The Faces Behind Some of Your Favorite Brands: Anish Patel of EVO Black Panther Sonic Toothbrush

As part of our series about ‘The Faces Behind Some of Your Favorite Brands,’ we had the pleasure of interviewing Anish Patel, President of EVO, a brand I was first introduced to at the Pepcom Media Event in New York City.

Based in Southern California with roots worldwide, the EVO team is small but mighty. They are dreamers, creators, and Marvel fans alike that focus on the smallest of details for the best user experience possible. EVO stands for evolution. Each product launch introduces improvements and new technologies to their existing toothbrushes, so you’re never buying the same product twice. And while they’re passionate about oral care– they’re not stopping there with plans of expanding products into personal care, home accessories, and other appliances.

Can you share the journey that led you to the technology industry, and what inspired you to create the EVO Black Panther Sonic Toothbrush?

I joined the oral care industry in 2002, converting dental offices from analogue imaging to digital. After helping 10,000+ dental offices make big changes in their practices, it was clear that the next step was delivering those kinds of upgrades directly to consumers. Tech has always been at the forefront of our product design, and with our brand EVO, we’ve taken inspiration from things like concept cars to create awe-inspiring products in the oral care space. Brushing your teeth isn’t always the most exciting, but the goal is to introduce new technology into your routine so that it can be more than just a chore.

Each of our launches introduces a new tech to the product line. Not only do we have the challenge of creating one-of-a-kind items, but they need to live up to the Marvel name that we collaborate with, too. We began with a luxury sonic toothbrush — the Iron Man IRM-1, designed with personality to stand out amongst boring competitors in the market. For the next launch, we created EVO Sense, a touch control panel featured on our SPM-1 toothbrush, an ode to Spider-Man and his spidey senses. Our third Marvel collaboration, the BLP-1, is inspired by the world of Black Panther. With a place as advanced as Wakanda we knew that we had to challenge ourselves and bring something completely new to the brush: a touchscreen interface.

In the world of tech, there are always intriguing stories. Could you recount a memorable experience or challenge you’ve encountered while developing the EVO Black Panther Sonic Toothbrush?

Creating this toothbrush has taken over 2 years to perfect, and there were a fair share of challenges along the way. The brush was fully redesigned over three times before we began on the final design. Four different prototypes were created with 13 different modifications. Due to the complexity of the patterns and shapes in the final design, highly technical operators were needed to fix compatibility, taking a total of 8 months to complete the mold alone. The brush required a control processor that would be capable of running 27 software functions like a colored LCD display, touch screen interaction, pressure sensors, gyroscopic sensors, low frequency wireless charging, and an illuminated charging indicator and lamp.

We’re excited to learn more about the impact of your product. Can you describe how the EVO Black Panther Sonic Toothbrush is set to enhance the lives of consumers?

The BLP-1 is designed to improve your dental hygiene and automate your routine. Most people use the same toothbrush for 8–9 months at a time instead of the dentist-recommended 3 months. The clean becomes far less effective, bacteria builds up, and bristles may end up harming your gum-line as a result of the extended use. That’s where we come in — the BLP-1 introduces EVO Ninety, a reminder system that displays a QR code directly on the brush when it’s time for new brush heads. The QR code takes you to checkout with a new brush head in one easy step. In addition to automated reminders, the BLP-1 features a touchscreen, intuitive display, a pressure indicator that prevents you from over-brushing, and a brushing history menu directly on the toothbrush.

Thank you for your creating such an exciting product, Anish.