Can Six Months Transform an Idea Into a Game-Changing Venture? These Fellows Are Proving it Can.

When we last checked in with the current cohort of Founders Fellows, Jun Beom Pyo, Chinaemerem “Chinae” Daniel, Cole Hagen, J.M. Kim, and Afsaneh Razi, they were just getting started on their year-long journey through the program. During the first six months, an Aging and Entrepreneurial curriculum introduced them to a wide range of experts and perspectives. The cohort is specifically focused on healthcare solutions related to the aging population thanks to a grant from The National Institute on Aging Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) Program.

Now they are entering the second half of the program, Active Building – where they apply the lessons learned and build a business. As an added benefit, Fellows also gain access to lab space at CIC Labs + Innovation Campus, a sponsor of the program.

Over the past six months, the current Fellows have gained new perspectives on their startups - and themselves. Here’s what they’ve learned so far and how they envision the next half of the fellowship shaping their journey.

How has speaking to and learning from experts in the aging space impacted or improved your business idea?

J.M.:

I deepened my understanding about what it means to "age." I also learned useful concepts to describe our collective experiences with the healthcare system: the U.S. approach to healthcare is "disease management," whereas all humans would benefit from what the World Health Organization describes as a "life course" approach, which is a holistic view of a person's health journey, not just the immediate acute issue that the American healthcare system is designed to address. This is especially important to us as we age, because healthcare should meet us based on our life goals, not just consider whatever latest ailment we have.

Chinae:

Connecting with professionals in elder care, healthcare, and community organizations has given me a much deeper understanding of older adults’ nuanced challenges, particularly around financial safety and cognitive health. Their insights validated the importance of easy-to-use interfaces, adaptive fraud prevention measures, and inclusive design principles. As a result, I refined my solution to place stronger emphasis on real-time education, trust-building, and collaboration with caregivers and healthcare providers.

Jun Beom:

Engaging with experts in the aging space has profoundly broadened my perspective on understanding older adults and addressing their challenges. I greatly value how the program was structured to provide insights across various aspects of aging, including physical and mental health, insurance, living spaces, and caregivers. While I still have much to learn, these insights have helped me build a holistic and comprehensive foundation.

Cole:

Over the past six months, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with numerous knowledgeable experts in the aging field, each contributing unique insights into the challenges faced by older adults and innovative approaches to improving care and quality of life. I gained perspectives on navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, identifying what matters most for individuals, making technology accessible, and how to listen to the needs of older adults and their caregivers. These lessons are instrumental in shaping Movision to develop technology that can improve the lives of older adults.

Afsaneh:

I learned about the significant challenges faced by older adults. Projections indicate that by 2025, the population aged 65 and older will reach 28 million. Unfortunately, there is insufficient infrastructure and healthcare resources to accommodate this growing demographic. While science and empirical research have identified numerous effective approaches for prevention and home-based healthcare that can reduce hospitalizations, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions and the commercialization of these products to effectively address these challenges.

How has the focus on entrepreneurial learning (IP protection, market assessment, etc.) impacted or improved your business idea?

J.M.:

The Science Center has been incredibly generous in sharing its network with us. We benefited from a vetted, highly curated set of resources that we learned from and also greatly eases our search for the many, many things that startups need. There are so many average (or worse) resources out there, and I feel very lucky to make that process easier thanks to the program.

Chinae:

Diving into topics like IP protection and market assessment helped me see my product not just as a set of features, but as a scalable venture with potential for long-term impact. Learning about patents encouraged me to think of ways to uniquely protect core innovations (e.g., adaptive risk-based authentication for older adults). Market assessments highlighted how large and fragmented the eldercare technology space can be, prompting me to pursue strategic partnerships and a more targeted go-to-market approach.

Jun Beom:

A key takeaway has been the importance of consistently asking, “Who will pay for my product?” This question has been instrumental in clarifying both my business strategy and product development.

Cole:

The entrepreneurial training has been immensely helpful in preparing me for the road ahead. A recurring theme has been the critical importance of customer discovery, which guides every aspect of the entrepreneurial process. I’ve also learned the value of building strong networks, engaging stakeholders, assembling complementary teams, securing funding, and rapidly iterating on ideas.

How have your fellow Founders Fellows been an asset to you during this experience?

J.M.:

It is clear that the Science Center thoughtfully chose a variety of perspectives. I have enjoyed hearing and learning from all the different ways we each see the world. They sharpened my thinking around things I might not otherwise have considered.

Chinae:

They provided an invaluable sounding board for ideas, served as informal beta testers for product concepts, and connected me with relevant contacts in their own networks. Their diverse expertise often led to fresh takes on my challenges and subjects discussed.

Jun Beom:

Having peers in similar situations has been invaluable. We share common struggles, and the support system they provide has been a tremendous resource for exchanging ideas, discussing challenges, and finding encouragement.

Cole:

being part of a cohort of individuals at a similar stage of company development has been incredibly rewarding. It's great having their peer support and learning all I can from them.

How has your experience as a professor enriched or complemented your experience as a Founders Fellow?

Afsaneh:

The knowledge and experience from the program have helped me to find more ways about how we can effectively translate the knowledge from academia to make positive real-world impacts more directly. We have brilliant ideas from students that could impact healthcare and provide support to so many people if we assist them in bringing these ideas to fruition. Continued collaboration between industry and academia is essential to make this happen.

How do you plan to use the next 6 months to develop your business/product/service?

J.M.

The immediate next steps are doing an in-depth market sizing and creating a realistic go-to-market plan. There will be a lot more talking and listening to stress-test our work. We want to get even more input and suggestions that will undoubtedly strengthen our startup. I'm also looking forward to staying connected with the Science Center support system while I navigate even more twists and turns.

Chinae:

I intend to build on the foundation laid by focusing on three key areas:

1. MVP Design and Business Plan: Finalize core features—like simplified risk-based authentication and real-time fraud alerts.
2. Strategic Partnerships: Strengthen relationships with financial institutions, research institutions and eldercare organizations to integrate solutions seamlessly into their platforms.
3. User-Centered Validation: Conduct targeted user testing to iterate on accessibility, cognitive load, and overall user experience.

Jun Beom:

A common piece of feedback I received at the end of the first six months was the need to focus more on customer discovery. I completely agree with this and plan to dedicate more time to understanding my customers and their needs.

Cole:

I plan to prioritize customer discovery by engaging more deeply with physicians, physical therapists, and older adults to better understand their challenges. I also aim to expand the founding team to improve our capabilities and accelerate the development of a solution that addresses these challenges effectively.