Community Highlights: Meet Josh Sackman of AppliedVR

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Sackman.

Hi Josh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My personal health journey as a child with chronic pain profoundly shaped my career direction. At eight years old, I faced an orthopedic challenge that led to a series of medical setbacks—long hospital stays, extensive home recovery periods, and multiple painful surgeries. During those difficult times of pain, isolation, and anxiety, I often wished for the types of tools we’ve developed at AppliedVR. This personal experience inspired a career focus towards how technology can enhance people’s lives. 

Throughout my professional life, I’ve sought roles that pushed beyond the usual job boundaries, which allowed me to build a diverse skill set. More than anything, I looked for opportunities to work with incredibly talented people and ensured my work aligned with my core values. My diverse background, which includes creating consumer health technology like weight loss platforms and social networks and leading digital marketing and product management teams, provided a wide range of experiences that led me to co-found AppliedVR. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has been anything but straightforward, deeply embodying the principle that “nothing worth having comes easy.” I’ve navigated through a diverse array of challenges, including health issues that demanded resilience and patience, the adventure and complexity of moving abroad in Buenos Aires to immerse myself in a new culture and language, and the steep learning curve of developing leadership skills during the rapid growth phases of companies. Starting a company while simultaneously starting a family presented a unique blend of personal and professional trials, demanding a balance that was both challenging and rewarding. Moreover, the journey of building a business that pioneers a new category of medicine has been fraught with obstacles at every turn. These experiences, while testing, have been instrumental in shaping my resilience, adaptability, and determination, reinforcing the belief that the most valuable achievements are often those that require unwavering perseverance. 

On the personal front, because of my childhood health issues, I learned early the importance of self-care to be able to maximize my balance and performance. Without regular exercise, tennis, adequate sleep, and stress-relief methods like breathwork, cold exposure, and meditation, I might have experienced burnout on this challenging journey. 

We’ve been impressed with AppliedVR, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
AppliedVR is revolutionizing healthcare by introducing immersive therapeutics, a groundbreaking category of medicine that uses virtual reality to treat persistent health conditions that affect millions globally. Our main focus is on chronic low back pain, where we provide patients with an innovative device that comes pre-loaded with VR-based content that can help them self-manage their pain at home. Our flagship program, RelieVRx, is the first VR-based, prescription therapeutic authorized by the FDA to address chronic low back pain. 

A large societal challenge is the outdated, pharmaceutical-heavy chronic pain care model that contributes to a widespread pain and opioid epidemic. Our immersive therapeutics offer a unique alternative and transformative treatment that’s not only enjoyable, but also address the significant shortage of healthcare professionals available to deliver comprehensive pain care. Patients often can experience a six-month wait to see a pain specialist. However, RelieVRx equips patients with evidence-based skills to manage their condition effectively. Unlike traditional approaches, our goal is to use VR to teach patients how to regulate their nervous system and master coping skills, ensuring they’re better prepared to handle their chronic low back pain without prolonged reliance on VR. 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I see risk-taking as the cornerstone of all significant achievements in my life. A pivotal risk-taking moment for me was at 25, when I decided to buy a one-way ticket to move to Buenos Aires. This leap of faith, funded by selling my car and with minimal Spanish skills, led to life-changing experiences: becoming fluent in Spanish, meeting my current wife, diving into the tech startup world, and pursuing an MBA (with 50% of the courses in Spanish). This adventure not only broadened my perspective but also instilled a deep confidence in my ability to adapt and thrive in any setting, setting a solid foundation for my subsequent career growth in startups. 

After returning to Los Angeles and experiencing incredible career growth in digital marketing and product management, my leap into entrepreneurship marked another significant risk, especially with the recent arrival of our first child. This decision to bet on myself and my desire to make a positive impact was crucial in bringing AppliedVR to life. 

At AppliedVR, pioneering a new category of medicine inherently involves navigating a series of risk-based decisions, whether it’s launching new studies, interacting with the FDA, introducing our product to new markets, executing fundraising efforts, or expanding our team. Each step carries its own set of uncertainties. Our success stems from an organizational culture that doesn’t shy away from risks but rather embraces them as opportunities for growth and innovation. This approach has not only been instrumental in our achievements but also reflects my personal belief that embracing risk is essential for achieving greatness. And none of it would be possible without the collective efforts and support from my cofounders Matthew Stoudt and David Sackman, our incredible team, as well as the support of my wife Virginia and kids. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.appliedvr.io/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshsackman/