In 2011, Matt Omernick co-founded Akili Interactive and set out on a mission to improve people’s lives by building clinically-validated cognitive therapeutics, assessments and diagnostics that look and feel like video games.

Nearly a decade later, Matt and his team have seen their hard work pay off — this summer, Akili Interactive was awarded FDA clearance for EndeavorRx, the first-and-only prescription treatment delivered through a video game developed to treat children with ADHD.

Matt came across the original technology that led to Akili’s founding while working as an executive at LucasArts, and became taken with the idea of using games in a precise and targeted way to physically change the brain and improve people’s lives. Pivoting from his extensive background in games and entertainment, Matt made the jump to healthcare and didn’t look back.

In a conversation moderated by VillageMD Chief Technology Officer Mike Roberts, Matt shares his unique entrepreneurial journey from entertainment to healthcare and how he believes video games are changing the face of medicine.

The Tales from the Trenches series invites seasoned healthcare entrepreneurs to the MATTER stage to share their journeys — from how they got started to what they’re trying to accomplish and what they’ve learned along the way. Tales from the Trenches is sponsored by VillageMD.

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