A key part of SleepQuest's growth strategy was using its web site to educate clients about the value of snatching a siesta. Some 30 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea - a condition where a victim's breathing is disrupted periodically throughout the night. SleepQuest's chief scientific adviser, Dr. William Dement, runs a weekly column on the site. Eventually SleepQuest will sell sleep-corrective products from the site, but that's on hold while the firm seeks funding from angel investors, venture capitalists and others. Today, many insurance firms that used to snub the firm are becoming SleepQuest contract providers.
Public attitude is still a challenge for future growth.
It's common to hear about executives who brag about only getting three hours of sleep. Sleep debt is like a credit-card debt. SleepQuest employee John Chapman tries a device designed to help cure sleep apnea. Copyright 2000 SleepQuest. All rights reserved.