Nicotrax is a year-old digital health startup that not only has raised funding and has already executed a pivot in strategy.

Gearing up for a presentation at the CED Tech Venture conference, CEO Kyle Linton talks about what’s happening with the new strategy and funding in a Q&A which is part of a series previewing Tech Venture presenting firms as part of a partnership between the CED and WRAL TechWire.

“We have decided to shift our focus away from direct to consumer and instead to payers and self-insured employers,” says Linton about the company, which emerged as an idea out of N.C. State a year ago.

Linton has already shown some skill at fundraising. At launch, Nicotrax raised some $6,000 in an Indiegogo campaign.

Later, Nictraox landed some $175,000 from Triangle angels and a health technology fund in Nashville’s Jumpstart Foundry.

Linton adds that co-founder Suraaj Doshi is still working with the firm on a part-time basis.

The Q&A:

  • What is the focus of your business?

Providing users, employers, and health plans a customized smoking cessation solution.

  • What is the top pain point/business application you are seeking to address?

Current methods to help users quit smoking are outdated and lack the data necessary to truly understand user behaviors to find customized solutions to quit.

  • What makes it unique?

We have created a smart cigarette case and mobile application to track smokers consumption behaviors and provide clinical methods to support them through a quit plan.

  • Why should investors be interested in your firm?

The costs of smoking are immense. Smoking costs the US health care system 170 billion dollars annually in direct costs. By helping users more effectively quit and stay smoke free we can help users, employers, and health plans avoid the immense cost associated with treatment of preventable conditions caused by smoking.

Business facts:

  • Website – www.Nicotrax.com
  • Email address for inquiries – contactus@nicotrax.com
  • Physical address – 310 South Harrington Street, Raleigh NC 27603
  • CEO’s name – Kyle Linton
  • Watch an introductory video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=sJv7ws51hSU