AgeTech Talks

Listen to RJ Adler, Director of Growth at Wheelpad, discuss making homes accessible with innovative modular housing solutions. In conversation with host Kyle Rand, Co-Founder and CEO of Rendever, RJ shares the inspiration behind Wheelpad, which builds modular, accessible housing units for individuals with mobility challenges. RJ talks about the challenges and rewards of working at Wheelpad, the importance of listening and compassion in sales, and pivotal moments in his startup journey. He reflects on his background in psychology and teaching, and how these experiences shape his business approach. RJ also highlights Wheelpad's commitment to social responsibility, exciting developments in their manufacturing capabilities, and the importance of finding the right company culture and team support. Tune in to hear RJ's journey, his advice for aspiring founders, and the latest at Wheelpad.

Learn how Devon Lodge, Vice President of Marketing at Wesper, is dedicated to improving sleep health with innovative technology. In conversation with host Tanya Perkins, COO of Tembo Health, Devon shares the inspiration behind Wesper, a sleep management solution designed to diagnose and treat sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. He recounts how the founder, Amir Reuveny, was motivated by his father's struggles with sleep apnea to create a clinically-validated, FDA-cleared device that provides lab-quality sleep tests at home. Devon discusses the challenges of joining Wesper, the importance of community and mentorship, and the challenges and rewards of working in a startup environment. He also reflects on his unique background as a professional ballet dancer and how it shaped his approach to business and marketing. Hear more about Devon's journey and his advice for aspiring founders in this insightful episode.

Discover how Sidney Collins, Co-Founder of De Oro Devices, works tirelessly to achieve her goal of decreasing fall risk with a groundbreaking innovation. In conversation with host Kyle Rand, Co-Founder and CEO of Rendever, Sidney shares the inspiration behind NexStride, a mobility aid designed to help individuals with neurological inventory disorders like Parkinson's. She recounts how Jack Brill, a Parkinson's patient, motivated her to create a device that combines visual and auditory cues to reduce falls and improve mobility. She then received her first round of funding for De Oro Devices at 21 years old before graduating college. Throughout the episode, Sidney discusses the challenges of starting De Oro Devices, the importance of community and mentorship, and the pivotal moments that defined her entrepreneurial journey. Hear more about Sidney's journey and her advice for aspiring founders in this inspiring episode.

Before becoming the Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Xander, Marilyn Morgan Westner spent 20+ years researching and educating at Harvard, Harvard Business School, and UMass Boston. Xander makes real-time captioning glasses for people that have hearing or cognition challenges in processing speech. Listen to Marilyn’s conversation with host Tanya Perkins, COO of Tembo Health, as she discusses what compelled her to become a co-founder, who inspired her desire to change lives, and how to find the right group to work with. Marilyn and her husband Alex Westner, CEO, both quit their jobs to start this company and are continuously motivated by their users to overcome obstacles. She shares highs and lows that they’ve experienced during the early stages of the company, and advises on finding the right co-founder. Listen now to find out how Xander was able to go to market in just 10 months.

Learn how former CIA analyst Heather Nickerson became the Co-founder & CEO of a legacy company, Artifcts. Artifcts deals with the ‘stuff’ that is difficult to value when you don’t know the story behind it. Heather describes her motivation to start this company after her mother passed away. She tells host Kyle Rand, Co-Founder and CEO of Rendever, that the company is not only helpful at the end-of-life stage, but also throughout someone’s lifetime. The podcast begins with advice on how to find a compatible co-founder, finding your “why”, and the versatile uses of the Artifcts platform. Heather and Kyle also discuss advice for founders such as scaling your product roadmap to include milestones and goals, and they stress the importance of being flexible as time goes on. Hear more founder tips from Heather by listening to this episode.

Tune into this podcast as Founder & CEO of Lotus Laboratories, Dhaval Patel, speaks on how his own struggles with disability inspired him to innovate a wearable ring that controls home features just by pointing. He then explains how people with disabilities and older adults can develop a more efficient routine with this groundbreaking technology. In the discussion with Kyle Rand, Co-Founder and CEO of Rendever, Dhaval shares suggestions for founders looking to find out more about their target market. He also advises listeners on the importance of finding your ‘why’ as a technological innovator and how to overcome lows, keeping your head up through tough obstacles. Listen for insights on how this founder looks at creating an entrepreneurial legacy as a first generation immigrant, and how founders can create a supportive network.

Listen in on how Tuned is helping people hear what matters to them most. Co-founder and CEO of Tuned, Omri Gavish, sits down with host Tanya Perkins, COO of Tembo Health. Tuned is an AI company that creates self-fitting hearing aids, which shortens the period to obtain hearing aids from months to just 20 minutes. Omri recounts the company’s moving origin story and how their device can serve people in your community. Additionally, he discusses his journey to finding the sweet spot in work-life balance as a founder, how important optimism is when starting a business, and how he learned that startups are a marathon, not a sprint. He signs off by giving advice to those thinking about starting a business.

Join us as Sam Pai, Vice President of Product and Operations at Sana Health, sits down with host Tanya Perkins, COO of Tembo Health. Sam shares the inspiring story behind Sana Health, a company dedicated to improving the lives of those suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and sleep issues. He explains how Sana Health’s innovative technology uses visual and audio stimuli to adjust the brain’s response to sensory inputs, providing relief and improving quality of life, especially for older adults. He also delves into his personal journey to joining Sana Health, the company’s mission, and the importance of cultural fit and diverse skill sets in building a successful startup team. Sam signs off by giving aspiring entrepreneurs valuable advice on leveraging networks, maintaining good communication, and understanding their goals.

Tune in to learn how Prisidio founder Glenn Shimkus was inspired to make the world a better place. Prisidio’s virtual vault allows people the comfort of knowing their most important informational assets are safe, ensuring their loved ones are prepared for post-life planning. In this interview, hosted by Tanya Perkins, Chief Operating Officer of Tembo Health, Glenn reveals what motivated him to tackle the challenge of not knowing where loved ones kept their informational assets after they passed away. He delves into the significance of trust in the eyes of consumers and shares how he managed to solidify that trust within Prisidio’s customer base. Finally, Glenn emphasizes that starting a business is a “team sport” and offers valuable advice to aspiring startup founders.

It is well known that earbuds are multifunctional, but did you know you can use them to listen to your heart? MindMics Founder and CEO, Anna Barnacka, recounts what motivated her to create these heart-monitoring earbuds: burnout and the importance of rest and recovery regardless of what stage you are at in life. She describes to podcast host Kyle Rand, Co-Founder and CEO of Rendever, her emotions around unknown variables during the early stages of the company. She also addresses the importance of perfecting clinical validation and the obstacles of fundraising. Lastly, she gives advice to novice startups trying to navigate fundraising and growth stages of a new company. Anna is an inspiration for founders, showing that hard work and staying motivated pays off in entrepreneurship.