to various mental health conditions.
How do you think this will change the world?
I believe that our “Big Idea” has the potential to fundamentally revolutionize the way we approach and treat centrally mediated conditions. The integration of the SHIFT neuromodulation technology with machine learning will not only deliver highly personalized therapies but will also provide real-time adaptability, a feature lacking in current neuromodulation modalities. By starting with a patient’s unique physiological baseline and continuously adjusting therapy, we will bring an unparalleled level of precision to medical interventions.
Moreover, while SHIFT’s current applications offer rapid relief from anxiety and chronic pain, the broader implications of this technology are profound. Imagine a world where a wide spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, chronic pain suffering, and mental health conditions can be addressed with targeted, dynamic treatments tailored to each individual’s needs. In essence, we’re looking at a paradigm shift in how we address neurological and mental health conditions, making care more effective, efficient, and empathetic.
Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this idea that people should think more deeply about?
Looking at the vast and troubling impact of the opioid epidemic, coupled with the pervasive misuse of drugs such as Xanax among our youth, where, shockingly, 1 in 10 individuals abuse the drug between the ages of 18 to 25, it becomes inescapably evident that we are already living in a world that is eerily reminiscent of a dystopian “Black Mirror” episode. This underscores the urgent need for new interventions to change our collective trajectory.
Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this idea? Can you tell us that story?
After SHIFT was able to help Nadia and others like her, I knew this neuromodulation platform could do more than just help with anxiety and pain. The tipping point came when I recognized the need for a more flexible SHIFT, one where parameters could be adjusted instead of being hardwired. After months of technical refinement, we rolled out an adaptable version to seasoned SHIFT users, many of whom grappled with other conditions. Users were anecdotally reporting beneficial results for a wider range of conditions than just chronic pain and anxiety, such as insomnia, autism, and sinusitis issues. This revelation underscored that, when fine-tuned and customized, our technology could serve as a holistic platform addressing a spectrum of health challenges.
What do you need to lead this idea to widespread adoption?
To shepherd this groundbreaking idea, we need a multi-faceted approach. First, significant funding for research and development is paramount. While SHIFT has showcased its potential in addressing anxiety and chronic pain, tailoring it to a wider spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases and mental health conditions necessitates substantial investment. Furthermore, our current collaborations with large health systems have shown us that strategic partnerships are pivotal. Aligning with esteemed institutions will lend SHIFT the credibility and validation needed for broader acceptance.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why.
- People won’t care at first and that’s okay.
- After SHIFT first helped Nadia’s chronic pain go from absolutely crippling to manageable, I anticipated a floodgate of interest, usage, and admiration. I envisioned millions flocking to embrace the technology. However, reality proved that no matter how transformative an innovation could be, there is never an immediate, magical inflection point where the world takes notice and starts knocking at your door. Simply put, first adopters are rare and constitute a very small percent of the community.
2. Everything takes time, so patience is paramount.
- In the early days, I recall being taken aback by how long seemingly simple tasks took. Four months for this? Two whole months for that? I naively assumed that everyone shared my urgency and would be burning the midnight oil just like me. It would’ve been great if someone had given me a heads up, saying: “Look, not everyone gets why this is so crucial, so they might not hustle as hard as you’d like. Don’t take it personally. Keep working hard. Keep pushing others. But, while doing so, be patient.”
3. There is never a better time than right now to start. Waiting doesn’t necessarily make you better.
- When starting a new project, from product design to clinical trials, it feels like waiting can give one time to think, leverage, and research in anticipation of that “perfect” moment. While that may be true at times, more often than not there is a benefit to just diving in. I could have waited for a “perfect” time when the market–and I–felt ready. But I dove in, leveraging the tools and knowledge, albeit limited, available to me. In doing so, I continued to build on my knowledge until “limited,” became “kind of knowledgeable,” became “somewhat expert.”
4. Creation in isolation is pointless.
- When I first created SHIFT in my bedroom, my prototypes rarely ventured beyond those walls. I was afraid of exposing it to the world, allowing it to become subject to criticism and objective testing. Doubts nagged me: what if all I was working on wasn’t really effective? But recalling my original purpose — to aid others — I realized SHIFT will never achieve its potential if stifled in seclusion. So, I released it into the world and, over time, my worry turned into pride.
5. Progress rarely happens from large breakthroughs. It occurs through daily, incremental progress.
- Growing up, I was influenced by movies and books where characters experienced sudden, illuminating epiphanies — those classic scenes of jumping up in realization or sprinting with newfound clarity. I often found myself waiting for such moments. Ironically, while waiting for that instantaneous breakthrough, I decided to focus on steady, incremental progress. In doing so, I realized that those small steps eventually culminate in genuine, impactful breakthroughs.
Can you share with our readers what you think are the most important “success habits” or “success mindsets”?
At the core of a success mindset is daily dedication. Regardless of the magnitude or nature of your endeavor, you must commit to some form of progress every single day. I have found through my journey with FluxWear that relentless daily focus is the cornerstone of our progress.
Furthermore, while ambition and forward-thinking are great, it’s crucial to stay rooted in what you practically have. It is easy to become satisfied with the theoretical deal which is “weeks away” or the partnership that is “close to being formalized,” but real progress comes from focusing on what you’ve achieved today, and what’s concrete and tangible.
Some very well known VCs read this column. If you had 60 seconds to make a pitch to a VC, what would you say? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
At FluxWear, we’ve pioneered an innovative solution, SHIFT, addressing two of the most pressing health crises in the United States: the surge in chronic pain and the decline in mental health. SHIFT is a one-button neuromodulation device that delivers pain and stress relief in just 25 minutes, with no side-effects, in the form of a comfortable, stylish cap. We are currently commercial, selling direct to consumers, and are working with leading health systems in Southern California to produce clinical data for treating conditions such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and persistent-concussive syndrome. SHIFT is just the beginning. The neuromodulation platform underlying SHIFT may be tailored to treat a myriad of centrally mediated conditions.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Readers can follow my journey at @fluxwear on Instagram and TikTok as well as my personal Instagram (@kamranansari123)
More information regarding FluxWear and SHIFT can be found on our website at fluxwear.com
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
FluxWear: Kamran Ansari’s Big Idea That Might Change The World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.