Bentonville, September 13, 2025
News Summary
Sober Sidekick, a Bentonville-based startup, has been recognized as a finalist for the Kraft Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health. The app, designed to reduce relapse rates among people in recovery from substance use, received a $10,000 award among 150 applicants. With over 1 million installations and a reported 48% decrease in relapse rates, Sober Sidekick exemplifies a new model for addiction care that focuses on community support and technology to aid recovery efforts.
Bentonville — Bentonville-based startup Sober Sidekick was named a finalist Thursday for the Kraft Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health, receiving a $10,000 award as one of three finalists selected from a pool of 150 applicants.
Top-line summary
Sober Sidekick is a peer-led computer application designed to reduce relapse rates among people in substance use treatment. The app reports more than 1 million unique installations and a 48% reduction in relapse rates among its users, according to the organization. Third-party studies cited by the startup indicate the app can predict likelihood of relapse with more than 90% accuracy. The recognition from the Boston-based Kraft Center for Community Health highlights Sober Sidekick as an emerging model for community-connected addiction care.
Details of the award and selection
The Kraft Prize was introduced this year by the Kraft Center for Community Health to recognize innovation that expands access to quality, cost-effective healthcare for underserved communities. The prize focuses on several health priorities including cardiometabolic disease, substance use disorder, cancer, maternal health, and social risk mitigation. Sober Sidekick was chosen as one of three finalists from about 150 applicants and received $10,000 to support further development and scaling of its services.
What the app does
Sober Sidekick is described as a peer-led platform that combines digital tools and community connections to support recovery. Core features include:
- Tracking sobriety milestones and progress
- Connecting users with peer support and community networks
- Access to 24/7 virtual Alcoholics Anonymous-style meetings
- Access pathways to professional help when needed
The startup reports engagement metrics and predictive analytics used to identify users at elevated risk of relapse, and states that those tools contribute to reduced relapse outcomes and improved continuity of care.
Growth, reach and clinical engagement
Sober Sidekick was founded in 2019 and initially developed in Los Angeles while the founder was in a sober living house. The organization reports a 205% growth rate between March 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. The app aims to serve a population estimated at 40 million people in the U.S. who struggle with addiction, addressing a treatment gap in which roughly 1 in 7 people with substance use disorder receive formal treatment.
Professional healthcare providers and insurers have begun pilot programs and closed pilots with large insurance providers to explore integration of the app into existing care systems. The company positions its tools as potential complements to clinical care that could reduce relapse-related costs and improve patient outcomes.
Evidence and validation
The organization reports internal and third-party findings: predictive models with over 90% accuracy for likelihood of relapse and user engagement data showing a 48% reduction in relapse among users. These figures are presented as part of the case for broader adoption and insurer partnerships; details on study design, sample sizes, and peer-reviewed publication status were not provided in the award announcement.
Why the award matters
The Kraft Prize aims to elevate innovations that can be scaled to benefit underserved communities. Recognition as a finalist signals external attention to digital and peer-led approaches to addiction care, and the $10,000 award is intended to support continued development and deployment of promising models.
Background
Substance use disorder remains a major public health challenge in the United States, with a sizable portion of people affected not receiving formal treatment. Digital tools and peer support models have been explored as ways to increase access to ongoing recovery resources, complement clinical services, and reduce costs associated with relapse and acute care.
The Kraft Center for Community Health, based in Boston, launched the Kraft Prize this year to incentivize creative solutions across several priority health areas and to broaden access to cost-effective care in underserved communities.
FAQ
What is Sober Sidekick?
Sober Sidekick is a peer-led computer application designed to help people in substance use treatment track progress, connect with peer support, attend virtual recovery meetings, and access professional help when needed.
Why was Sober Sidekick recognized?
The app was named a finalist for the Kraft Prize for its model emphasizing community connection and its potential to reduce relapse rates and expand access to recovery support.
How many people use the app?
The organization reports more than 1 million unique installations.
What evidence supports the app’s effectiveness?
Reported data include a 48% reduction in relapse rates among users and third-party studies claiming predictive models with over 90% accuracy for relapse risk. Specific study details were not included in the award summary.
How much funding did Sober Sidekick receive from the Kraft Prize?
Sober Sidekick received $10,000 as one of three finalists in the prize competition.
When was the app founded?
The company was founded in 2019 and initially launched in Los Angeles.
Is Sober Sidekick working with healthcare providers?
The organization has closed pilots with large insurance providers and is pursuing further integration with healthcare systems to support patient care and reduce relapse-related costs.
Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organization | Sober Sidekick |
| Location | Bentonville (founded in Los Angeles, 2019) |
| Award | Kraft Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health — Finalist |
| Prize amount | $10,000 |
| Applicants | Approximately 150 (three finalists) |
| Reported installs | More than 1,000,000 unique installations |
| Reported relapse reduction | 48% among users |
| Predictive accuracy | Reported >90% for relapse likelihood (third-party studies) |
| Growth rate | 205% (March 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024) |
| Target population | Approximately 40 million people in the U.S. with substance use challenges; 1 in 7 receive treatment |
| Key features | Sobriety tracking, peer support connections, 24/7 virtual meetings, access to professional help |
| Partnerships | Closed pilots with large insurance providers; pursuing healthcare integration |
| Prize sponsor | Kraft Center for Community Health (Boston-based) |
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Additional Resources
- NWA Online: Bentonville’s Sober Sidekick a Finalist for the Kraft Prize
- Arkansas Business: Bentonville Sober Sidekick App Growing
- 5NewsOnline: Bentonville Man Uses Sober Sidekick App for Addiction Help
- PR Newswire: Sober Sidekick Secures $2.8 Million in Seed Funding
- Crunchbase: Sober Sidekick Overview
- Wikipedia: Substance Use Disorder
- Google Search: Sober Sidekick
- Google Scholar: Sober Sidekick
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Substance Use Disorder
- Google News: Sober Sidekick
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