Meet Global Impact Award finalist Sobriety Hub, a startup on a mission to set a new standard in data analytics for sober living homes. By providing an intuitive solution built from the ground up, Sobriety Hub hopes to save time and money so sober living home owners, operators, and managers can focus on providing the best experience and care for their residents. An active member of the entrepreneurial community at WashU, Founder and CEO Clay Canfield (BSBA ’23) won $10,000 in funding for Sobriety Hub through the Skandalaris Venture Competition in 2022. Since graduating, he has participated in the Skandalaris Launchpad program and the Skandalaris Internship Program; both provided Sobriety Hub with resources and intern support to help propel the startup forward.
Keep reading to learn about Clay’s journey with Sobriety Hub, their goals for the future, and how winning funding through the Global Impact Award would help propel the startup forward.
Clay, can you walk us through the origin story of Sobriety Hub and what drew you to found it?
Sobriety Hub was founded by a team of WashU students. With our founding team deeply involved in the recovery community, we recognized the gaps in existing sober house management tools through conversations with operators. We saw an opportunity to leverage technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sober living homes, ultimately enhancing the recovery journey for residents. Our mission was born from a commitment to making a tangible impact in the recovery community.
What critical problem is Sobriety Hub solving, and why is this solution needed now?
Sobriety Hub Software addresses the critical need for efficient, organized, and user-friendly management tools in the sober living industry. Many sober living homes rely on outdated methods like pen-and-paper tracking or cumbersome software solutions. With the growing addiction crisis and increasing demand for recovery housing, operators need streamlined tools for resident management, payment tracking, and outcome reporting. Sobriety Hub provides an intuitive, powerful, and scalable solution, empowering operators to focus more on supporting residents and less on administrative tasks.
How has the company validated and refined its solution based on market feedback?
Sobriety Hub has continuously refined its software through direct feedback from sober living operators. Every product demo and consultation has provided valuable insights, leading to key features like customizable forms, resident tagging systems, and potential payment processor integration. Feedback from clients like Solid Ground Recovery, Hilljack House, and PluggedIn Recovery, and has guided feature development, pricing adjustments, and onboarding processes. Our agile approach ensures that we respond swiftly to market needs.
Where do you see Sobriety Hub making its biggest impact in the next five years?
In the next 5 years, Sobriety Hub aims to be the leading software solution for sober living homes nationwide. We envision helping thousands of recovery homes operate more efficiently, enabling better resident outcomes through data-driven management and streamlined operations. Our goal is to set the industry standard for sober living software, providing essential tools for tracking, reporting, and managing the recovery process. We also aim to expand into related sectors such as transitional housing and addiction treatment centers.
How would the Global Impact Award help accelerate the company’s growth?
The Global Impact Award would provide the financial resources needed to enhance our product development, expand our sales and marketing efforts, and scale our customer success operations. It would enable us to integrate advanced features like a mobile app for seamless resident access.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a future founder coming out of WashU?
Build genuine relationships early on. Your network of peers, mentors, and alumni can provide invaluable support, advice, and opportunities. Leverage the WashU community not just for connections but for learning and collaboration. Stay adaptable, seek feedback constantly, and don’t be afraid to pivot when necessary.
Learn more about Sobriety Hub at sobrietyhub.com
The Global Impact Award (GIA) is made possible by Washington University alumnus Suren G. Dutia and his wife, Jas K. Grewal. The goal of the award is to invest in individuals and high-growth entrepreneurial ventures associated with WashU that have a broad impact and exhibit an interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship.
The winner of the 2025 Global Impact Award will be announced at the WashU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards on Thursday, April 17. All are invited to attend the awards ceremony to see which team(s) will win up to $75,000 in non-dilutive funding for their venture.