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Our Mission & Vision

Building the Future of Proactive Wellness

We envision a world where individuals are empowered to take control of their wellness journey through personalized insights, smart technology, and engaging experiences that make healthy habits sustainable and rewarding.

Our mission is to support healthy lifestyles through a gamified platform that combines AI-powered wellness insights, innovative wearable technology, and evidence-based guidance to help people build better habits and achieve their wellness goals.

The Silent Crisis of Kidney Disease

Millions are living with failing kidneys and don't even know it

Right now, approximately 37 million adults in the United States (about 1 in 7 people) are living with chronic kidney disease. That's more than the entire population of California.

Here's the alarming truth: 9 out of 10 adults with kidney disease have no idea their kidneys are struggling. Even among people whose kidneys are in advanced failure (stages 4 and 5), 1 in 3 people remain completely unaware of what's happening inside their bodies.

Recent Reports Highlight the Crisis:

  • •The CDC reports that kidney disease is now the 9th leading cause of death in America, yet public awareness remains shockingly low compared to other chronic conditions.
  • •According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney disease kills more people than breast cancer or prostate cancer, but receives far less attention and funding.
  • •Recent studies show that early detection and lifestyle changes can slow or even prevent progression, but most people aren't screened until it's too late.

At Vital Guardian, we believe this silent crisis needs a louder voice. Our mission is simple: help people catch early warning signs through everyday habits like hydration tracking and wellness monitoring, so they can take action before small problems become life-threatening ones. Because awareness shouldn't come after the damage is done.

Primary Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023.
https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/ckd-national-facts.html

Additional Sources: National Kidney Foundation (NKF), American Kidney Fund, CDC National Center for Health Statistics

Wondering if you might be at risk?

Take the Free CKD Risk Quiz

Why Kidney Wellness Matters

A Personal Journey

Vital Guardian was born from a deeply personal understanding of how challenging it can be to maintain wellness routines, especially when facing chronic health conditions. Our founders witnessed firsthand how traditional approaches often fail to engage people in their own wellness journey.

With kidney wellness as our starting point, we saw an opportunity to transform how people approach their daily health habits—making hydration tracking, lifestyle adjustments, and wellness monitoring not just easier, but genuinely engaging through gamification and smart technology.

37M

Americans living with kidney-related concerns

90%

Could benefit from better wellness habits

Today

Technology can make wellness engaging

Core Technology

AI + Wearables in Plain Language

Guardian Wellness Index™

Our proprietary Behavioral AI algorithm synthesizes your wellness data into clear, actionable insights. Think of it as a personal wellness coach that learns from your habits, lifestyle, and activity patterns—creating a non-diagnostic wellness score tracking behavioral adherence and hydration trends.

It doesn't diagnose—it helps you visualize trends and understand how your daily choices impact your overall wellness.

HydraIQ™ Smart Bottle

More than just a water bottle—it's your hydration companion. Tracks your fluid intake in real-time, monitors hydration cues through innovative sensing, and provides gentle reminders to keep you on track.

Simple, smart, and designed to make healthy hydration effortless.

Smart Patch

A comfortable, wearable sensor that continuously monitors key wellness indicators. It works quietly in the background, syncing data to your app so you can see patterns and trends over time.

Wear it and forget it—your wellness data flows automatically.

How It All Works Together

Your HydraIQ™ bottle and Smart Patch continuously collect wellness data. The Guardian Wellness Index™ uses Behavioral AI to analyze these patterns and provides personalized feedback through our app. You earn points for healthy habits, unlock achievements, and see your progress visualized in ways that actually motivate you.

It's wellness tracking reimagined—engaging, educational, and empowering.

Our Journey

From today to global impact

Current platform and wearables integration - mobile app dashboard with fitness tracker connectivity

Today

Platform + Wearables Integration

6-month roadmap - HydraIQ smart bottle launch and gamification features with rewards system

6 Months

HydraIQ™ Launch + Gamification

Future innovation - Smart Patch wearable technology for continuous kidney wellness monitoring

Future

Smart Patch Innovation

Leadership Team

Healthcare, technology, and business expertise

Kwame Knights

Kwame Knights

Co-Founder & CTO/CPSO

AI strategist and cybersecurity expert leading technology innovation. Architecting the Guardian Wellness Index™ and gamification engine while ensuring HIPAA compliance and scalable platform security.

Dr. Shaundel Knights

Dr. Shaundel Knights

Co-Founder & CMO/COO

Clinical leader ensuring evidence-based approach and medical strategy. Oversees clinical compliance and operational execution to deliver measurable wellness outcomes and seamless care team integration.