Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Matthys.
Hi Brian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
She waits for me. Patiently scrolling her phone. I am giving her biopsy results today. She’s concerned, but thinks; not her. Not today. She wonders why she waited so long to get it checked? I walk in. We chat nervously. I give her the news… She has cancer. She has cancer. Now what? Her life is changed. She almost fears the outside, moving forward. What about her kids, her husband?
Do you remember Show and Tell? Still one of the finest moment for a kid. I distinctly remember 1976. My turn to bring something to wow the class. I wanted tor bring something that seemed different. Even then, I wanted to show something to someone that maybe they hadn’t seen. It seemed obvious to me, even as a young child what to do. My brother had just been born, the last of 5, and he was now home. The choice was clear. I brought my brothers umbilical cord to show and tell; in a baby food container and water. Looking back, I have an odd thought. Is the umbilical cord the original wearable technology? Like putting on eye glasses for the first time, I like showing and learning things that people can’t always see.
Years later, I worked as a life guard. 5 summers in a row. The ultimate summer job as a teenager. Outdoors, everyday, helping people. Watching them. Keeping them safe. Helping them enjoy the outdoors without fear. The eyes of the pool. But, while shopping at a mall ( remember those?) I saw something that changed my life. A small health screening booth. It was a skin cancer screening booth. I approached the booth to ask the question, who is it at risk for skin cancer. They said, me!!! They saw something I didn’t see…
I went to medical school to help people. As a dermatologist, people come to me to see things they didn’t see. But they don’t. They don’t know what to see. Sometimes they physically can’t see where they need to see. So, I see for them. I look at them. I see things that may be dangerous for them. Do they know that the sun causes 90% of aging? Do they know the sun causes 90% of skin cancers? Not yet. So, It still happens. Every 9seconds in the US, alone. Aging is a part of life. And with aging, comes other health challenges. Especially skin cancer. I want to help people see. I want to help provide peace of mind.
What if we had a new way to see? To be aware? What if we had a tool to help us see better? The Good News is now we do. Welcome to a new way of seeing. Welcome to BURŪV ( buh-ROOV) by eclipse Rx. A smart band as the ultimate tool for skin health and beauty, on your wrist, connected to Apple Watch. A better way to see. A tool to help make aging optional. Customized for YOUR skin. Are you ready to see in a whole new way? We track our steps and monitor our sleep. Why should our skin be different? Smart Beauty. Perfectly Timed. BURŪV makes the invisible damaging rays of the sun visible and actionable. It’s time we measure what matters. It’s time for BURŪV.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been an 8 year journey. We started with a band that measures steps and sun in 2017. The Apple Watch was new. Fitbits didn’t have a clock so we thought we were safe. We got lapped by the smart watches etc. So we pivoted to a smart band to be a part of the wearable revolution. We are also self funded. It has been scary to invest so much of your own money in what you see as a revolution around skin health and beauty. Plus, in order to fund the project, I have worked full time. Normal, and hard from a time perspective. Plus, I have 3 kids and a wonderful wife so I want to be there for them as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sunflower Dermatology/Epiphany Dermatology. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I have practiced dermatology for 25 years. Starting in a specialty clinic for 4 years. I resigned and purchased a dermatology practice and grew it from 2 doctors to 7 providers, including my wife who is also a dermatologist. We sold the practice in 2021 to Epiphany Dermatology, a national dermatology company prioritizing patient access. In that time I created our digital healh and wellness comapny, eclipseRx and our current product is BURŪV, an Apple Watch smart band designed to prevent sun damage in real time. Consumers who care about skin health and beauty have the first wearable that can help them change directions as the changes are happening. Like a GPS for your skin. I am proud that we are leveraging this technology to help consumers. Using the Apple platform, we have the opportunity to help millions of people and license our technology to all platforms. We can, for the firs time, see the invisible damaging sun rays and take action before there is a problem. Starting today. I am really proud to offer this opportunity to consumers. Whether they are health or beauty motivated, the get both ( just like wearing SPF)
What matters most to you?
That’s a tricky question. When it comes to our product, the language of understanding. Nobody knows how broken sunscreen is. People think they are protected. But, no body gets the SPF number from the bottle, on their skin. Let’ that sink in… Pun intended. The number one cancer in the world is caused by the sun. There are more skin cancers than all other cancers combined. And, the number one product to protect their skin is so broken and no body knows it. I say it’s like wearing a seat belt made of dental floss… So, getting the word out and in a way that resonates with consumers, from our product standpoint is most important. My family and faith matter more to me than this. And, they are intertwined with this goal…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buruv.com
- Instagram: @buruv.band
- Twitter: @drbrianmatthys
- Youtube: @BURŪV band
