NYU Entrepreneurial Institute

MoveMend, a health tech startup co-founded by NYU Langone Health clinician Gaby Berne and NYU Tandon School of Engineering graduate Punit Vats, uses computer vision and AI to reimagine the rehab experience for the 127 million Americans who need outpatient physical/occupational therapy each year. Its software transforms therapist-prescribed exercises into motion-tracked games, helping outpatient clinics tackle one of the field’s most persistent challenges: keeping patients engaged between visits. “No one likes doing their exercises,” Berne said. “It’s not fun. We’re trying to change that — to make it playful, to disguise the therapy.” Read more about this Summer Launchpad team on our blog: https://lnkd.in/efFCrJ8y ✍: Petunia Hu (Tisch '27)

💭 As a founder, what does it take to master #sales and keep sight of what customers actually want? Early-stage sales expert and former Google strategist TJ Allison joined this summer's SLP cohort on July 8 to lead a hands-on workshop focused on common pitfalls in early sales strategies. Known for helping startups land their first $1 million in revenue, Allison offered critical advice on selling to customers: “The best time to learn to sell was 10 years ago. The second best time is now.” Check out more expert insights from Allison on founder resilience, action-driven networking, the power of conversation, and more: https://lnkd.in/eJ-RTwvG ✍: Yanaiya Jain (Gallatin '27)

As a master’s student with a background in biology, Zoey Ferguson allows science, storytelling, and community building to inform her roles as co-founder and CEO of #Sheltrium. The startup is a curated resilience marketplace that matches homeowners with clean, modular tools for staying safe and connected during #climate disasters. Rather than pushing branded eco-products, Sheltrium offers tailored recommendations — solar batteries, backup power, air and water filtration — based on actual living conditions. “We’re trying to address the mismatch between how we react to climate disasters and the technology that could truly make us resilient,” Ferguson (Tisch ITP '25) said. Read more about this Summer Launchpad team on our blog: https://lnkd.in/efm-JwvA ✍: Petunia Hu (Tisch '27)

As the 2025 Summer Launchpad (SLP) accelerator nears the finish line, the teams aren't slowing down as they tackle new startup challenges. Week 7 saw the founders zero in on accounting and building financial models that actually work — setting a strong foundation for smooth scaling as their startups grow. On July 23, Johnnie Walker (Director at Rooled) led a workshop on managing startup finances. Drawing from his experience with fast-growing tech companies, he stressed the importance of opening a separate business bank account from day one — even if you're starting with personal funds. Later that day, the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute's Senior Venture Associate Darren Yee (Tandon '16) hosted a workshop on building financial models that reflect how a business will grow (or fail). Yee walked the cohort through a straightforward, functional model organized around three tabs: assumptions and financial projections; payroll and hiring plans; and financials and revenue. The week capped off with a Mock Demo Day, where the teams put their pitches to the test and received valuable feedback to help them prepare for the Final Demo Day. Check out the full weekly recap: https://lnkd.in/e38vfabg ✍: Petunia Hu (Tisch '27)

📢 For NYU Innovators! This Wednesday, TOV, NYU Entrepreneurial Institute, and Biolabs@NYULangone are co-hosting an SBIR/STTR virtual info session at 12 PM ET. This session will provide a brief overview of the general NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs, and tips for writing a program abstract for your applications and discussing your concept with program officers. Topics will include digital health, chronic diseases, and women’s health. Speaker: CDR Michael Banyas, USPHS, MPA, Health Specialist and SBIR/STTR Program Manager, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities If you're an NYU innovator interested in attending this training, please message Veena Dinesh.

Before the rise of AI, Julia Kingsley remembers long hours spent poring over spreadsheets and numbers. Now, as an NYU Stern MBA candidate and founder, she is determined to make sure no one else has to: "If you can’t figure out where your data is, you can’t do anything else. Since 2024, Kingsley's startup Context Data has used intelligent automation to streamline manual administrative work across the insurance industry. This summer, Kingsley and co-founder Jide O. are participating in the NYU Summer Launchpad accelerator to achieve true product-market fit, with future plans to raise a VC round. Read more about their journey on our blog: https://lnkd.in/ei2BYk7q ✍: Petunia Hu (Tisch '27)

As the 2025 Summer Launchpad (SLP) entered Week 6, founders shifted their focus to the people-centered side of startup growth — balancing investor expectations, building strong teams, and leading sustainably to avoid burnout. On July 16, Manya Ellenberg (SVP of People at Thyme Care) led a deep dive into early-stage #hiring strategy, beginning with a cautionary tale: hiring without alignment leads to costly mistakes. To avoid this, Ellenberg urged founders to define roles clearly, co-write job descriptions, and gather input from advisers or investors before extending offers. On July 17, founders stepped away from their screens for a wellness workshop led by #Jivika Founder & CEO Ayman Mukerji Househam (Silver ‘21). Drawing on her background in #neuroimmunology, #mindfulness, and #AI, Mukerji Househam guided participants through stress management practices to help navigate the mental, physical, and emotional challenges of early-stage startup life. Check out the full weekly recap: https://lnkd.in/eA4rFnWX ✍: Petunia Hu (Tisch '27)

🎙️🎙️ PODCAST EPISODE: Frank Rimalovski, Executive Director of the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute, joined the 21 Hats podcast to discuss how our programs are empowering young entrepreneurs to launch impactful ventures. Plus, check out his takes on whether you can teach resilience, the strengths and weaknesses of VC, and the growing impact of #AI on accelerators. Listen Now: https://lnkd.in/ebdnrWgx

Last Friday, 16 exciting research-driven teams began their participation in our NYU Tech Venture Workshop to explore the commercial potential of their innovations. From AI-powered drug discovery to novel medical devices to reproductive healthcare, these ventures are tackling big problems with breakthrough solutions. Read more about this summer's cohort and their journey toward impact-driven entrepreneurship: https://lnkd.in/eehCKVnr

🧠🐾 What if computers could smell? In our inaugural Beyond the Bench feature, we speak with Dmitry Rinberg, PhD, NYU Professor & Chief Science Advisor at Canaery, about his groundbreaking work turning odor signals from a dog’s brain into real-time data. This nose-to-computer interface isn’t science fiction — it’s the future of scent detection. From neuroscience labs to national security applications, Dmitry shares how his research is helping Canaery build tech that sees the invisible world of smells. Read more about this fascinating intersection of brain science and machine intelligence. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dc49MYN7 NYU Grossman School of Medicine #Neuroscience #DeepTech #NYUEntrepreneur #Olfaction #BrainComputerInterface #BeyondTheBench