*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).
With Donald Trump due on the witness stand next week, testimony from his adult sons in his civil business fraud trial wrapped up Friday with Eric Trump saying he relied completely on accountants and lawyers to assure the accuracy of financial documents key to the case.
DraftKings reported better-than-expected revenue in the third quarter.
Wallet Hub released a list of the 10 states with the highest median monthly student loan payments.
Oil and gas giant BP will purchase electric vehicle chargers from Tesla for $100 million.
Reports say olive oil prices have jumped 75% since January of 2021.
The big three car companies for GM and Stellantis have agreed to pay striking workers as they spend time on the picket line, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Elon Musk is making a big prediction about artificial intelligence and the jobs market.
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Mariah Carey is facing a second lawsuit claiming copyright infringement over her song, "All I Want For Christmas is You."
