Colorado is home to an astounding amount of locally owned businesses and manufacturers making a difference across the nation. Whether it’s designing and developing wearable technology or inventing groundbreaking products, The Coolest Thing Made contest sheds light on some of the state’s greatest innovations.

We chatted with founder and owner of DNA Vibe, Perry Kamel, to discuss his team’s People’s Choice Award for the Coolest Thing Made, and how his relationship with FirstBank has led to growth opportunities.

Briefly describe your business (what does it provide, who does it serve, etc.):

We design, develop, and manufacture an advanced patented regenerative wearable technology that helps reduce stiffness, inflammation, and pain while accelerating and improving recovery. We serve tens of thousands of Moms, Dads, Grandparents and kids of all ages and walks of life by helping improve their quality of life and enjoy more of their favorite activities. We serve hundreds of professional and Olympic athletes (and their elite teams and trainers) who rely on their bodies for their livelihood and can choose anything to give them the edge they need (so we’re honored they’re flocking to DNA Vibe). We serve thousands of clinical partners nationwide with a shared commitment to make the world a better place, one better life at a time.

How did the business start, and how is it going today?   

We started seven years ago when a leading Genomics and Molecular Biology expert joined forces with a Particle and Optical Physicist and Engineer. We spent the first four years focused on deep scientific research, product development, manufacturing design and development, and trials. We launched our first commercial product in January 2020, as COVID-19 was also launching.

What makes your business unique or sets you apart from competitors?   

Our science and technology are highly advanced, and we are the only provider in or around our category made in the USA. We’re also Veteran-founded and devoted to serving and supporting Veteran causes, first responders and other heroes, including teachers!

As a finalist in The Coolest Thing Made contest, what does this recognition mean to you and your business? 

It’s a bit of a shock! Candidly, we’ve always considered ourselves the “Nerdiest Thing Made in Colorado” or anywhere else for that matter. (Thank you, Tony Stark, for popularizing nerdiness and making it cool!) We are humbled and inspired. We work daily to help make the world a better place, one better life at a time, and we are inspired each day by stories of improved lives. We’re thrilled this recognition will help us help more people by making them aware of this option for leveling up their lives.

What is your proudest achievement as a business owner or leader? 

Without a doubt, our proudest moments come from the stories of lives improved that we receive daily. Whether it’s news of grandparents resuming a more active life with their grandkids, and young athletes recovering and getting back in the game sooner, or pro-athletes raving about the relief they experience. We have so many personal stories that bring us tears of joy; that’s what we’re all about. 

Describe a challenge the business faced and how you overcame it.  

Candidly, the launch concurrent with COVID-19 was quite distressing. Everything we had dreamed and worked so hard to achieve at that time seemed uncertain. Ultimately, our technology became a highly effective way for clinical partners including physical therapists, chiropractors, and others, to help their clients at home via our self-care/home-care alternatives. Not only did this enable clinical practices to help their clients at a time of need, but it also enabled them to remain connected with and relevant to their community of clients.

Ultimately, we hunkered down and worked collaboratively to help people despite the scarce opportunities. For instance, we created a scholarship program for those who could not otherwise get the therapeutic relief they relied on due to businesses being shuttered or stay-at-home orders. We also diverted a substantial part of our local manufacturing operations to help with production of masks, shields, and other needs, which were hard to source. COVID forced us to be imaginative about how to serve and required us to be at our very best.

What do you think are the most important skills/considerations for running a successful business?  

Challenge the status quo and ask “why” a lot. Why are things done this way instead of that way? What other way can we imagine that might be more effective or efficient? We love hosting schools, STEM groups, etc., and providing facility tours to help stimulate this imaginative reinvention thinking. When we do, we encourage NOT to think “outside of the box” but to start by demolishing the box. The box is itself only an imagined construct.

What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs? 
Do not focus on profits as your objective. Instead, do the right thing in the right way to serve others and provide meaningful value and benefits; help others live a better life; and the profits will come – not as the goal, but as the symptom of things done well.

What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs? 

Do not focus on profits as your objective. Instead, do the right thing in the right way to serve others and provide meaningful value and benefits; help others live a better life; and the profits will come – not as the goal, but as the symptom of things done well.

Why did you choose FirstBank as your banking partner?  

We love that FirstBank is our community bank. We’ve worked with them on business matters as well as personal matters. We are greeted as neighbors and FirstBank really cares and goes out of its way to help. We could not ask for or imagine a better banking relationship.

How has your FirstBank relationship helped with your business goals?  

FirstBank handles our home mortgage, and personal accounts, our commercial accounts, our ACH transactions, and financing options. It’s wonderful to be able to handle all our needs with one trusted partner who cares about us, our business, and our community.

What do you hope to see the business accomplish in the next several years?  

We are experiencing incredible growth, and this is because we are helping more and more people level up their lives. What motivates and energizes our team every day, is to make the world a better place, one better life at a time. So, our greatest accomplishment will be to do more of all that. It’s wonderful that FirstBank is helping to shine a spotlight on businesses like ours, which are committed to uplifting people and communities. On that, we share a kindred spirit with FirstBank. Thank you for your leadership in this area!

“This page may contain links to external websites. These links are displayed for your convenience. FirstBank does not manage these sites and assumes no responsibility for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy.”