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Innovation is in LifeWave’s DNA. While working on a project for the US Navy that sought to improve energy and stamina for Navy SEALS aboard submarines, David Schmidt, LifeWave Founder and Chairman, developed a prototype that leveraged phototherapy to stimulate the skin with light and spark a cellular response that would, in turn, create more energy. The result was a product that would pioneer non-transdermal technology, and after three more years of clinical studies and research, his invention launched LifeWave in 2004.
Today, David holds 200 patents, and his original patch product has expanded into an array of offerings that address sleep, wellness, joint health and more.
“Innovation is at the core of LifeWave’s mission,” David said. “It guides our approach to product development, communication and global outreach.”
Invest to Advance
LifeWave is committed to trailblazing advancements that will positively shape the future of both consumers and the company. Particularly, its ongoing research into the applications of light therapy has led to what the company describes as “groundbreaking discoveries,” including its latest invention, the X2O Water Technology, which alters the structure of water, enabling it to release light inside the body upon consumption.
“With multiple clinical studies now completed, the results have been nothing short of extraordinary,” David explained. “One hundred percent of participants experienced statistically significant improvements in their health after just one session, with measurable effects occurring within the first 15 seconds of consumption. The benefits of this technology include enhanced energy, improved metabolism, optimized athletic performance and sharper cognition.”
As a leader, David is keenly strategic. He prefers investments that provide dividends years down the road and strategies that give the company staying power. It’s a pattern of making tactical long-game decisions that fortifies the company’s relevancy. In 2008, for instance, the company spent ten years and $4 million investing in stem cell and regenerative medicine research—a long-term investment that gained the company 70 new patents and a portfolio of market-ready intellectual property that served to propel sales.
In 2010, the leadership team began developing infrastructure plans that now serve as the backbone of the manufacturing, customer service and order fulfillment systems the company relies on. The newly announced X2O Water Technology underwent six years of research and development before its debut earlier this year.
That approach is applied in other categories as well, as David takes a proactive style to innovations taking place both inside and outside the industry, like choosing to adopt the integration of AI and expanding awareness of his brand outside of the direct selling channel.
“We continually seek better ways to engage and support our community, including the use of hologram technology and the exploration of AI-driven applications to enhance communication and business processes,” David shared. “We are actively exploring new avenues to increase brand awareness. This includes our successful drone initiative and the upcoming release of a documentary, both of which serve to broaden our reach and credibility.”
Future-Focused Philosophy
Developing patented, emerging technology has become LifeWave’s not-so-secret weapon, but the company has also leaned into revolutionizing even the most standard facets of business with attention to detail that brings life to the most predictable spaces. The brand experience, for instance, includes a welcome center that has an ultramodern “Star Trek” aesthetic. For LifeWave, it’s all about developing future-focused behaviors that amplify the company’s mission.
“Several things have been of great help to LifeWave,” David said. “First and foremost is our dedication to creating technologies that provide extreme value, are backed by solid scientific research, are patented and remain exclusive to the network marketing channel. Ultimately, I believe the future of our sector lies with companies that offer products unavailable through any other sales channel.”
Although it is still known for its flagship patch, LifeWave is now a much stronger engine, amassing loyal product enthusiasts that drove $555 million in annual revenue in 2024 and a 30x revenue growth over the last six years.
The X2O Water Technology follows the science-backed LifeWave template for innovation and is expected to be a highlight for the company throughout 2025. It also serves as the foundation for a seven-year product roadmap that will introduce a new era of wellness solutions for LifeWave customers.
“We’re evolving from being a lifestyle company, to an anti-aging company, to a stem cell company, to a life technology movement,” David explained. “At LifeWave, innovation is more than a philosophy—it is the driving force behind everything we do, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of wellness and business excellence.”
By embracing technology and planning wisely, the team at Lifewave embodies the heart of this award. Congratulations to David and the entire LifeWave community!
From the May/June 2025 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.
