*By Bridgette Webb*
Ro wants to do more than help you rise to the occasion.
The company behind erectile-dysfunction brand Roman has entered the smoking cessation arena with a new program, Zero.
It's a surprising move for the year-old start-up, which originally catered only to men's health. But Rob Schutz, co-founder and chief revenue officer for the newly-renamed Ro ー it dropped the "man" ー said the transition was seamless.
"When it came to looking for a second vertical, we heard from a lot of people saying, 'I wish I could have Roman to help me quit smoking,'" Schutz said Thursday in an interview on Cheddar.
"Smoking is one of the causes of erectile dysfunction and, in many cases, for erectile dysfunction in younger men."
Zero's "Quit Kit" includes a personalized quitting regimen, an e-doctor's visit, bupropion ー a medication to curb cravings ー and nicotine gum. The kit costs $129 per month ー which Schutz said is on par with other quit-smoking programs.
Ro will also launch a Quit Smoking Tracker app, which will enable users to monitor their progress, see how their body is improving, and read personalized physician treatment guides.
Competition in the direct-to-consumer market is stiff, with both tech giants and upstarts getting in on the action.
In Schutz's view, his company offers more than his main competitor, San Francisco-based Hims.
"We are building a full stack company," he said of his ability to stay ahead.
"We have built all of our own technology, patient application, physician EMR (electronic medical record), the pharmacy and fulfillment software, we have our own physician network. We do everything ourselves," he said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/ro-goes-beyond-helping-users-rise-to-the-occasion).
One of the most self-made and success stories in the country, Emma Grede, has worked along with the Kardashian Jenner family on many of their best-known brands. Grede, CEO and co-founder of Good American, gave back to the next generation of business leaders as a featured speaker at the Chase for Business Make Your Move summit last week. She spoke with Cheddar News about her career, her company's fashion brand, working with the famous Kardashian-Jennifer family and balancing her own family life.
Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by businessman Warren Buffett, reported its operating earnings in its most recent quarter jumped more than 40% from a year ago but posted its first net quarterly loss in a year.
Elon Musk's company XaI has announced a new chatbot called Grok.
SAG-AFTRA said over the weekend that it received the studios' last best and final offer following a meeting on Saturday, with the union saying it's reviewing it and considering a response "within the context of the critical issues addressed in our proposals."
Stocks rose slightly as Wall Street looks to continue its momentum with earnings season winding down.
Tyson Foods is recalling about 30,000 of its dino-shaped chicken nuggets after some consumers reported finding small metal pieces in those nuggets.
Google on Monday will try to protect a lucrative piece of its internet empire at the same time it’s still entangled in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century.
Before the SAG-AFTRA strike, this was the weekend “Dune: Part Two” was supposed to open. When Warner Bros. and Legendary pushed that opening back to March 2024 and no other blockbuster stepped in to take its spot.
A growing number of Californians are planting agave to be harvested forz use in spirits. The trend is fueled by the need to find hardy crops that don’t need much water and a booming appetite for premium alcoholic beverages.
Big Business This Week is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street. This week we highlight Paramount, Maersk, Starbucks, Uber, Lyft and Beyond Meat.
