IdeaRocket

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a cardiologist and the founder and owner of BREATHE, a workplace stress reduction company.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IdeaRocket?

I’ve noticed that there’s a relationship between the stress in our lives and our heart health. In order to combat that, I created a methodology that’s been shown to lower stress, heart rates, and blood pressure. It is a seven-step stress reduction exercise called “BREATHE”. I wanted to show the process using animation — it would define what it is and how it can be used to decrease stress in the workplace.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IdeaRocket first created a whiteboard animation video that showcased who I am and what my mission is in an easy-to-understand way. Then they produced 30 exercise videos that explain how the methodology can be used in different situations. They helped me produce a script, which was basically my autobiography. I wrote the script for each one, but they let me choose from several voice actors to read the scripts. They used different stock photos, videography, and music.

We have a whole library of videos created for kids to help them reduce stress at school with public speaking, sports, and so on. There’s a three-video library for helping people reduce stress at work focused on innovation, teamwork, leadership, communication, and goal setting. The final library is focused on nature.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Will (Founder & Creative Director), SaraJane (Producer), and two other people. I believe there were other animators working in the background.

How did you come to work with IdeaRocket?

They’re a phenomenal animation and marketing company, and I saw one of their whiteboard animation videos randomly on the internet for an airline. I connected with IdeaRocket on the phone, and they were professional, accessible, and amazingly talented. 

How much have you invested with them?

The total amount so far is $75,000–$80,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with IdeaRocket in October 2020, and the initial engagement lasted eight months. I plan to continue working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

IdeaRocket was phenomenal at expressing my concept through animation. I’m very impressed with their work. They’re creative, amazingly industrious, and have access to incredible editing tools.

I started promoting the videos just a few weeks ago. My main goal is to connect with national children's programs and, secondly, with corporations. Heart disease can start in children as early as 12 years old, and it increases as we get older. If we can teach kids how to reduce stress, we can lower that risk. Their work wasn't cheap, but the work was incredible and very high-quality.

How did IdeaRocket perform from a project management standpoint?

I had initial Zoom calls with IdeaRocket’s team, where I showed them my methodology. I also sent them PowerPoints over email. 

They have a fairly sophisticated management tool with a schedule detailing when each task would be done. I would send them the first phase of a script, they’d give me a date for the first edit, and they’d send it back to me. 

They gave me dates for the voiceover auditions, and they sent me MP3s to pick from. We recorded the voiceover in a studio in Santa Monica. Will directed me remotely from New York. He did the sound editing there and made the 90-second animation that went along with it. 

We would do five videos at a time, and they gave me completion dates for each one. They were spot on every single time. They’re timely and incredibly organized with the logistics. I can’t say enough positive things about IdeaRocket. It’s a professional and well-oiled machine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re creative, collaborative, and professional. I’m a cardiologist, but I’m also a speaker and an author. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a lot of TV and movie sets, so I’m familiar with editing, sound, and videography, and IdeaRocket is incredibly high-end and professional. They’re great artists that gave me sound-studio quality.

I’ve enjoyed learning how some of the technical aspects of animation and projects work and the best ways to market a product from IdeaRocket.

Are there any areas they could improve?

IdeaRocket could improve in terms of explaining technical information to laypeople like me. For example, I was trying to embed massive files into PowerPoint presentations, but I didn’t know how to condense them. It would be nice to get a brief overview of how I could show the videos at a conference, for example.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to have a vision for how it should be done. Have a meeting with IdeaRocket to explain it and allow them to come up with a plan. One of the things I’ve learned from them, which I find really important, is that we have to tell a story in 90 seconds. They use animation to show the vision, goal, and dream.

Whoever uses them should explain their idea and have IdeaRocket give it clarity and focus. They’re really good at that.