Catching up with Richard Hinds, CEO of QoL Devices

Richard Hinds might be described as a “reluctant entrepreneur.” A few years ago, he was content in his role as a respiratory therapist at Mayo Clinic, where he won multiple medical patents. Richard had a knack for finding “cool ways” to innovate within a corporate structure. “You can be an entrepreneur inside a corporation, but you really have to learn how to sell and pitch from within,” he said with a slight smirk.

Through his work at Mayo, Richard mastered the process from prototype to FDA clearance to market. Then, he met Bez Arkush, a serial innovator and entrepreneur. Bez pitched Richard on his product, the Alvio – a wired respiratory training device. Richard loved the idea but saw a major flaw in the business plan. “There were no recommendations from doctors’ offices, and you’d essentially have to educate the public directly in the aisle at Walgreens,” he explained. These were significant obstacles to marketing such an incredible product.

Impressed by Richard’s insights, Bez asked him to join QoL Devices as CEO. While initially hesitant, Richard eventually felt it was the right time to make the leap.

Expansion Post-Ignite Cup Win

After becoming CEO, Richard relocated QoL Devices from New York to Rochester, MN, positioning the company in the heart of “Medical Alley.” This move provided access to medical professionals, research opportunities, and a supportive entrepreneurial community. Richard made significant upgrades to Alvio, including Bluetooth connectivity and new video game components to gamify therapy for kids.

In 2023, Richard won the Ignite Cup and advanced to the MN Cup competition. Judges consistently noted that QoL was too focused on the consumer market, potentially neglecting the medical market. Initially resistant, Richard eventually realized the importance of this feedback.

Shifting Focus to the Medical Market

In response to feedback from the Ignite Cup and MN Cup judges, Richard began to pivot QoL Devices’ focus back to the medical market. While Alvio continued to reach new consumer markets like singers, swimmers, and runners, the company developed a new medical product, Lung Link, in collaboration with an Italian respiratory device company.

Lung Link is a respiratory and pulmonary measurement device paired with a user-friendly app. This app allows patients to easily track their progress after a diagnosis like COPD.

A qualified respiratory therapist regularly assesses the data collected from the app and can notify providers of any issues within thirty days, significantly reducing the typical four to twelve months it takes for patients to be seen again by their physician. This innovation is a game changer, especially in rural areas like Southern Minnesota, where access to respiratory providers is limited.

For example, in the Twin Cities, there is one respiratory therapist for every two thousand people. In Rochester, that number jumps to one for every twenty-thousand. Outside Med City, the situation is even more challenging. Lung Link empowers patients to maintain their current healthcare providers and pharmacists, facilitating greater trust and continuity of care.

Human-Centered Design at QoL Devices

The success of Alvio and Lung Link inspired Richard to expand QoL’s in-house development studio. QoL Studios now offers services to other entrepreneurs, helping them bring their innovative products to market. From video game and app development to human user testing, QoL Studios provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to combine technology and human needs.

“It’s all about building trust,” Richard explains. “Even with all the AI and data analysis, you still need that human element. It’s about timing and taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. You have to start with the user and work backward to your product as the solution.”

Through QoL Studios, Richard guides other entrepreneurs in developing their minimum viable product (MVP) and navigating the path to market. He emphasizes the importance of the user as the central focus of any business decision.

Richard’s Advice to Entrepreneurs

When asked about the most important point for entrepreneurs to keep in mind, Richard says, “Remember what your northern star metric is. The user of your product is the center of everything. Any time a decision is being made for your company, ask yourself if it will change the value proposition to your customer. That is how you will know what to do.”

To learn more about all of the endeavors Richard and his team are undertaking, please visit their website.

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