Founder's Words: The Light Philosophy Behind TrueLight
How Dave Asprey's personal experimentation shaped a different kind of light-therapy panel — and how Alan VanToai is carrying that original idea into its next chapter.
By InfraCore Wellness, with contributions from Alan VanToai of TrueLight
Commercial relationship disclosure: InfraCore Wellness is an authorized TrueLight dealer and may earn a margin from TrueLight purchases made through InfraCore. TrueLight did not pay InfraCore to write this article. The scientific review and editorial conclusions are InfraCore's own; Alan VanToai reviewed company-specific facts and contributed the passages attributed directly to him.
Many widely sold consumer red-light panels are built primarily around two familiar wavelengths: 660 nanometers in the visible red range and 850 nanometers in the near-infrared range.
TrueLight began with a different design question:
What might be gained by preserving a broader range of light?
Its Energy Trism and Energy Square 2.4 use four listed wavelengths — 580, 630, 660, and 850 nanometers — within each LED. According to TrueLight, the intention is to combine light that interacts nearer the skin's surface with red and near-infrared wavelengths used for progressively deeper applications.
That exact combination remains uncommon among mainstream consumer panels. But the wavelength stack is more than a specification. It reflects the personal experimentation, questions, and philosophy that led Dave Asprey to found TrueLight — and the design inheritance Alan VanToai is now responsible for carrying forward.
The Personal Search Behind TrueLight
Dave Asprey is widely associated with the modern biohacking movement: a willingness to study the human body as a system and to examine how food, sleep, temperature, stress, toxins, technology, and environmental signals affect performance and well-being.
TrueLight's origin belongs within that larger story.
Asprey has described discovering red and infrared light during his personal efforts to recover from chronic fatigue, cognitive symptoms, mold exposure, traumatic brain injury, systemic inflammation, arthritis, and substantial weight gain. According to Asprey and TrueLight, he began experimenting with infrared technology in the early 2000s and continued using light as part of his broader health and performance practices.
That experience did not begin with a product catalog. It began with a person asking whether changing the light entering his environment could change how he felt and functioned within it.
Asprey's broader work has repeatedly returned to that idea: light is not merely something that allows us to see. It is an environmental signal capable of interacting with circadian timing, behavior, skin, and cellular processes.
TrueLight became one expression of that philosophy.
Rather than building only around the two wavelengths that became common in the consumer red-light market, the company adopted a four-wavelength design:
- 580 nm — yellow / yellow-amber light
- 630 nm — red light
- 660 nm — deep red light
- 850 nm — near-infrared light
The decision created a broader spectral profile. It did not, by itself, prove that the panel would be superior for every user or every purpose. But it made TrueLight recognizably different — and raised an important question about the wavelength most competitors omit.
Why Include the Yellow-Amber Band?
The research surrounding red and near-infrared photobiomodulation is substantially larger than the research involving yellow and amber light.
The yellow-amber evidence is smaller, but it is not nonexistent.
A 2022 study published in Cells[^1] investigated 590 nm LED exposure in laboratory models involving vascular signaling and included a small clinical pilot involving melasma. The researchers reported changes associated with angiogenesis, erythema, and pigmentation. The clinical portion included only 10 participants, making it an interesting but limited finding rather than definitive evidence.
A separate randomized split-face trial published in 2023[^2] enrolled 137 women between ages 40 and 65. Participants received ten treatments over four weeks, with 590 nm amber light applied to one side of the face and 660 nm red light to the other. Both sides experienced an approximately 30% reduction in measured periocular wrinkle volume, without a statistically significant difference between the two wavelengths for that outcome.
An important distinction must remain clear: both studies used 590 nm — not TrueLight's 580 nm wavelength. The wavelengths are close neighbors within the yellow-amber portion of the spectrum, but they are not identical. The published studies provide a scientific rationale for continued interest in this region of light. They do not constitute direct clinical validation of TrueLight's 580 nm emitter, the complete four-wavelength configuration, or the TrueLight devices themselves.
That distinction does not make the design choice unimportant. It makes it a founder-level question worth asking: Why did TrueLight choose 580 nm, and what did Dave believe it contributed to the system?
Alan confirms the 580 nm choice came from Dave directly — part of how he wanted the entire four-wavelength stack to work together, rather than being selected to match any specific published study. The wavelength was chosen at the design level, before its research profile was a marketing consideration.
Wavelength Bands That Can Be Turned On Individually
One aspect of the Trism and Square worth understanding clearly: the four wavelengths are not permanently emitted together.
Each panel offers per-band selection: yellow only, red only (630 and 660 together), near-infrared only, red combined with near-infrared, or all four wavelengths together — each of those modes available in steady or pulsing form.
That selectability is less common among mainstream consumer red-light panels, many of which emit a fixed wavelength combination rather than allowing individual bands to be selected. Different wavelengths interact with tissue differently and vary in their relative depth of penetration and absorption. Band selection therefore gives users more control over the light being delivered, although the most appropriate wavelength combination and dose remain purpose- and protocol-specific.
For a customer, the practical implication is that a single panel provides several selectable light configurations rather than one fixed output. For a stewardship-minded reviewer, it is one of the clearest signals that TrueLight was designed to be used thoughtfully rather than turned on at maximum output for every session.
A Design That Resisted the Wattage Race
The consumer red-light category often invites shoppers to compare panels through one large number: wattage.
But nominal wattage tells only part of the story. Wavelength distribution, measured irradiance, treatment distance, exposure time, illuminated area, and total dose provide a more meaningful picture of the light being delivered.
TrueLight's panels appear designed for relatively close-range use rather than for winning a maximum-output contest.
According to TrueLight's published specifications, aggregate irradiance measures approximately:
- Energy Trism — 18.9 mW/cm² at contact, 5.6 mW/cm² at 3 inches, 4.2 mW/cm² at 6 inches
- Energy Square 2.4 — 21.5 mW/cm² at contact, 6.3 mW/cm² at 3 inches, 4.0 mW/cm² at 6 inches
At contact, that total resolves per-band as follows in all-lights mode:
- Energy Square 2.4 — yellow 580 nm ≈ 0.98 mW/cm², red 630+660 nm ≈ 8.08 mW/cm², near-infrared 850 nm ≈ 12.24 mW/cm²
- Energy Trism — yellow 580 nm ≈ 0.91 mW/cm², red 630+660 nm ≈ 7.27 mW/cm², near-infrared 850 nm ≈ 12.76 mW/cm²
Near-infrared dominates on both units. These figures are manufacturer-measured and have not been independently laboratory-verified by InfraCore Wellness. We include the per-band breakdown because it reflects the same commitment to transparency that shaped the design itself.
Alan describes TrueLight's design philosophy in terms of dose rather than headline power. Photobiomodulation research commonly recognizes that biological response can be dose-dependent and may be biphasic, meaning more exposure is not necessarily better in every context. Based on TrueLight's manufacturer-reported irradiance of 6.3 mW/cm² at three inches, the Energy Square delivers approximately 1.9 J/cm² over five minutes. That arithmetic describes estimated delivered energy under the stated conditions; it does not establish a universal optimal dose or a specific clinical outcome.
The design also reflects a practical belief: portability matters because the device that helps you is the device you will actually use a few times a week, not the device that requires a dedicated room.
Two Formats Built Around Real Life
TrueLight's two core panels apply the same wavelength concept in different physical formats. Both were designed by Dave Asprey.
Energy Square 2.4
A compact 12-by-12-inch panel intended for targeted areas such as the face, neck, shoulders, joints, or a particular muscle group. TrueLight lists:
- Four wavelengths in every LED (selectable per-band)
- Steady and pulsing modes
- Built-in 20-minute timer
- Approximately 0.6 milligauss of EMF at contact
- Slim, portable form
- One-year warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee
Energy Trism
Expands the same concept across three connected 12-inch panels, creating a 36-by-12-inch illuminated surface. The system folds to approximately 12 × 12 × 1.25 inches, allowing it to be stored or transported more easily than a traditional rigid full-length panel. TrueLight lists the same four wavelengths (selectable per-band), steady and pulsing modes, a 20-minute timer, approximately 0.6 milligauss of EMF at contact, a one-year warranty, and a 60-day guarantee.
The folding design is one of the clearest examples of TrueLight's product philosophy. Rather than requiring a permanent installation or dedicated wellness room, the Trism offers broader coverage in a format that can still be folded away.
A New Chapter of Stewardship
TrueLight is now entering a new phase under the leadership of Alan VanToai, who acquired the company in February 2025. Dave Asprey remains a minority partner, advisor, and mentor to Alan and to the business.
The most interesting part of this transition is not simply that the company changed hands or leadership. It is the question of stewardship:
What should remain untouched when a founder-led brand enters its next era — and what must evolve for the company to serve people better?
In Alan's own words:
I came to TrueLight as a customer first. I use red light therapy myself, and what it does for my energy and my mood is the reason I care about this company at all. Dave is the person who turned me on to it, so when the chance came to take on the business he built and work alongside him on it, that wasn't a hard decision.
I acquired TrueLight in February 2025. Dave remains a minority partner, an advisor, and a mentor to me and to the business.
What I inherited was a real product with a real point of view behind it, and customers who had been quietly using these panels for years. What needed work was everything around the product: the website, the brand, and the operations — especially where AI can change what a small team is capable of. That's where my time has gone.
What's surprised me most since taking over is the mail. Customers write in about all the different ways they're using TrueLight to support themselves, and the range is far wider than I expected. That's shaped my thinking more than any plan I walked in with. Five years from now, I want TrueLight known as one of the preeminent providers of light-based wellness technology in the United States. This is part of Dave's legacy, and I don't take that lightly.
Responsible Use
The Energy Trism and Energy Square are marketed as general-wellness products, not as FDA-cleared medical devices. Users should follow TrueLight's current operating and eye-protection guidance and avoid treating this article as an instructions-for-use document.
Anyone who is pregnant, has a photosensitivity disorder or significant eye condition, takes medication known to increase light sensitivity, has a seizure disorder affected by flashing light, has active cancer, or is receiving treatment for a significant medical condition should discuss light exposure with an appropriate healthcare professional before use. Individual circumstances and medication risks vary.
Preserving a Founder's Idea Without Freezing It in Time
Founder-led products often face one of two outcomes.
Some remain permanently tied to the personality that created them and struggle to develop beyond that original identity. Others lose the decisions and philosophy that made them distinctive in the first place.
TrueLight has the opportunity to do something more thoughtful.
It can preserve the curiosity at the heart of Dave Asprey's work — the belief that light is a meaningful biological and environmental input — while strengthening the transparency, education, testing, and customer guidance expected of a modern wellness-technology company.
That means being clear about what is manufacturer-reported. It means distinguishing research involving a wavelength from clinical validation of a specific product. It means explaining why 580 nm was selected when the nearest clinical work uses 590 nm. It means disclosing how irradiance and EMF were tested. It means helping customers understand that more wavelengths do not automatically mean better outcomes — and that more wattage does not automatically mean a more appropriate dose.
Those are not weaknesses in the TrueLight story.
They are opportunities for Alan to define what thoughtful stewardship of the TrueLight idea looks like in its next chapter.
The Regulatory Context — Stated Plainly
TrueLight presents its panels as general-wellness products and states that they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. The company does not currently advertise the Energy Trism or Energy Square as FDA-cleared medical devices.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains a policy for certain low-risk products promoted solely for general wellness. That policy should not be interpreted as FDA approval, clearance, certification, or independent validation of an individual product. Photobiomodulation products intended for medical diagnosis, mitigation, or treatment may be regulated as medical devices and may be subject to applicable premarket and labeling requirements.
TrueLight reports that the Energy Trism and Energy Square are CE marked with respect to applicable low-voltage and electromagnetic-compatibility requirements and are RoHS compliant. Both designations reflect the manufacturer's declaration of conformity with the relevant electrical, safety, and materials standards. They do not constitute a claim of independent safety certification and do not establish clinical effectiveness.
Why InfraCore Wanted This Story in the Wellness Library
InfraCore Wellness does not believe that the value of a wellness technology can be understood from a specification sheet alone.
We want to understand why a product exists.
We want to know what problem its founder was attempting to solve, what design decisions emerged from that belief, what the evidence genuinely supports, and what the company's current leadership intends to do with the responsibility it inherited.
TrueLight earned a place in the Founder's Words collection because its story contains all of those elements.
It began within Dave Asprey's personal search for better health and performance. It retained a wavelength configuration that remains unusual within the consumer market. And it is now entering a second chapter under Alan VanToai, who must decide how to preserve the company's original identity while building the transparency, education, and customer experience expected today.
InfraCore's interest in TrueLight does not depend on declaring it the best panel for every person. It rests on something more specific:
TrueLight represents a recognizable point of view about light — one rooted in personal experimentation, carried into product design, and now entrusted to a new steward.
That is the story we believe is worth documenting.
A Final Word From Alan
Before you compare specifications, know that this started as one person's honest attempt to feel better, and it works best if you approach it the same way. The number that matters isn't the biggest one on the page. It's whether you'll actually use the thing a few times a week. Light isn't a miracle and I won't sell it as one. But it does something real, it has helped a lot of people including me, and that's why I wanted to carry this forward instead of letting it fade.
Editorial and Medical Note
This Founder's Words feature combines independently reviewed research, manufacturer-reported product information, public company history, and direct statements provided by Alan VanToai on behalf of TrueLight.
InfraCore Wellness has not independently tested the irradiance, electromagnetic-field output, wavelength distribution, or clinical performance of the TrueLight products described. Product specifications and conformity designations are reported from TrueLight's published materials and documentation supplied by the company.
This article is provided for general education and does not offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Photobiomodulation research is specific to the wavelength, device, dose, protocol, population, and outcome studied. Research involving a particular wavelength should not be interpreted as proof that every consumer device using a similar wavelength will produce the same result.
Footnotes
[^1]: Dai X, Jin S, Xuan Y, et al. 590 nm LED Irradiation Improved Erythema through Inhibiting Angiogenesis of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells and Ameliorated Pigmentation in Melasma. Cells 2022;11(24):3949. PMID 36552713 · DOI 10.3390/cells11243949.
[^2]: Mota LR, Duarte IDS, Galache TR, et al. Photobiomodulation Reduces Periocular Wrinkle Volume by 30%: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2023;41(2):48–56. PMID 36780572 · DOI 10.1089/photob.2022.0114. Verified against PubMed 2026-07-21 — n=137 women ages 40–65, split-face design comparing 590 nm amber vs. 660 nm red over 10 sessions.
InfraCore Wellness Library · Founder's Words collection · Published 2026-08-17.