higi teams up with the American Diabetes Association throughout November to support diabetes awareness during American Diabetes Month

Nearly 10,000 higi health stations nationwide to feature “Eat Well, America!” consumer education campaign – consumers can monitor weight, BMI, blood pressure and pulse for free CHICAGO, Illinois, November 2, 2015 – higi, the leading community-based health and wellness platform, today announced a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (Association) to promote a new consumer education campaign, “Eat Well, America!”, as part of American Diabetes Month, which focuses on how to incorporate diabetes-fighting foods and beverages into everyday life. The campaign is being promoted across higi’s retail network of nearly 10,000 locations throughout the United States.Throughout November, consumers will have the opportunity to participate in an American Diabetes Month-focused health challenge via a higi health station at 40 grocery and pharmacy retail banners, as well as through higi’s app and web portal. Rewards include autographed cookbooks from authors featured in the American Diabetes Association campaign and a $500 shopping spree at a higi retailer.“It’s the small, everyday decisions people make that add up to a healthier lifestyle,” said Maggie Powers, PhD, RD, CDE, President-Elect, Health Care and Education, American Diabetes Association. “As a certified diabetes educator, I encourage people to think critically about what they eat and incorporate exercise into their lives as these actions contribute to wellness on the whole. Creating achievable goals for healthy habits and tracking everyday progress is an excellent way to prevent, delay or manage diabetes.”According to the Association, almost 30 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes and more than a quarter of those cases go undiagnosed which can cause and worsen many complications of diabetes. Since being overweight increases the chances of developing a common type of diabetes, type 2 diabetes, consumers can monitor their weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) by using a higi health station for free.“higi and the American Diabetes Association share the same goal of creating meaningful, lasting and healthy habits for individuals and their families who are struggling with diabetes,” said Jeff Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of higi. “We are proud to work closely with a venerable organization like the the American Diabetes Association to fight this systemic health problem that impacts millions of lives, through new and creative collaborations.”About American Diabetes AssociationThe American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.About higihigi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its innovative, community-based health and wellness platform gives consumers the power to collect and share their health and activity data with trusted partners or communities. These trusted partners can leverage this data from higi (after consumers’ explicitly opt-in) and higi’s tools to better engage with their customers on health and wellness in a simple, fun and rewarding manner. For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi’s API by visiting developer.higi.com. For More InformationChris Varoneshigi312-213-3887chris.varones@aesopgroup.com ###

Higi study finds monitoring based on reward incentives can lower blood pressure and may create lasting behavioral changes

Full study here

higi Launches Seamless Access to HIPAA-Compliant Health Outcomes and Activity Data

New Privacy Protected and Secure API Debuts at HIMSS ‘15 Conference with Mavens Consulting, Life Sciences Technology Partner, via Salesforce IntegrationApril 13, 2015, Chicago, IL – higi, a leading cloud-based consumer engagement platform that provides trusted partners with ways to more fully engage with their communities around health and wellness, announced today the launching of its industry-leading, privacy-protected and secure API.The higi API enables an accessible, affordable, and convenient vehicle to receive validated health information from consumers.The API will allow higi’s trusted partners, on a user opt-in basis only, to receive health outcomes and activity data from participating users with a higi account. Higi account holders can receive their health vitals for free at nearly 10,000 retail locations throughout the US (within an estimated 5 miles of 75 percent of the U.S. population) while also automatically syncing data from more than 50 health and activity tracking devices and apps, providing a robust platform for health engagement for higi, its users and its partners.“Cracking the code on health and wellness engagement is not easy,” said Jeff Bennett, higi’s CEO. “Healthcare is local and personal…and higi is partnering with like minded organizations to enable them to better engage with and improve the health of their communities.”One of higi’s first API partners is Mavens Consulting, a Salesforce implementation partner for life sciences companies throughout the world. Mavens will be offering this API integration opportunity to its many clients who are seeking more effective health and wellness oversight of their patient populations.“We are incredibly excited to begin this partnership,” said Prasad Kanumury, Principal at Mavens Consulting. “What higi offers is truly unique and compelling; like care coaches being able to identify patient intervention needs via remote monitoring of health vitals from in-store station check-ins and activity tracking. The possibilities for improved care and compliance are truly incredible.”“Data is revolutionizing health care and higi offers seamless HIPAA-compliant access to consistent, actionable and comprehensive health tracking data,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, higi’s Chief Technology Officer. “Partnering with Mavens and leveraging the power of the salesforce platform provides our partners with additional tools to integrate multiple sources of data and better analyze, segment and engage.”Higi will be hosting demos of this API for prospective customers and attendees at the HIMSS ‘15 Conference in booth #8345 and at HX360 this week in Chicago. For more information or for those not attending the HIMSS ’15 Conference, please visit www.higi.com/himss.Salesforce, Salesforce1 and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.About higi: higi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its innovative health and wellness platform gives consumers the power to collect and share their health and activity data with trusted partners or communities. These trusted partners can leverage this data from higi (after consumers' explicitly opt-in) and higi’s tools to better engage with their customers on health and wellness in a simple, fun and rewarding manner. For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi’s API by visiting developer.higi.com.About Mavens Consulting:Mavens is a life science industry Salesforce implementation partner focused on delivering innovative solutions built on the Salesforce1 Platform for health and life science companies. Founded in 2007, Mavens is headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Higi and Stayhealthy Combine to Create the Largest Connected Retail Health Kiosk Network

August 6, 2014, Chicago, IL – Higi and Stayhealthy today announced the companies have closed a transaction to come together, immediately creating the largest connected retail health kiosk network in the United States. The business will operate as higi.The two companies have combined to execute upon their shared vision of helping people to take small but meaningful engagement steps in their health and wellness. A robust platform has been developed that makes it simple, fun, and rewarding to take control of one's health and wellness.Both companies have successfully aligned with retail, provider, wellness, and corporate partners to roll out an interactive health engagement platform that features a nationwide self-service kiosk network which is convenient and free for consumers to use. Coming together immediately creates a nationwide footprint of over 6,000 kiosks and a contractually scheduled install base of nearly 10,000 by 2015.Beyond offering consumers basic health screenings (blood pressure, pulse, body fat, weight and BMI), the platform also integrates with many of the most popular fitness tracking devices on the market. This allows users to seamlessly monitor both their fitness and health tracking activity while also being uniquely rewarded for their efforts via higi's wellness engagement incentive program. This burgeoning program, leveraged by individuals, corporations, brands, and retailers, both rewards users for their health and fitness engagement as well as motivates them with engagement competitions.“Bringing the two companies together makes great strategic sense and expands our influence in the market,” said John Collins, CEO of Stayhealthy. He added, “By combining our different technologies and resources, we can offer a best in class, next generation product. Higi’s engagement platform makes tracking your health simple, fun and rewarding. This merged with our clinical-quality health measurement technology is a win-win for the end-user.”Jeff Bennett, CEO of higi remarks: “Our ultimate goal is to promote and develop a collaborative approach to healthcare between physicians, providers, payers, employers and individuals. By leveraging Stayhealthy’s innovative algorithms, advanced testing methods, and screening technologies, we get one step closer to achieving this goal through access to high-tech data. There is a great synergy between our products, services and passion for providing quality healthcare screening and engaging individuals to take control of their health.”Bennett will serve as CEO while Collins will serve as Vice Chairman and Director of Innovation.About higi:Higi is a simple, interactive and rewarding way to take control of your health and wellness. Easily accessible in retail stores, corporate wellness sites, fitness clubs and medical providers across the country at higi and Stayhealthy Stations, as well as at home on the website and on-the-go with the mobile app, higi is proof that understanding and tracking your data is the key first step to improving your wellness. Based upon current contracted rollout plans, the combined higi/Stayhealthy network will bring interactive health engagement to users at nearly 10,000 physical locations with the completion of existing rollouts. To learn more,visit higi.com or stayhealthy.com, and follow us on Twitter @higi.Contact: Thomas Frank, Delucchi Plus 202.696.1871 / tfrank@delucchiplus.com

Higi Announces Agreement with Rite Aid

Health Engagement Company to Become Exclusive Health Station Provider to One of Nation’s Leading Drugstore Chains February 6, 2014, Chicago, IL — Higi, the consumer-centric health engagement company, announced today an agreement with Rite Aid, one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains, to become the sole provider of health stations in stores nationwide. The company will deploy approximately 4,100 higi Stations across the United States beginning in the second quarter of 2014 and projects completion of the rollout by early 2015. With the availability of higi Stations in Rite Aid stores, both Rite Aid customers and associates will be able to conveniently measure their weight, BMI, pulse and blood pressure with the additional ability of having this data securely stored in their private higi online account for ongoing reference and progress comparison. By using their local higi kiosk regularly, Rite Aid customers and associates will also likely see an increase in their “higi Score,” a proprietary measurement exclusive to higi that positively recognizes each users increased engagement with their health. “We are very excited to be expanding higi on a national level through this new relationship with Rite Aid,” said Jim Farrell, President of higi. “Our primary goal is to help people take an active role in their personal health and well-being. Now Rite Aid customers and associates nationwide will be able to measure their personal body data through the higi Station and integrate that information into their lifestyle – allowing users to engage in their health in convenient and rewarding ways.” “Rite Aid is pleased to be the first national drugstore chain to select a health station provider like higi,” said Dan Miller, Rite Aid senior vice president of pharmacy. “Higi was chosen because of the high quality, ease of use and effectiveness higi Stations offer, which ultimately supports Rite Aid’s long term commitment to provide access to great health and wellness tools for our customers and associates.” The higi Stations will encourage people – health fanatics and couch potatoes alike – to approach personal health from a broader perspective by focusing on lifestyle choices and community interactions along with standard aspects like diet and exercise. The tools produce a higi Score between one and 999, generated by a proprietary algorithm that measures a person’s body stats, social engagement and personal interactions. In addition to engaging with their Score at higi Stations, higi users can also use the mobile app and higi website, which provide wellness-related content and activity tracking tools.About higiHigi is a simple, interactive and rewarding way to take control of your health and wellness. Easily accessible in retail stores at higi Stations, at home on the website, at work and on-the-go with the mobile app, higi is proof that understanding and tracking your data is the key first step to improving your wellness. Based upon current rollout plans, by the end of 2014 higi’s interactive health engagement kiosks will be conveniently available to users at well over 5,000 retail locations in 34 states, as well as the District of Columbia. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi.

Higi's Challenge Platform Sees Record Increase in January

The Health Engagement Company Experiences Significant User Growth In Number of Challenges January 29, 2014, Chicago, IL — Higi’s recently acquired platform Earndit has seen unprecedented spikes in user activity during its month-long challenge sponsored by one of the hottest snack brands in the US, popchips®. Over 6,000 participants are vying for the grand prize of a one-year supply of popchips®, the great tasting, better-for-you snack. The consumer-centric health engagement company purchased Earndit, a gamification platform that aggregates data from 11 activity trackers and mobile apps to allow users to compete against each other for sponsored challenges, prizes and giveaways, in late 2013. “January has been a big month for higi and Earndit – our users are certainly taking advantage of the ‘New Year/New You’ mentality to engage with their personal health and wellness through challenges sponsored by these well-known brands,” said Rich Hirsch, senior vice president of marketing and media at higi. “The popchips® challenge alone has already generated activity equivalent to running around the earth nearly 15 times.” “We are thrilled with the impact and engagement we’ve experienced with active, health-conscious adults via Earndit to start the New Year,” said Michael Parisi, senior vice president of marketing at popchips®.  “Motivating thousands of Earndit members to be more physically active, for energy, health and wellness, fits perfectly with our efforts to ‘Bring The Fun’ into the everyday lives of our target consumers.” The Earndit platform provides incentives – both virtual and physical – using a game-like experience that encourages users to engage in their health and wellness. The free platform is being integrated into higi’s  suite of products, which includes the higi Stations, website and mobile app. The platform connects to other activity trackers and apps, collecting data and converting that information into points that can be redeemed for rewards. Users can participate in corporate-sponsored challenges and giveaways and receive digital coupons, products and gift cards. Both current Earndit and higi users can learn more about the popchips® challenge online at Earndit.com. About higiHigi is a simple, interactive and rewarding way to take control of your health and wellness. Easily accessible in retail stores at higi Stations, at home on the website, at work, and on-the-go with the mobile app, higi is proof that understanding and tracking your data is the key first step to improving your wellness. Higi Stations can presently be found in over 2000 select retail locations as well as a growing number of corporate wellness sites in 34 states, as well as the District of Columbia. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. About EarnditFounded in 2010, Earndit rewards its users for trackable physical activity - linking with most of today's top fitness tracking apps and devices, including Nike+, Fitbit, BodyMedia, Runkeeper, Moves, MapMyFitness, Omron, and many others. Users link their tracking services to Earndit once and Earndit will automatically give them points for any activities they do with those tracking services. These points can be redeemed for rewards from a growing list of participating brands, including Vita Coco, popchips®, Bulu Box, 2XU, LeftLane Sports, FitOrbit, BucketFeet, and dozens others. Earndit also hosts weekly challenges with prizes offered by a different brand each week. To date, Earndit members have earned nearly $1.5 million in rewards. More recently, Earndit has entered the employer wellness space my offering employers their own branded versions of Earndit with the ability to have custom rewards and challenges.

Higi Announces Acquisition of EarndIt

Health Engagement Company To Add Gamification Elements Into New PlatformDecember 17, 2013, Chicago, IL — Higi, the consumer-centric health engagement company, has acquired the fitness gamification-based platform Earndit, which aggregates data from 11 activity trackers and mobile apps to allow users to earn real rewards for their trackable physical activity as well as compete against each other in brand-sponsored challenges. The Earndit team of experts in gamification, health engagement technology and brand integration will join higi in developing new higi-platform features to be released during the first quarter of 2014.“We are thrilled to integrate Earndit into the higi engagement platform,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, President and Chief Technology Officer. “Earndit not only strengthens our philosophy of making health simple, interactive and rewarding, but also allows us to leverage Earndit’s activity tracking features into our platform, providing our users and partners the next step in their wellness journey.”The Earndit platform provides incentives – both virtual and physical – using a game-like experience that encourages users to engage in their health and wellness. The free platform will be integrated into higi’s suite of products, which includes the higi Stations, website and mobile app. The platform will also connect to other activity trackers and apps, collecting data and converting that information into points that can be redeemed for rewards. Users can participate in brand-sponsored challenges and sweepstake style giveaways to receive digital coupons, products and gift cards. The Earndit platform is open to everyone, including current higi users, who can join for free and immediately enter free challenges and work towards high value rewards.About higiHigi is a simple, interactive and rewarding way to take control of your health and wellness. Higi automatically measures and quantifies your personal health information into one manageable number – the higi Score. Easily accessible in retail stores at higi Stations, at home on the website, at work, and on-the-go with the mobile app, higi is proof that understanding and tracking your data is the key first step to improving your wellness. Higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 29 states, the District of Columbia and counting. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi.About EarnditFounded in 2010, Earndit (Earndit.com) rewards its users for trackable physical activity - linking with most of today's top fitness tracking apps and devices, including Nike+, Fitbit, BodyMedia, Runkeeper, Moves, MapMyFitness, Omron, and many others. Users link their tracking services to Earndit once and Earndit will automatically give them points for any activities they do with those tracking services. These points can be redeemed for rewards from a growing list of participating brands, including Vita Coco, PopChips, Bulu Box, 2XU, LeftLane Sports, FitOrbit, BucketFeet, and dozens others. Earndit also hosts weekly and monthly challenges with prizes offered by a different brands. To date, Earndit members have earned nearly $1.5 million in rewards. More recently, Earndit has entered the employer wellness space by offering employers their own branded versions of Earndit with the ability to have custom rewards and challenges. Go to Earndit.com to learn more.

Higi, Publix Complete Partnership Rollout

Health Engagement Company Introduces Health Stations To The Southeastern Supermarket ChainNovember 15, 2013, Chicago, IL— Today, higi, a consumer-centric health engagement company, completed its yearlong rollout with Publix Pharmacy, deploying over 920 higi Stations in Publix Pharmacies across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina, with a remaining few to be unveiled at new stores by the end of 2013. Customers and app users can now visit any Publix Pharmacy to capture their weight, BMI, pulse and blood pressure in order to incorporate the data into the higi app along with the lifestyle and community functions, ultimately increasing their higi Score.“We are excited that customers in more than 920 Publix locations will now be able to measure their personal body data through the higi Station and integrate them into the app,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, President and Chief Technology Officer. “Our main goal is to help regular people play an active role in their personal health and well-being. Through the unique three pillar higi Score, we want to increase awareness that health isn’t just your body mass index or blood pressure: Complete wellness is also dependent on lifestyle and community factors. By making all three components easy to track, we hope the higi Score inspires people to make small, everyday lifestyle improvements that can add up to better overall wellness.”“Through our partnership with higi, we will promote a holistic approach to wellness to our customers and associates alike,” said Maria Brous, director of media and community relations at Publix. “Our pharmacy customers look to Publix to provide them with the necessary tools to fully engage in all aspects of their health. Our commitment to improving the overall health and wellness of our customers and associates can be seen through this new relationship.”The higi Stations will encourage people—health fanatics and couch potatoes alike—to approach personal health from a broader perspective by focusing on lifestyle choices and community interactions along with standard aspects like diet and exercise. The tools produce a higi Score between one and 999, generated by a proprietary algorithm that measures a person’s body stats, social engagement and personal interactions. In addition to engaging with their Score at higi Stations, higi users can also use the mobile app and higi website, which provide wellness-related content and activity tracking tools.About higiHigi is an easy, convenient and intelligent way to take control of your personal health and well-being. Higi automatically compiles your important personal health and wellness information into one manageable number — the higi Score — which is a compilation of your body, lifestyle, and community. By making the process easy, accessible, and automated, everyday people now have a way to play an active role in their personal health and wellness. Higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 29 states, the District of Columbia and counting. To learn more, visit https://higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi.Contact:Claire Tonneson202.525.0186press@higi.com

Higi Talks Corporate Wellness at Human Resources Management Association of Chicago SUMMIT

Higi helps increase employee participation and saves money in every paycheckThis week, we’re excited to talk about how higi’s innovative technology platform promotes wellness while increasing employee participation — and therefore more and measurable savings — in corporate wellness programs. In addition to enabling and promoting a modern wellness culture, higi is the easiest and most convenient way for employees to track their overall wellness and be rewarded for it in every paycheck. Our booth at the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago SUMMIT will allow attendees and other exhibitors to learn more about taking their corporate wellness program to the next level. When: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 9:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Where: Donald Stephens Convention Center; Rosemont, IL; booth #504 About higi: Higi is the easiest way to take control of your personal health and well-being.  Higi automatically compiles your important personal health and wellness information into one manageable number — the higi Score — which is a combination of your Body, Lifestyle, and Community data. By making the process easy, automated, and accessible (in retail stores at a higi Station, at home on the higi web portal, and on-the-go with the higi mobile app) higi provides consumers the most frictionless method to play an active role in their personal health and wellness.

Higi, Whole Foods Partner to Unveil New Stations in Bay Area

Stations Represent First Whole Foods partnership into California for the Quantified Self AppOctober 16, 2013, Chicago, IL — Today, higi, a consumer-centric health engagement company, officially launched its partnership with four Whole Foods locations in Northern California. The company will place higi Stations in Whole Foods stores in Cupertino, Santa Rosa, Oakland and San Jose. Bay Area consumers can now visit any of these retail stores to capture their weight, BMI, pulse and blood pressure in order to incorporate the data into the app along with the lifestyle and community functions, ultimately increasing their higi Score.“This new, strategic partnership will allow our users in Northern California to wholly participate in all aspects of the higi Score,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, President and Chief Technology Officer. “For higi, physical body stats are just as important as social interaction and community involvement. We are incredibly thrilled that Whole Foods is helping us deliver a healthier lifestyle to Northern Californians.”The higi Stations will encourage people—health fanatics and couch potatoes alike—to approach personal health from a broader perspective by focusing on lifestyle choices and community interactions along with standard aspects like diet and exercise. The tools produce a higi Score between one and 999, generated by a proprietary algorithm that measures a person’s body stats, social engagement and personal interactions. In addition to engaging with their Score at higi Stations, higi users can also use the mobile app and higi website, which provide wellness-related content and activity tracking tools.“My friends, followers and fans are going to be amped to have access to the higi Stations,” said Lupe Fiasco, Grammy-award winning artist and creative director at higi. “Thanks to Whole Foods, anyone using higi in the Bay Area can now get their Score verified. Personally speaking, living a healthy life goes way beyond the surface of things like eating right and hitting the gym. To be in top condition, people have to look at health from a global perspective that incorporates lifestyle choices, community activity and real involvement.”The Coddingtown Whole Foods and Stevens Creek Whole Foods will be having in-store promotional events on October 16 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), with higi specialists on site to demonstrate the Stations, help consumers download and set up the app, and give out other free prizes. The following day, October 17 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the Harrison Whole Foods and Blossom Hill Whole foods will get their turn to wow consumers with more features, giveaways and trials. Shoppers who create their free higi account and sign the higi Health Pledge — a vow to make small lifestyle improvements for greater wellness — will also be entered to win a $500 Whole Foods gift card (one winner per location).About higiHigi is an easy, convenient and intelligent way to take control of your personal health and well-being. Higi automatically compiles your important personal health and wellness information into one manageable number — the higi Score — which is a compilation of your body, lifestyle, and community. By making the process easy, accessible, and automated, everyday people now have a way to play an active role in their personal health and wellness. Higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 25 states and counting. To learn more, visit https://higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi and #higihealthpledge.

higi Featured at Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo

Chicago, IL – October 7, 2013 -- This week, Chicago-based startup higi will participate in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo. Taking place on Friday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Expo’s 240,000 square foot exhibit hall — located at McCormick Place, North Building, Hall B1 — will be home to 200 sports, fitness, and nutrition exhibitors.At the higi booth, the 130,000 Expo visitors will have the opportunity to create a free higi account, get their Scores verified at a working higi Station, and learn how higi’s free suite of wellness tracking tools can complement a healthy lifestyle.About higi: Higi is an easy, convenient, and intelligent way to take control of your personal health and well-being. Higi automatically compiles your important personal health and wellness information into one manageable number — the higi Score — which is a compilation of your Body, Lifestyle, and Community. By making the process easy, accessible, and automated, everyday people now have a way to play an active role in their personal health and wellness.Media Contact:Thomas Frank202-607-3624press@higi.com

AARP Announcement

Chicago, IL – October 1, 2013 -- This week higi will be featured at AARP’s Life@50+ National Event and Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of the exhibitors in the AARP Tek Pavilion — open Oct. 3-5 — higi will have an on-site higi Station at which the expected crowd of more than 10,000 participants can create a free higi account, as well as verify the body data (blood pressure and BMI) that inform one component of higi’s unique three pillar Score.In addition to the exhibitor booth, higi President, Jim Farrell will lead a five minute presentation [October 4th, 2013 at noon] on the higi Score and full engagement platform — including Station, web portal, and mobile app— giving attendees a comprehensive understanding of how higi’s approach to wellness can help them look, live, and feel better.About higi: Higi is an easy, convenient, and intelligent way to take control of your personal health and well-being. Higi automatically compiles your important personal health and wellness information into one manageable number — the higi Score — which is a compilation of your Body, Lifestyle, and Community. By making the process easy, accessible, and automated, everyday people now have a way to play an active role in their personal health and wellness.Media Contact:Thomas Frank202-607-3624press@higi.com

Social Networking Tool that Improves Public Health and Wellness Detailed at SXSW Interactive’s “Future 15”

“Score for Life” makes data collectible and shareable for better long-term engagementAustin, Texas – Chicago-based higi detailed its interactive tools that tap the power of social networking to improve public health yesterday at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival. Presenting to a room of 175 attendees, Dr. Khan Siddiqui, CEO of higi, shared “A Better Measure: Consumer Engagement and the higi Score,” which revealed an easy, engaging use of personal health data collection as the key to better living.Using interactive tools accessible by web or mobile device and at more than 1,000 higi Stations located at retail pharmacies, the higi Score encourages people – health fanatics and couch potatoes alike – to approach personal health from a broader perspective by focusing on lifestyle choices and community interactions along with standard aspects like diet and exercise. The tools produce a higi Score between one and 999 generated by measuring a person’s body stats, social engagement and personal interactions.“Physical body stats are important, but only serve as a point-of-entry for living healthy, when we know that social interaction and community involvement also play a part in wellness,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, CEO. “The question for higi became ‘How can we aggregate all the data, make it simple and fun to collect your data and share it with others?’”Scaling the concept became a mission for higi, whose ‘Score for Life’ captures physical stats along with lifestyle habits and community engagement, then aggregates the information making it simple and fun to collect and share with others. The concept of the higi Score occurred after a meeting that creator and founder Michael Ferro had at the White House on the topic of how to use social networking to improve public health. Ferro, who was at the presentation, addressed audience members’ questions about creating long-term health engagement and goals.“Similar to a person’s FICO credit rating, the higi Score takes into account a more holistic, long-term snapshot of a person’s diet and exercise decisions as well as behaviors impacting their lifestyle and community, as opposed to just body metrics at one moment,” said Ferro. “With this more holistic point of view, Betty White could have a better higi Score than an Olympic athlete because it's about awareness and knowing and sharing your data.”Noting the frequent use of blood pressure machines located in retail pharmacies – more than 70 million Americans check the one stat more than 500 million times per year – the presentation detailed how higi Stations and the corresponding digital tools delve beyond a single piece of health information. higi Stations also capture weight, BMI, pulse and height, and incorporates the data with the user’s lifestyle and community activity. A new mobile app for iPhone launched at SXSW includes a “higi Shots” camera feature allowing users to photo-journal food, activities and social interactions to further increase their score.“Ultimately, the higi Score is a tool that creates a wellness challenge among people,” said Ferro. “The engagement and resulting higi Score creates a status symbol that measures social influence and savvy by way of overall wellness, which could be a game changer for improving public health.”The launch of the new higi app was met with great reception all weekend during SXSW, as the company’s newly announced creative director, Lupe Fiasco was onsite and at the presentation to talk about the higi Score. Lupe already provided direction on the creation of the higi “900 Club,” a feature for users whose higi Score tops 900. To reach that Score, higi users are encouraged to visit higi Stations, check in online and verify their body stats. The more they check in, the more they Score.About higiChicago-based higi is a consumer-centric health engagement company. Through social and interactive tools – web, mobile, and higi Stations located in retail pharmacies – higi makes it easy for people to measure and track their health and lifestyle through their higi Score. higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 18 states and counting. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter.Media ContactHeather Sabharwa202-349-7016hsabharwal@kglobal.com

Lupe Fiasco Joins higi as Creative Director, Challenges South by Southwest Attendees to Live a More Healthful, Engaged Life

Artist, activist and entrepreneur to provide ongoing counsel beyond FestivalChicago, Ill. – Chicago-based higi announced today that Wasalu Jaco, better known as the artist, activist and entrepreneur Lupe Fiasco, has joined the company as creative director. Lending direction and support for its cloud-based tools, Lupe will join higi at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin this weekend where the company will feature its new iPhone app that helps users boost their higi Score in an effort to look, live and feel better.Using cloud-based tools accessible by web or mobile device and at higi Stations located at the Festival, higi encourages people – health fanatics and couch potatoes alike – to approach personal health from a broader perspective by focusing on lifestyle choices and community interactions along with standard physical aspects like diet and exercise. The tools produce a higi Score between one and 999 generated by measuring a person’s body stats, social engagement and personal interactions.“Living a healthy life is a real challenge but it goes way beyond the surface of things like eating right and hitting the gym,” said Lupe. “To be in top condition, people have to look at health from a global perspective that incorporates lifestyle choices, community activity and real involvement. I want to help people recognize those aspects and rise up to the bigger, more important challenge of living a great life and that’s what attracted me to higi’s endeavor. “Lupe has already provided direction in the creation of the higi “900 Club,” a feature for users whose higi Score tops 900. To reach that Score, higi users are encouraged to visit higi Stations, check in and verify their body stats. The more they check in, the more they Score. Downloading and using higi's new app, released on the Apple store yesterday, and the “higi Shots” camera feature allows users to photo-journal food, activities and social interactions to further increase the score.

“Just like climbing a mountain, real life is about facing physical obstacles and getting over lifestyle or mental barriers in increments, but you have to check in and stay engaged in order to reach your peak,” said Lupe. “The view from the summit of the ‘900 Club’ is worth the effort.”The Grammy-winning artist will be at the SXSWi Festival this weekend to lend support at the higi Hub at the Austin Sheraton and the higi trade show booth at the Austin Convention Center, as well as during the “Future 15” presentation on Sunday, where higi will be featured.“No one captures the energy and purpose of the higi Score like Lupe does,” said Michael Ferro, creator and founder of higi, who will present at the “Future 15” series. “His voice and creative input will make the challenge, the engagement and the endeavor of living a better life accessible and frankly more fun for all. With the higi Score, ultimately, everyone wins.”About higiChicago-based higi is a consumer-centric health engagement company. Through social and interactive tools – web, mobile, and higi Stations located in retail pharmacies – higi makes it easy for people to measure and track their health and lifestyle through their higi Score. higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 18 states and counting. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter.Media ContactHeather Sabharwa202-349-7016hsabharwal@kglobal.com

New tool to be featured at South by Southwest Interactive Festival helps attendees to score more and often

Web-, mobile- and retail-based tools help users boost their higi Score – in effort to look, live and feel betterChicago, Ill. – Chicago-based higi announced today its lineup of cloud-based tools, including a new iPhone app, to be featured at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival. While health isn't typically top-of-mind for the gamers, programmers and interactive designers that descend upon Austin for the Festival, higi's model taps into a goal they all share: Scoring at SXSW.“South by Southwest, with its community of active and engaged attendees, provides the perfect backdrop to introduce higi and the higi Score,” said Khan Siddiqui, M.D. and CEO of higi. “While there, attendees work hard and play harder, but no matter what, they’re constantly interacting with their community and engaging in lifestyle activities, which affects their higi Score.”Using cloud-based tools accessible by web or mobile device and at higi Stations at the festival, higi encourages people – health fanatics and couch potatoes alike – to focus on living better using a three-pillar score that measures their body, lifestyle and community. The three factors generate an easy-to-track higi Score, that falls between one and 999.“Even in the midst of a busy life and all the fun at the Festival, everyone needs a mirror, a little motivation and a gold star sometimes to make better lifestyle choices that impact their overall health,” said Dr. Siddiqui. “That’s what scoring – and the higi Score – is all about.”Beyond body-based stats such as BMI, higi also factors in a user's community and lifestyle – relationship status, social and physical activities, etc. – to create a higi Score informed by more comprehensive data. This in turn powers an engaging, game-like experience. The tool will come in handy for SXSWi attendees, where busy days are followed by busier nights.While SXSWi attendees will have extra chances to score during the Festival, a distinct feature of higi is its accessibility. The company has more than 1000 higi Stations located in retail pharmacies in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast United States. For more information, visit https://higi.com/sxsw.As a technology innovator, higi will be part of the SXSWi “Future 15” program, a series of short, 15-minute presentations providing forward-looking visions from individuals on a variety of topics. “A Better Measure: Consumer Engagement and the higi Score,” is scheduled for Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 3:45 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center.About higiChicago-based higi is a consumer-centric health engagement company. Through cloud-based tools – higi.com, mobile applications, and higi Stations located in retail pharmacies – higi makes it easy for people to measure and track their health and lifestyle through their higi Score. higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 18 states and counting. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter.Media ContactHeather Sabharwa202-349-7016hsabharwal@kglobal.com