JiveHealth began as a digital health startup focused on building interactive games that encouraged healthier eating habits in children. Early momentum came through a nationwide competition run by the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), the organization launched alongside
First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to combat
childhood obesity.
To advance in the PHA competition, I personally campaigned across college campuses in Chicago during the winter to secure the public votes needed to reach the final stage, where only three teams were selected nationwide. JiveHealth ultimately won, and as part of the program we were recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama and PHA as one of the most innovative startups in the United States addressing childhood obesity.
Following that recognition, I managed design and led a team of artists responsible for building a suite of educational games, including Easy Eater, Easy Eater 2, Birdy Words, Berry Bonanza, and Gem Jamboree. I organized large-scale playtesting sessions across six classrooms and more than 100 students, using direct feedback to refine gameplay, learning outcomes, and engagement.
In parallel, JiveHealth was also a finalist in the Microsoft Imagine Cup, providing additional validation for the technical and creative approach behind the product. Several titles reached the Top 10 in the Kids category of the App Store in three countries, and the work was featured in The Economist, Forbes, Fortune, Mashable, and the Chicago Sun-Times. The company was later recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the “12 Coolest College Startups” of 2013.
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