SOBRsafe Inc. (NASDAQ: SOBR)

Tip on: April 10, 2024

SOBRsafe Inc. (NASDAQ: SOBR) is a provider of a game-changing transdermal (touch-based) alcohol detection technology that can improve workplace safety and provides advanced screening and monitoring solutions for the behavioral health industry.

Alcohol misuse is the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and the seventh worldwide. Nearly half of all industrial accidents with injuries are alcohol-related, and 1-in-10 U.S. commercial drivers tests positive for alcohol – the highest rate in the world. Despite these statistics, prevention and monitoring solutions have not kept pace with this epidemic. Legacy detection technologies are invasive and inefficient, unhygienic and unconnected. SOBRsafe believes there is a better way.

The company has developed a patent-pending alcohol detection device called SOBRcheck™ for use in detecting alcohol in humans, with just the touch of a finger. SOBRsafe’s next-generation transdermal technology detects and instantaneously reports the presence of alcohol as emitted through a user’s skin. No breath, blood or urine sample is required. SOBRsafe believes its technology is a superior, hygienic alternative to traditional breathalyzers for frontline, preventative applications.

With a powerful backend data platform, SOBRsafe provides humane, passive and connected alcohol detection for the behavioral health, transportation, oil and gas, judicial and consumer markets.

A preventative solution in historically reactive industries, SOBRsafe technology is being deployed for commercial fleets, workplaces, alcohol rehabilitation, probation management and teen drivers. This monitoring technology helps prevent intoxicated workers from taking the factory floor or drivers from receiving the keys to a truck, bus or family car. An offender is immediately flagged, and an administrator is empowered to take the appropriate corrective actions.

SOBRsafe technology is commercially available for access control (SOBRcheck), wearable use (SOBRsure™) and licensing or white labeling.

The company is headquartered in the Denver (CO) Technology Center.

Products

The SOBRsafe technology is integrated within the company’s robust and scalable data platform, producing statistical and measurable user and business data.

SOBRsafe™

With a mission is to save lives, increase productivity, create significant economic benefits and positively impact behavior, SOBRsafe developed the scalable, patent-pending SOBRsafe™ platform for non-invasive alcohol detection, real-time reporting and historical data aggregation.

SOBRsafe is a solution that has broad applications in behavioral health, fleet and facility safety, youth drivers and judicial markets.

SOBRcheck

SOBRcheck is the company’s stationary identification and alcohol monitoring product, providing a quick, specific-point-in-time test for the presence of alcohol. In hygienic, real-time fashion, SOBRcheck verifies user identity and determines the absence or presence of alcohol.

SOBRcheck provides an administrator immediate results – delivered securely – to aid in the efficient management of an existing substance abuse policy.

SOBRsure

SOBRsure is the company’s transdermal, alcohol-detecting wearable. SOBRsure provides continuous, mobile alcohol monitoring. The band’s advanced alcohol safety technology discreetly detects and instantaneously reports the presence of alcohol in the body. Additionally, SOBRsure provides app-based alcohol detection alerts, pinpoint location tracking and band-removal notifications.

The SOBRcheck and SOBRsure revenue models consist of two components: (1) a hardware device purchase and (2) a recurring monthly SaaS subscription fee.

Design, manufacturing, quality testing and distribution for all SOBRsafe devices takes place in the U.S.

 

Market Opportunity

A report from Data Bridge Market Research, an international market research and consulting firm, estimated the global alcohol sensor market at $2.3 billion in 2022. The market is forecast to reach a value of $6.3 billion by 2030, recording a CAGR of 13.7% over the forecast period.

Market growth drivers, as cited by the report, include rising alcohol consumption rates, more stringent laws pertaining to alcohol consumption and new, more effective technologies that facilitate detection and enforcement.

Greater awareness of alcohol consumption as a potential threat to public and workplace safety has led to increased emphasis on preventing operation of motor vehicles and machinery by those under the influence of alcohol and promoting responsible alcohol consumption, as the report details.

Management Team

David Gandini is Chairman and CEO of SOBRsafe. He most recently served as president of IPS Denver, a bank card personalization company. Prior to that, Dave was the COO at First World Communications, a U.S. internet and data center provider, and participated in its successful IPO. He previously founded Pace Network Services and facilitated a successful exit to ICG Communications. Dave also co-founded Detroit-based Digital Signal in the fiber optic long haul market sector, where he executed a successful exit to SP Telecom.

Chris Whitaker, CPA, is CFO of SOBRsafe. Previously, Chris had served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Accounting. He has held various executive finance positions with large public multi-national corporations and small entrepreneurial companies throughout a progressive 30-year career that began with KPMG. Chris was formerly President – Americas and Vice President of Finance and Administration for public, multinational corporation Elixinol. He also served as the Managing Director of AEGIS Financial Consulting, leading a team of consultants in providing fractional CFO and financial consulting services to a wide variety of businesses in the public and private sectors.

Scott Bennett is EVP, Business Operations at SOBRsafe. He has more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive in technology-driven enterprises. Prior to joining SOBRsafe, he co-founded cybersecurity firm GBprotect and served as its COO until its successful sale to Nuspire. He previously served as Chief Technical Officer/Chief Information Security Officer of fintech businesses Catalyst Card Company and Integrated Printing Solutions.

Investment Considerations
  • $25 million paid in capital
  • First-to-market, innovative detection technology – hardware + SaaS
  • Traction established and clear expansion path in three mega markets
  • Integration, licensing and white labelling could accelerate trajectory
  • Robust IP protection
Additional Resources