This year’s Startup Competition at Georgia Tech was won by Bioletics, who have created an implantable device that uses electrical stimulation to monitor and regulate diabetes in cats and dogs. The winning team, led by Yogi Patel, was awarded $15,000 and the Edison Prize, a further $15,000 grant to assist commercialization. “We want to take this device through the FDA and turn it into a product for humans; however, one of our friends asked if pets could become diabetic and that’s really where it all started,” explains Patel. “We went through the VentureLab competition trying to answer that exact question. We learned that going into the veterinary market was significantly less challenging (fewer regulatory hurdles, easier to setup clinical trials, etc), so, we went for it. Our competitors are anyone who makes insulin as we remove the need for it. That’s what makes us stand out.” We recently chatted with the Bioletics team to learn more about them and their backgrounds.
What is your current role?
We’re a Georgia Tech TI:GER team. The team consists of 2 JDs from Emory, 2 MBAs from GT, and a PhD student from GT. I am the PhD student on the team and my PhD is in Bioengineering.
What are your best technical or creative skills?
I love playing with electricity (and thus electronics). From small analog/digital circuits all the way up to using it to stimulate parts of the nervous system.
Why the interest in startups?
This is tough. The big goal for me is to take things I make/work on as a PhD student and make sure they impact the world outside of my lab. Starting a startup is one way of doing that and it lets me stay in control of what is made and how it’s made. There’s also a thrill related to startups especially in Biotech where prototyping, testing, and obtaining some guarantee is exceptionally hard because of all the regulatory hurdles you have to jump through.
Yogi Patel Presenting at Georgia Tech’s 2015 Startup Competition
Sarika Mathur
What is your current role?
I am a second year Emory Law student primarily responsible for the team’s IP strategy. However, as a startup in its infancy, we all wear multiple hats. Currently, I am spearheading the customer discovery process as we work to find our customers and discover market opportunities.
What startup/tech projects have you worked on?
Prior to attending law school, I worked at a technology startup, Purkay Labs, which designs and manufactures portable temperature and humidity monitors. Part of a three member team, I helped implement the business strategy, which included conducting industry analysis, securing media coverage and reaching out to potential customers.
What are your best technical or creative skills?
Efficient researcher, strong editor, detail oriented, goal-driven, highly adaptable, and able to translate technology-speak for wide audiences.
Why the interest in startups?
Startups transform industries. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that? Being apart of a team where everything you do contributes to the ultimate success or failure of the business is exhilarating. It’s also an opportunity to work with similarly minded people: people who are driven, motivated, and willing to do whatever it takes to translate an idea into reality.
What is your current role?
First year MBA student at Georgia Tech with a focus on finance
What startup/tech projects have you worked on?
Worked as an institutional equity research analyst with a focus on medical devices.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (New York)
What are your best technical or creative skills?
Industry knowledge: As an equity research analyst, I researched diabetic devices and the vet market.
Why the interest in startups?
I’d like to start my own business.
What is your current role?
First year MBA at Georgia Tech
What startup/tech projects have you worked on?
Wembi (Paris), Owner
Maltem Consulting (Paris), IT consultant
Maroc Telecom (Rabat), Project manager
SQLI (Rabat), Software developer
What are your best technical or creative skills?
System integration & architecture; Business Intelligence & Data analytics
Why the interest in startups?
Passionate about technology and entrepreneurship
What is your current role?
Second year JD candidate at Emory
What startup/tech projects have you worked on?
The Search Engine Guys (Austin), Technical specialist
What are your best technical or creative skills?
Data analytics and special interest in intellectual property
Why the interest in startups?
I want to be at the junction of science, business, and law to help push innovation.
From L to R: Mark Luo, Sarika Mathur, Hassan El Majidi, Maggie Lovatt, & Yogi Patel
The Bioletics team are committed to getting their product to market. Look out for them to make an impact on diabetes treatment this year and beyond.