The founder of REM Reward, Ryan Shintani, periodically experienced fatigue and lethargy during childhood. A lack of quality sleep affected his ability to play basketball well, his academic performance, and his mental health. While researching ways to energize himself, he stumbled upon the profound significance of sleep. When he heard kids in class boasting about who got less sleep, he wondered if they knew they were bragging about losing a crucial function of life.

Ryan found a way to combine his interests in psychology, self-improvement, and sleep. He created REM Reward, an organization seeking to revolutionize the understanding of sleep and transform it from a necessity into a well-deserved reward. By spotlighting the benefits of restorative sleep, Ryan hopes to empower young minds to tap into sleep’s abundant potential for positively impacting all facets of their life. Unlike other organizations, REM Reward is designed by teens, for teens and kids. This online platform provides the attention and resources students need to set themselves up for success, centered around sleep's incredible potential.