“You should know just how dirty and disgusting your iPhone is. I mean, these phones are really, really filthy. Not just dirtier than a toilet seat by a little bit, but 10 to 20 times dirtier than a toilet seat. How many people use their phones while sitting in the bathroom and on the toilet, and that’s part of the problem. Half of the phones tested by various studies came back positive for the phone waste test. They’re really, really dirty.” – said Chris Barrow, a veteran tech investor and the CEO of the sterilization company Vioguard.
This leader might not be wrong when talking about the hygiene issues of the iPhone you are using.
In a 2019 survey of 1,200 participants by VitalVio, 88% reported using their smartphones while in the bathroom. Mobile device tests show that phones can harbor bacteria such as E. coli. Alarmingly, nearly 25% of the respondents said they never clean their phones. More than 1 in 4 men admitted that they never clean their phones, while the ratio for women is 1 in 5.
Barrow (also the founder of the venture capital firm Imagen Capital Partners) is an expert in smartphone hygiene, which has become extremely important in the COVID-19 era.
Vioguard sells devices that utilize ultraviolet (UVC) technology designed to eliminate bacteria for businesses. These devices – priced up to $2,000 – have a compartment that allows you to store multiple tech devices. You place them inside, close the door, and the sterilization process begins. Barrow asserts that his products kill bacteria much more effectively than traditional disinfecting wipes.
Imagen initially invested $5 million in Vioguard back in January 2017. Shortly thereafter, Barrow took on the role of CEO at Vioguard. He stated that the company has been growing steadily at a rate of 25-30% per year amid a huge demand for products in hospitals. Since the pandemic broke out, Barrow reported that sales have increased by up to 1,000% thanks to new partners in new sectors like hotels and retail.
“Hospitals have long known that UVC technology is very effective. We have been selling this product in hospitals for a long time, and hospitals love this technology. They know it works. What’s happening right now is that people are starting to realize that it’s the most effective way to kill bacteria and disinfect your phone not just in medical environments.” – Barrow added.
Source: YahooFinance