Hey there,
Derek here. I’m the Founder and CEO of Ness (this newsletter’s parent company). I’m also a dad, husband, and human (at least that’s what I tell my Ness co-workers.) And I’ve struggled with my health at various points in my life.
Take, for example, when my insurance wouldn’t pay for me to see my therapist during the COVID-19 lockdown.
I was mad.
I was confused.
And I needed help.
Why is it so hard to access and afford things that are good for you? What if you could be rewarded and incentivized for doing the right things with more of the right things? And what if, in the process, more people could do the right things? That’s when the Ness Card1 was born.
I grabbed my journal (I’m big into journaling) and started sketching my vision for the first-ever credit card that rewards people for being healthy—for sleeping, meditating, self-caring, eating healthy, spending healthy, and, yes, going to therapy.
Less than two years after those early sketches, we’re now inviting our first Ness Beta Cardmembers to join our community of people who prioritize health first and deserve to be rewarded for it.
All of our Nessies (that’s what we call our internal employees) have their own health and wellness story to tell. Like Lauren, who dove into the world of health and wellness after being diagnosed with melanoma. Or Giff, who moved across the country and needed new healthy habits to ground himself amidst so much change.
Each one of us is committed to the Ness mission: To make health and wellness more affordable and less of a hassle than it should be. And that dream doesn’t end with points and rewards. We want to make healthy living accessible to everyone—and create a healthcare system that actually cares.
The Ness Card is just the first of many steps (and the first of many cards, if things go to plan). A credit card built for the present, where what you spend feels aligned with, well, you.
If this resonates and you like what we’re doing, we’d love for you to apply to become one of our first Ness Beta Cardmembers2. If the timing isn’t right, that’s cool. There are other ways to join us on this journey:
No matter what you choose, this is just the beginning—and we’re grateful you’re in it with us.
Derek