Led by the Science Center and backed by a grant from The National Institute on Aging Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) Program, five budding entrepreneurs have 12 months to validate whether their health tech ideas related to aging and/or Alzheimer’s disease have commercial potential.
Without technical, regulatory, and commercial support, ideas often never leave the ground – that’s why the Fellowship is built on the foundation of backing innovative concepts with expertise, resources such as access to CIC Labs + Innovation Campus, and even a $50,000 stipend. For the first six months of the program the fellows meet with healthcare and entrepreneurial experts who guide them in everything from chronic disease management to IP protection. Then in the second six months, the fellows use what they’ve learned to transform their business ideas into a reality.
We caught up with the new cohort to chat about what they’re doing – why they believe the fellowship will be a transformative for their entrepreneurial journey – and the AgeTech sector.
What made you want to apply for the Founders Fellowship?
Grace Akinele: I applied because I wanted structured guidance as I transitioned from academic research into entrepreneurship. After years of studying mitochondrial dysfunction, I saw a clear gap that was slowing down therapeutic discovery in diseases like Alzheimer’s. I had an idea for how to address it, but I knew turning that idea into viable product would require guidance and support. The Fellowship gives me direct access to mentors, resources, and a network that sharpens both the scientific and business sides of my idea.
Tuhin Das: I’ve always felt a personal responsibility to transform scientific insight into something tangible for humanity. From my earliest days in research, I’ve wanted to do something truly unique – something that could change how we detect and address human disease. My path to the Founders Fellowship was surprisingly organic. After relocating to Philadelphia for family reasons, I found myself immersed in the city’s innovative energy almost by accident. A fellow scientist reached out to me on LinkedIn – he wanted to discuss some technology, and I later learned he was a past Fellowship recipient.
I started digging in and quickly realized that this wasn’t just a program – it was a mission-driven community focused on solving real-world problems, especially those tied to aging and health equity. It felt like the perfect launchpad to bring my own translational platform to life. The Founders Fellowship offered a rare chance to align that purpose with action. It combines commercialization support with a mission-driven lens on aging, equity, and real-world impact. That’s exactly the kind of environment where I knew my innovation could grow.
Top Charoensombut: I applied because it uniquely supports early-stage innovators addressing the complex challenges of clinical needs. As a bioengineer developing next-generation biomaterials for tissue repair, I saw this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between academic research and clinical impact.
Thomas Tam: "Medication Reconciliation is a disaster. It's known as Med 'Wreck.’” "I don't trust the medication history done by the [redacted]" - these are the surprising reactions I have gotten from experienced clinicians when I was a patient safety fellow in Pittsburgh interviewing them to share their experiences of medication history and medication reconciliation, which are two important workflows for ensuring medication safety across the patient’s care continuum. Half of the patients at admission have errors and discrepancies in the medications lists. Such discrepancies (omissions, duplications, or wrong doses of drugs, etc.) cause real patient harm, increasing their length of stay, readmissions, emergency room visits, and in the worst cases, loss of loved ones because of a minor error in a life-critical medication.
I was trained as an AI engineer and researcher at Carnegie Mellon. Since joining the patient safety fellowship in summer 2023, I have been drawn further to study the problems in healthcare and to explore opportunities of applying AI. I am currently a biomedical informatics researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to study medication safety in various care settings. Shadowing nurses in the med-surg unit, pharmacist in the pharmacy, and residents and attending physicians at ICUs, these commendable humans have all shared traumatic experiences of how patients have suffered from poor quality of medication history and insufficient resources for patients and caregivers in their medication use.
Describe your business idea and what challenge you are hoping to address or solve.
Grace: Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases remain some of the most difficult challenges in medicine, in part because we still don’t fully understand the biological processes that drive them. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key factor in these conditions, yet researchers struggle to study it effectively. Once mitochondria are removed from living tissue, they quickly lose function, limiting the quality and scope of experiments. I am developing a research platform that preserves mitochondrial viability and function outside the body for extended periods. This will fundamentally change how researchers conduct comprehensive studies into mitochondrial dysfunction, opening new strategies to target and treat aging-related diseases.
Tuhin: Our platform targets one of healthcare’s most daunting challenges: early detection and personalization in Alzheimer’s care. We’ve built a diagnostic assay that uses AI-integrated multi-omics data to identify Alzheimer’s biomarkers with blood-based single-copy sensitivity. My experience developing a COVID-19 detection kit and neutralizing antibody at a Start-up/Mid-size Biotech company taught me how to build assays for real-world applications. Now, we’re using that same urgency and precision to tackle neurodegeneration.
Through my participation in Temple University’s NSF I-Corps regional program, I deepened my understanding of patient and provider needs, informing a product that isn’t just innovative but truly usable. The challenge isn’t just scientific – it’s structural. Alzheimer’s care begins too late, is often misaligned with available treatments, and leaves families powerless. By enabling early prediction and therapeutic stratification, our technology makes Alzheimer’s actionable. Our goal is to shift Alzheimer's diagnostics from reactive to proactive, empowering physicians and caregivers to intervene early with the right tools.
Josh Freedman: Airalux is developing a digital breathing device to help patients' lungs recover from surgery. Over a million people develop lung complications after surgery in the US every year, and older adults are particularly susceptible to these complications. The standard-of-care for minimizing this risk includes a breathing therapy regimen called incentive/therapeutic spirometry, which is often difficult for the patients to complete as prescribed. We are developing a digital version of this device that provides the patients with live feedback, reminders, gamification, and allows clinicians to easily monitor the patients' adherence/progress.
Top: MEND is a bioengineered scaffold designed to repair eardrum and meniscus. Knee osteoarthritis (OA), often triggered by meniscus injury or loss, is one of the most common chronic conditions in aging adults, contributing to pain and immobility. By enabling durable meniscus repair, especially in cases where current surgical options are limited, MEND seeks to delay or prevent the onset of OA.
How has your experience with the Founders Fellowship been so far? What’s surprised you most?
Grace: The experience has been transformative in so many ways. Coming from a research background, I have appreciated how the Fellowship exposes me to various real-world challenges that affect older adults, including critical issues like healthcare economics, dementia, and the social realities of aging that often. The sessions have given me a broader perspective that now shapes how I think about product design and impact. The Fellowship also creates a sense of community that keeps me motivated and inspired. I leave each session with ideas I want to pursue and questions I want to explore.
Tuhin: It’s been both grounding and inspiring. What surprised me most was how quickly I became part of something bigger than just my startup. The Fellowship creates space for collaboration that feels genuine, like the kind you find chatting with someone at a coffee bar or striking up a conversation on LinkedIn. Everyone is rooted in personal stories, passionate science, and a shared mission to improve aging outcomes. That kind of culture doesn’t just support innovation – it accelerates it. It’s been a powerful reminder that translational science is never a solo journey.
I’ve been surprised by the level of collaboration across disciplines – from biotech to policy to community organizations. The Fellowship doesn’t just accelerate your idea – it puts you in touch with people who challenge it, sharpen it, and help make it real. The Philadelphia ecosystem fosters that kind of energy, and it’s deeply motivating.
Josh: I have had an excellent experience with the fellowship thus far; I am glad to be surrounded by other fellows working on exciting new technologies, the deeply-experienced team from the Science Center, and the plethora of guest speakers and other resources they assemble for the fellows. The biggest surprise for me has been the quality and quantity of subject matter experts they have brought in for the educational sessions.
Thomas: I really enjoyed spending every moment with our amazing staff, mentors, and fellows - it is a small cohort but a very diverse group of talented, emerging entrepreneurs. Our engaging and in-depth discussions in topics specific to life sciences startup and exclusive access to key stakeholders in aging and entrepreneurship are what truly set Founders Fellowship apart from other programs in the country.
My goal is to, by the end of the fellowship, create an effective solution for gathering the Best Possible Medication History across care settings. With our aging society and healthcare worker shortage, I believe now is the time to build together with all stakeholders this critical healthcare infrastructure. If you are also passionate about solving “Med Wreck,” join me!
What inspired you to pursue entrepreneurship?
Grace: During my PhD, I worked extensively on mitochondrial dysfunction and encountered recurring technical limitations that made research in this area more difficult than it needed to be. These limitations also slow progress in understanding diseases like Alzheimer’s, where mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role. Over time, I discovered an opportunity to create a platform that could enable more comprehensive and reliable experiments in mitochondrial research. But I realized academia alone was not sufficient to move this idea forward. Entrepreneurship gives me the path to turn that insight into a practical tool that helps researchers work more effectively and accelerate therapeutic discovery.
Tuhin: For me, entrepreneurship wasn’t a pivot – it was an extension of my scientific purpose. Entrepreneurship was always on my horizon – I’ve long believed that scientific ideas should reach people, not just papers. During my PhD, I focused on biomarker identification in infertility, developed a Low-Cost IVF protocol, including Target discovery for the improvement of Fertility for infertile couples. And later, at a Biotech company, I led the development of rapid COVID-19 diagnostics and detection of neutralizing antibodies. Each experience brought me closer to solving real-world problems. But it was entrepreneurship that offered the freedom to move swiftly and intentionally, building platforms that translate breakthrough research into frontline care. It’s the bridge between discovery and human impact. Entrepreneurship allows me to shape not only what we build, but who it reaches – and that’s a responsibility I take seriously.
Josh: Early in my undergraduate Bioengineering degree at Penn Engineering, I had internships in various research labs; while I enjoyed basic science, I realized that I was more personally interested in helping patients by taking innovation to the market. Later, I interned with Hatteras Venture Partners, where I was very broadly exposed to the world of life science innovation and entrepreneurship, and I knew I wanted to generally work in the field.
During my senior year at Penn, I completed a senior design project (mentored by Erin Berlew, David Meaney, and Sevile Mannickarottu) and then took this project through Jeffrey Babin's Entrepreneurship Lab course. I decided to pursue this project as a startup, and thanks to some grant funding from Penn, VentureWell, and a few other pitch competitions, I was able to launch this company right out of school. I was also fortunate to have the mentoring support of Penn faculty/lecturers including Dr. Katherine Reuther, Matt Maltese, Eric Sugalski, and Dr. Andrew Tsourkas.
Top: Coming from a research background, I saw firsthand how many transformative ideas never leave the lab. I was driven to pursue entrepreneurship because I wanted to take responsibility for translating our discoveries into tangible solutions that patients can actually access.
Thomas: As I talk to more people across the state and country, it turns out the problem with medication history is really prevalent and currently there is no effective solution. People warned me this is too big a problem to solve. But I instead choose to run into the problem - because if this gets to be solved, we could save so many lives and the unnecessary hardship that people experience every single day. And I am not doing it alone, I am grateful to have received support and guidance along the way from healthcare foundations, universities, clinicians, and executives in health systems. Fast forward to now, I am fortunate to have the Science Center and the affiliated partners.
What was it about Philadelphia that made you decide to come (or stay) here?
Grace: I originally moved to Philadelphia for the Science Center and its resources for early-stage life science entrepreneurs. I did not know much about the city beforehand, but once I arrived, I was impressed by the strength of its biotech ecosystem and how open and collaborative the community is. Being surrounded by universities, hospitals, and startups creates an environment that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply supportive. Philadelphia now feels less like a stepping stone and more like a place to stay and build something meaningful.
Tuhin: Initially, Philadelphia was a personal move – I came here for family reasons. But it didn’t take long to see the city’s potential through a professional lens. Philadelphia isn’t just a biotech hub – it’s a place where translational ideas are welcomed with rigor and heart. Between Temple’s, Penn and Drexel’s biomedical community, incubation center like B+Lab, PABC, and the Science Center’s translational focus, and the deep roots of patient advocacy across the region, Philly became more than a location – it became part of my innovation story.
Josh: My teammates and I came to Philadelphia for school, but we decided to keep the company here to stay close to our mentors, clinical partners, the rapidly-accelerating life sciences ecosystem and resources, and, last-but-not-least, Monk's Cafe.
Top: Philadelphia has a unique convergence of world-class academic research, strong biotech infrastructure, and a growing community in life sciences innovation. Staying here means being part of a collaborative ecosystem that values both science and impact.
In developing your startup, your team has already met with 150 relevant stakeholders. What’s a key takeaway from that, that influences how you approach the fellowship going forward?
Josh: These >150 stakeholder interviews add up to more than 4,500 minutes of conversation - far too much to distill into a short paragraph. We've learned about the various roles and responsibilities for surgeons, anesthesia, pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse managers, value analysts, financial officers, IT analysts, documentation analysts, quality analysts, and more. Just as important of the content of these interviews has been seeing the big picture, and more importantly, how differently people with the same job title at similar institutions (or even the same institution) can think very differently.
One consistent challenge has been sorting through all of the information we gather and making sense of it to make sure we are building something that can help patients, providers, and the whole stakeholder map. As we continue to conduct these interviews through the program, we can always improve our ability to ask questions and figure out what's most important to our stakeholders.
What led you to specializing in Alzheimer’s Disease research?
Tuhin: Alzheimer’s is the convergence point of my journey – as a scientist, a brother, and a founder. Alzheimer’s carries a deeply personal weight. My brother is a neuroscientist working in AD research, my best friend is also a neuroscientist, and our shared conversations over the years highlighted just how much remains unsolved. I wanted to contribute something meaningful, not just more data, but better tools.
My previous research experiences – from infertility biomarkers to pandemic diagnostics, cancer therapeutics, and mathematical oncology – helped me understand the nuances of disease stratification and early detection. Alzheimer’s demanded that same rigor, but with even more urgency. Alzheimer’s demands both sensitivity and specificity – it’s a disease that hides until it’s too late. I wanted to change that. And with our AI-integrated diagnostics, I believe we’re closer than ever to making early detection routine and personalized intervention possible. Specializing in AD gave me a chance to tackle one of humanity’s most elusive conditions with the kind of translational science that could truly change lives.
Your work involves repairing the meniscus. Why is entrepreneurship essential for getting this innovation to the people who could benefit from it?
Top: Innovation in regenerative medicine often struggles to reach the clinic because of fragmented pathways, regulatory hurdles, and lack of early investment. Entrepreneurship provides the structure, speed, and strategic mindset needed to navigate those barriers. For a technology like ours – one that could redefine how we treat joint degeneration in aging adults – building a company is the only way to ensure it’s developed, tested, and deployed where it’s needed most.
Your work involves applied AI. Can you explain why it’s a key part of improving healthcare from your vantage point?
Thomas: We as a society globally are facing a burnout and aging healthcare workforce, an aging society, and constraints in operational margins. The confluence of these factors necessitate a scalable, effective, and efficient solution. The emerging AI capabilities is perhaps one of the timely answers to the societal challenges in healthcare. But we have to be really careful going onwards as a community.
Building an effective and useful solution in healthcare, due to its high-stake nature, requires more from innovators - prudence, patience, domain expertise, and contextual awareness are essential to bring it to the bedside. And harnessing and controlling AI in a responsible manner is key to success. We need to understand where AI is good at, and where AI is fallible. We need to respect the users of AI. We have come a long way, it is time to see how it unfolds.
The Founders Fellowship is backed by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) program, with additional funding and resources are provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and CIC Labs + Innovation Campus.
