*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).
TikTok said it's investing billions of dollars into the southeast Asia market, one of the company's biggest, over the next few years.
Cava CEO Brett Schulman Talks IPO Debut
Ed Siddell, CEO and chief investment officer with EGSI Financial, joined Cheddar News to discuss Thursday's positive trading session in what Siddell called "a year of momentum" as investors continue to digest a heavy amount of news that includes monetary policy, inflation concerns, banking fears and some positive economic data.
Rivian is expanding into New York City and launching its first showroom there. Cheddar News took a look at the showroom in NYC that the company is calling "spaces," which is intended to be experiential retail locations to woo new customers.
Rebecca Walser, certified financial planner and wealth strategist, offers tips on how to avoid money mistakes, develop healthy spending habits, and pay off debts.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it hopes to weed out false or misleading animal-welfare claims on meat and poultry packaging with new guidance and testing.
Stocks swept higher Thursday, revving the longest rally for Wall Street in a year and a half into a higher gear.
If you're looking for food that's good for you and the planet, look no further than the new Isle of Us café and marketplace in the Upper East Side. Cheddar's own Shannon LaNier is on the scene with more.
The price of one kitchen staple is dropping at a historic rate. In May, egg prices had their largest monthly decline in 72 years. Ricky Richardson, CEO of South Carolina-based Eggs Up Grill, joined Cheddar News to discuss the state of play in the egg industry as prices fall while food costs overall are on the rise again. Egg prices are "returning to more normal levels now, we're running down about 40% on a year-over-year basis," he said.
Best Cost-Saving Tips for Home Improvement
