Comstock's magazine 0620 - June June 2020 | Page 94

FOUNDER OF THE MONTH
TONY BRAHAM
RAIVES
BY Russell Nichols
As a hospital assistant at UC Davis Medical Center, Tony Braham
helps nurses lift and move patients for continence care to reduce pressure
ulcers due to lack of movement, among other things. In other words, “We’re
the muscle of the hospital,” Braham says, and his startup aims to help “the
muscle” be more mobile.
Based in Sacramento, RAIVES is a patented medical device Braham
invented that helps organize medical equipment such as IVs, respiratory
tubing and monitor cables in the intensive care unit. Hospital rooms typically
have various wires and tubes connected from monitors to patients. These
lines run on the floor, which can cause accidents. Braham knows this because
in 2016 he tripped over a temperature probe and nearly yanked out
an IV, which could have been life-threatening for the patient. After the
fall, he came up with the idea for a clip that could keep the long lines
off the floor to improve patient and staff safety and productivity.
The startup launched in January 2019. Braham hopes to
raise $500,000 by year’s end for molding, prototyping, packaging
and distributing. The team of two includes Braham and
Chris Anderson, who met at the Sacramento Entrepreneurship
Academy, where they won Best Business Plan in 2019.
PHOTO BY TERENCE DUFFY
an ICU nurse.
If I could have any other job, I’d be.......................................
a great team
A startup can’t be successful without.....................................
and customers.
..............................................................................................
The movie that best represents my approach to business would
“Joy.”
be...............................................................................................
doing it by myself.
My biggest fear about launching was...............................................
finish what
If I could give my younger self some advice, that would be.....................
you start, and wholeheartedly believe in your dreams.
..............................................................................................................
HOW ELSE IS RAIVES HELPFUL IN HOSPITAL ROOMS? “Infection control
is huge. Nurses usually have to change IVs every three days. IVs are so long,
they’re touching the floor. Nurses have to readjust them when they have to push
a medication, so they’re grabbing IVs on the floor, throwing them on the bed. The
clip would prevent it from touching the floor.”
WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? “Respiratory Airway IV Extension System.
It’s an acronym I came up with. ‘Hey, go get me a RAIVES clip.’ I thought it
was catchy and easy for staff to adopt and remember.”
For more on RAIVES, read Russell Nichols’ Startup of the Month column at
comstocksmag.com.
94 comstocksmag.com | June 2020