Young Entrepreneurs to Watch
Angel Sayani
Engineering the Future of Cybersecurity and AI
Embracing Excellence
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ANGEL SAYANI 12
MUNAZZA SABUWALA
Engineering the Future of Cybersecurity and AI
Angel Sayani
“Your startup is like a blank canvas—don't be afraid to paint outside the frontiers. Innovation is born from risk, and the willingness to embrace uncertainty is your greatest asset.”
— Angel Sayani
Whatdoesittaketobecomeacybersecurity prodigy,aworldrecordholder,andatech founderbeforeturning20?ForAngel Sayani,itallstartednotwithaplan—but withcuriositythatcouldn'tbecontained.
Whilemostchildrenwereplayingwith toys,Angelwasdisassemblinggadgetsto learntheirsecrets.Whileherpeersstudied for inals,shewasearningadvanced certi icationsandcodingthroughthenight. Thatrestlesspursuitofknowledgequickly evolvedintosomethingbigger:amissionto shapethefutureofcybersecurityand arti icialintelligence.
Bytheageof19,Angelhadalreadyearned aglobaldistinction: the most expert-level IT certi ications at a young age,an achievementthatlandedherintheHigh RangeBookofWorldRecordsandthe WorldwideBookofWorldRecords.With over35advancedcerti icationstoher name,shestoodnotjustasa technician—butasavisionary
Today,asthefounderandCEOof IntellChromatics Inc.,andacybersecurity researcheratNYUspecializinginquantum cryptography,shestandsattheforefrontof oneoftheworld'smostcritical—and rapidlyevolving—industries.
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE: WHY INTELLCHROMATICS WAS BORN
Angel'sleapfromacademicexcellenceto entrepreneurshipwasdrivenbyinsight.She identi iedacrucialblindspotinthetech landscape:thelackoftrulyintegrated cybersecurityandAIsolutions.“Companieswere offeringeithercybersecurityorAI,”sheexplains. “Butfewwerecreatingsolutionsthatcombined both—especiallyinwaysthatanticipatedfuture threats.”
Outofthisobservation, IntellChromatics Inc. wasborn.Withafocuson AI-powered predictive security, secure-by-design applications,and quantum-resilient cryptography,thecompanyisanythingbut conventional.Itaddressestoday'svulnerabilities whilepreparingfortomorrow'sbreakthroughs.
“AtIntellChromatics,we'renotjustreactingto cyberthreats—we'reanticipatingthem,”Angel says.“Oursolutionsareengineeredtobe predictive,adaptable,anddeeplycustomized.”
Thecompany'sstandoutmethodologyincludes:
• Machinelearning-drivencybersecuritytools
• Customapplicationsdesignedwith embeddedsecurityarchitecture
• Quantum-proofframeworksthatalignwith futurecryptographicdemands
Whatmakesitworkisthetailoredexecution. “There'snosuchthingasone-size- its-all security,”Angelnotes.“Everysolutionwebuildis alignedwithourclients'systems,culture,and strategicgoals.”
PURPOSE BEFORE PROFIT
ForAngel, success is not about valuation—it's about vision
“Truesuccesstranscends inancialmetrics,”sheexplains. “It'saboutcreatingimpactthatoutlivesyou. ”
Thisphilosophydrivesthecultureandmissionof IntellChromatics.FromethicalAIdesigntoprivacy- irst development,thecompanyleadswithintegrity.Each projectisbuiltnotonlytoperform—buttoleaveapositive digitalfootprint
CULTURE OF CURIOSITY: LEADING FROM WITHIN
AsayoungCEO,Angelisrede iningleadership.
Gonearethehierarchiesoftraditionaltech irms.At IntellChromatics, autonomy, experimentation, and purpose arecentral.Angelhascreatedacompanyculture
thatvalues ownership over oversight and growth over perfection.
“Weempowerthroughtrust,” shesays.“Employeesarecocreators,notjust contributors.”
Someofthestrategiesshe employsinclude:
• Encouragingautonomy balancedwith accountability
“Success
is creating something that lives beyond you. It's not just about financial gain or personal achievement; it's about leaving a legacy—whether that's through innovation, a thriving company, or the positive impact you've had on the people around you.”
— Angel Sayani
• Sponsoringteamcerti ications andlearningprograms
• Hostingregulartownhallsto reinforcetransparency
• Keepinglinesoffeedback alwaysopen
Bytyingday-to-dayworktorealworldoutcomes,Angelensures everyemployeeseesthe impact of their efforts,notjustthetasks theycomplete.
STAYING AHEAD BY BUILDING TOMORROW
Angel'sleadershipstrategyis underpinnedbyoneprinciple: stay ahead by building for what's next.
Sheusesaframeworkshecallsthe “90/10 principle”—90%offocus onre iningexistingsolutions,10% onexploringdisruptive possibilities.Thisispairedwith “horizonmapping,”aproprietary systemforpredictingtechnology intersectionsover3-,5-,and10-
yeartimelines.
Thisforward-leaningapproachhas ledto:
• Developmentof neuralsymbolic AI systems for betterexplainabilityinsecurity environments
• Advancedresearchin quantum-resistant encryption frameworks
• Pioneering“anticipatory development”modelstopreemptivelyintegratefuturetech
“Wedon'tjustadapttotrends,” Angelsays.“Weanticipatethem, modelthem,andprepareour clientsforthembeforetheyhit.”
BREAKING BARRIERS, BUILDING BRIDGES
Theroadtoinnovationhasn'tbeen withoutitschallenges.Asa young woman in tech,Angelfaced skepticismearlyon.Butsheturned doubtintomomentum.
“Breakingintocybersecurityasayoung entrepreneurmeantprovingmyself tenfold,”sheshares.“Ididn'tletthat stopme—Ibuilttheresultstospeakfor themselves.”
Shealsohadtomasterthebusiness side— inance,marketing, leadership—whileremainingdeeply technical.“Itwaslikebuildingtheplane while lyingit,”shesays.“ButI surroundedmyselfwithpeoplewho sharedthevisionandcomplementedmy strengths.”
WHAT'S NEXT FOR INTELLCHROMATICS?
Withitsfoundationset,IntellChromatics ispoisedtoscale.
Thecompanyiscurrentlydeveloping:
• AIsystemswithenhanceddetection speedsusinghybridneural architectures
• Interfacesforseamlessquantum computingintegration
• Partnershipswithacademic institutionsforresearchonethical AI
“We'reactivelyforminganecosystemof technologists,scholars,andpartners,” Angelshares.“Together,we'resolving multidimensionalproblems—fromIoT securitytoAIgovernance.”
Inadigitalagedemandingboth velocity and vigilance,AngelSayaniisdesigning thefuturefromtheinsideout—one algorithm,oneidea,onelegacyatatime.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER: ANGEL SAYANI
Arisingstarinthedigitallandscape, AngelSayaniisaworld-record-holding cybersecurityexpertandthefounderof IntellChromaticsInc.Withover35 advancedcerti icationsandagrowing in luenceacrossthetechworld,shehas beenfeaturedbyorganizationssuchas ISC²,CompTIA,andtheCloudSecurity Alliance.Currentlypursuingher Master'sinCybersecurityatNYU,Angel combinesdeeptechnicalknowledge withvisionaryleadershiptocreate impactfulchange.
“Success is creating something that lives beyond you. It's not just about financial gain or personal achievement; it's about leaving a legacy.”
— Angel Sayani
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PEngineering the Future of Cybersecurity and AI
lanningtobuyavillaorapartmentin Bali?Ifyou'relookingforapropertyto livein,rentout,orresell,it'sbesttogo throughanagency.Butthequestionis—which one?
Thereareover300agenciesontheisland.Some workonlywiththepremiumsegment,others specializeinrentals,andsomefocusonresales ofcompletedproperties.Butamongallthese,a fewagenciesofferafullrangeofservices—and thosearetheonessettingthemarketstandard.
OneofthemisLegionRealEstate.Theagencyis only3.5yearsold,butinthattimeit'sbecome thelargestrealestateagencyinBali—atleast, accordingtoitsof icialwebsite.Thecompany's founder,AleksandrGuliaiev,doesn'tjustsell home
s;hehelpsinvestorspreserveandgrowtheir capital.Reviewsdescribetheserviceasreliable
andtransparent
So,whatkindofcompanyisthis?Whatareits terms?Andwhyaremoreandmorepeople trustingLegionRealEstatewithproperty purchasesontheisland?Let'sbreakitdown.
Who Founded Legion Real Estate, When, and Why
“I'm always looking for new growth opportunities,”theentrepreneuradmits.Inan interview,AleksandrGuliaievsharedthathegot intobusinessbackinhisstudentdays.At irst, heandafriendwereresellingiPhones.Thenhe workedforanagencythatsoldcarsfromthe U.S.Whenthatprojectranitscourse,heturned hisattentiontorealestate.
ItstartedwithcountryhousesinUkraine. Duringthepandemic,AleksandrGuliaiev launchedhisownagency.Hechosea
neighborhood,builtrelationships withdevelopers,compileda propertydatabase,andhired marketers.Hepersonallymetwith potentialbuyers.Withinjust1.5 months,heclosedhis irstdeal. Fromthebeginning,heaimedto buildnotjustatypicalrealestate irm,butastrongbusinesswitha capableteam.
In2022,operationscametoahalt. AleksandrGuliaievbegan volunteering.Afewmonthslater,he returnedtobusiness—thistimein Turkey.Histeamdidn'tbelieve remotepropertysaleswere possible.Butonceagain,Aleksandr personallyclosedthe irstfew deals,provingthatnothingis impossible.
Whenthingsstartedtakingoff,he andpartoftheteammovedabroad. Butthatworksoonlostitsappeal. Insearchofnewmarkets, AleksandrGuliaievexploredDubai andBali.Indonesiaattractedhim withalargenumberofdevelopers andweakcompetitionamong agencies.Thedecisionseemed obvious.Withinthreemonths,he wasclosingdealsontheisland.
AleksandrGuliaievrelocated brokersfromTurkeyandUkraine, developedamarketingstrategy,and launchedLegionRealEstate.Today, it'sthetoprealestateagencyin Bali.Itstotalsalesvolumehaslong surpassed$80,000,000.
KeyFactsAboutLegionRealEstate: Services,PartnerProgram,
Advantages
Accordingtothecompany'swebsite LegionRealEstateisthelargestreal estateagencyinBali,offering clients“securityinaworldof uncertainty.”Andclearly,it'smore thanjustwords.Aleksandr Guliaiev'steam:
• Hasadatabaseofover500 propertiesacrossvariousareas oftheisland.
• Isatopsellerformajor developerslikeSunny DevelopmentGroup(SDG), LoyoDevelopment,andAnta.
• Personallyconnectswithtoptierdevelopersandgetsoffers
• directly—oftenbeforeof icial salesbegin.
• UsesanITsystemthattracks realoccupancyandpro itability ratesindifferentareasofBali.
TheguidingprincipleatLegionReal Estateissimple:investbasedon numbersandfacts,notemotions. Foreachproject,specialists calculatea inancialmodelandgive arealisticreturnforecast AleksandrGuliaievsaystheir forecastsareconservative—which hebelievesisbetterthanmaking emptypromises.
ServicesOfferedbyLegionReal Estate
AtLegionRealEstate,theysaythey don'tjustsellrealestate—they helpinvestorsmakemoney.Experts indpropertiesthat ityourbudget, vetthedevelopers,andhandleall logistics.Bestofall—clientsdon't paycommission.Coreservices include:
Tailored Investment Strategies
Everyinvestorhasdifferentgoals andbudgets.Eachpartnership startswiththreequestions:How muchareyoureadytoinvest?What typeofpropertyareyoulooking for?What'sthepurposeofthe purchase?Afterthediscussion,they selectaproperty,calculate pro itability,andofferclear recommendations.
• Property Resale
Sometimes,clientswanttosell apropertytoinvestinamore pro itableone.LegionReal Estatehandlesitall— inding buyers,managingthe paperwork,andtakingcareof theroutine.
• Land Plots
Realestateisn'tjustvillasand apartments.LandinBaliisa valuableasset.Theagency helps indplotssuitablefor privateorcommercial developmentandfacilitatesthe transaction.
• Legal Due Diligence
Nodealhappenswithout properdocumentation.The teamreviewsthedeveloper,
• examinesthelandlease agreement,investment contract,andalllegalaspects. Thisminimizesriskand ensuresasafetransaction.
LegionRealEstatealsoinvestsin propertiesthemselves—meaning theytrulyknowthemarketfrom theinside.
“I bought a townhouse in Berawa with Legion Real Estate — the deal went smoothly. I liked that they offer legal support, detailed inancial modeling, and even customize the contract to the client. The brokers keep you updated throughout, send videos of the property, which is especially useful for remote buyers. Bali is a promising market — glad I chose this company,”saiduserMax inaforumreview
Legion Real Estate Property Catalog
Theagencyoffersaconvenient propertycataloguponrequest Clientscanbrowselistingsorbook anonlineconsultation—agreat optionforthosenotlivingonthe island.
Sample Listings:
• Apartments in a full-service complex
Size:33m²to199m².Price: $89,000to$430,000.
Amenities:underground parking,restaurant,gym, coworkingspace,walking areas,playground,rooftopwith in initypool,bar,andlounge. ExpectedROI:13%inthe irst yearfromshort-termrentals.
Ownership:Leaseholduntil 2047,renewablefor15years.
• Penthouse on the beachfront at Dreamland
Priceperm²:From$4,500. Types:SeaView(oceanfront), SeaLine(beachview), PanoramicGolf(golfcourse view).Rentalincome:15% annualROI,estimatedpro its from$47,500to$245,400/year dependingontheunittype.
• Apartments in Canggu, Batu Bolong area
Size:35–37m².On-site:bar androoftopcinema.Managed byapropertycompany(20% cutforlong-termrental,plus 10%forexpenses).Ownership: 25-yearleaseholdwitha25-
yearextensionoption
Therearemanymorelistings. AleksandrGuliaievsaysatleast 500.SinceLegionRealEstateisa majoragency,developersoften sendthemoffersevenbefore of icialsalesbegin.
Legion Real Estate Partner Program
Forthosewhowanttopro itfrom Balirealestatewithoutdirectly handlingsales,LegionRealEstate offersanattractivepartner program.Thedealissimple:bring inanewclient—earn1%ofthe propertypriceafterthesale.
Who can become a partner?
• Agentswiththeirownclient basereadytocollaborate
• Mediapartnersusingsocial media,blogs,orwebsitesto promote
• Anyonewithcontactsor friendsinterestedin investmentorpassiveincome
Theagent'staskistorefera potentialinvestortoLegionReal Estateandsharetheircontact.The teamwillfollowup,con irm
interest,andschedulea consultation.Afterthe irst payment—evenininstallments— theagentreceivestheir commission.With2–3referrals, monthlyincomecanexceed $15,000.Theprogramisagreat waytomonetizeyournetwork.
Why People Choose Legion Real Estate
“Our biggest advantage is a spotless reputation,”saystheteamatLegion RealEstate.Theygoaboveand beyondtomakeproperty investmentinBalisimpleand
secure.Theirfull-serviceapproach includespropertyselection, developervetting,document processing,resalesupport,and indingpropertymanagement companies.
Theyalsoinvestthemselves,sothey knowalltheinsandoutsofthe localmarket.Accordingtoreviews, theserviceistop-tier.Youcanlearn moreabouttheagencyandits founderonsocialmedia—both AleksandrGuliaievandLegionReal EstateareonInstagramand YouTube.
TheKeysto Maintaining Optimismasan Entrepreneur
ptimismforentrepreneursis almostanecessityforsurvival, atleastinthebeginning.It'shada roughgointhebusinessworld, wheretheconceptismore preferablyattributedwith resilienceandperseverancethan pureoptimism.It'sworthnoting thatleaderswhoclaimtobe optimisticinthebusinessworld oftenareonly“cautiously”so.It remindsmeofthelongstretchof timeinthebeginningwheremy companycontinuouslygenerated norevenuebutwestayedthe courseregardlessofthechallenges.
UNDERSTANDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Whatsetsyouapartasan entrepreneurisn'tthatyou necessarilyhaveinnovativeand newideasbutarewillingtoexecute onthemandseethemtotheend regardlessoftheoutcome.Thisis allwhilemakingsacri icesinyour dailylife,whetheritbemissing
socialeventswithfriendsorsimply havingtimetoyourself.
Optimismisn'tjustapersonality traitbutratheracrucialelementin entrepreneurialsuccess.Research inpsychologyandbusinessstudies hasrevealedthatoptimismhelps entrepreneursperceive opportunitieswhereotherssee obstacles.
THE IMPORTANCE OF OPTIMISM FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Optimismhelpsyoumaintaina positiveoutlookdespitenumerous setbacksanduncertaintiesthatare alltoocommonwhilebuildinga businessfromscratch.Istarted buildingmy intechwitha“cool” appideathatessentiallygenerated norevenueinthebeginning.Totop itup,itwasn'tfreetobuildandhad manymonthlycostswhichIselffundedrightfromthestart
Written by Abid Salahi
Essentially,withoptimismyouget entrepreneurswhoarewillingto investmoreeffortandfocuson theirprojectstoactuallymakeit successful.Nowhowdoyoude ine success?
AstudybasedoutoftheKingdom ofSaudiArabiaondispositional optimismwasableto inda correlationbetween entrepreneurialsuccessand dispositionaloptimism.Thisis whereindividualstakeproactive stepstoimproveandprotecttheir healthwhilemaintainingan expectationoffuturesuccessacross lifedomains.
KeyStrategiesforMaintaining Optimism
Thesearesomeofthestrategies thatIlivebyinordertomaintaina positiveoutlookinmy entrepreneurialjourney:
FOCUS ON SMALL WINS
Thisoneisquitesigni icant.Instead ofgoingformoonshotsandhitting setbacksconstantly,trytoaimfor smallerachievementswhichinturn willgiveyousmallvictories. Everyonehasbiggoalsfortheir businessandacertainvisionof whatitcouldbelikeonedayfarin thefuture,butthatcanalsomake yourcurrentsmallerwinslook insigni icantandnotworth celebrating.
STAY FLEXIBLE AND OPEN TO PIVOT
Ididn'tknowIwouldneedtogo through3differentproduct iterationsandcompletelydeprecate initialbuildsofmyproductwhenI startedout.Whathelpedmeget throughitisstayingresilientinthe processandkeepinganopenmind. Beingwillingtoadapttodifferent businessmodelsorstrategiesbased onmarketfeedbackisanessential partofthejourney.Why?
Justbecauseyoumakeacoolnew product,itdoesn'tmeanotherswill inditnecessarilyuseful.Changing strategiesandfocuscanleadtoalot ofsuccessdowntheroadifdone correctly.Afterwepivotedour strategy,westartedseeingaton moretraf icandusergrowthonour website,goingfrom~100visitors permonthtonowover~10,000.
INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH
Thisoneisprobablyobviousbutit's essentialtokeepahealthylifestyle whilecontinuingyour entrepreneurialjourney.That meansworkingoutregularly, stayingactivewhilealsocontinuing toremainsocialwithyourfriends andfamily,althoughthesocialpart mightgetreduced.
Bykeepingyourmindclearand yourbodyhealthy,you'renaturally moreresilienttosetbacksinyour businessandaremorewillingto maintainapositiveoutlook.This haspersonallyhelpedmealot!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Asanentrepreneur,staying optimisticisn'tjustnicetohave;it's prettymuchamust,especiallyat thestart.It'sfunnyhowinbusiness, peopletalkalotaboutbeingtough andpushingthrough,buttheydon't alwaystalkaboutjustbeing optimistic.Inmyownjourney,there weretimeswhenitseemedlikewe weren'tmakinganymoneyatall. Butwekeptgoing,believingthings wouldgetbetterandtheexpenses werejusti ied.
Beinganentrepreneurmeans you'rewillingtojumpinanddothe work,tryingtomakeyourbigideaa reality.Andsure,itmeansyou mightmissoutonhangingoutwith friendsorjustchillingbyyourself sometimes.Butthat'swherebeing optimisticmakesabigdifference. It'snotjustaboutfeelinggood;it helpsyouseechancestosucceed whereothersmightjustsee problems.
Istartedwithacoolappideathat didn'tmakemoneyrightaway.It costalottogetgoing,andIwas payingforeverythingmyself.But beingoptimisticmeantIkept workinghard,lookingforwardto makingitasuccess.Andsuccess? Well,itturnsoutthatpeoplewho areoptimistictendtodobetter, becausethey'realwayslookingfor waystoimproveandexpecting goodthingstohappen.
Tostayoptimistic,Ifocusonthe smallwins,stay lexibleandready tochangemyplan,andImakesure totakecareofmyhealth. Celebratingthelittlevictorieskeeps youmovingforward.Beingopento changingyourplancanleadtobig winslateron.Andkeepinghealthy helpsyoubouncebackfromthe toughtimes.
So,remember,beingoptimisticas anentrepreneurhelpsalot.It keepsyougoingthroughthehard times,readytocatchthenext opportunity.Andforme?Afterwe changedourapproach,morepeople startedvisitingourwebsite—going fromabout100visitorsamonthto over10,000.That'swhatstaying optimisticcando.
AbouttheAuthor
I'mAbid,oneoftheco-foundersofa intechstartupthathelps Canadianscompareand indcreditcardsbestforthemas accuratelyaspossible.Startingthiswasn'teasy,especiallybecause whenyouhavenowebtraf ic,nobrandtakesyouseriously, translatingtonomoney.But,Istayedoptimistic,workedhard,and learnedalotalongtheway.Now,Iliketosharemyexperiences andtipswithotherentrepreneurs,hopingtomaketheirjourneysa biteasier
Meet MARCo
A Mental Health Assisting Robot Companion
Jacob Boyle, Founder and CEO of MARCo Technologies LLC, has created a one-of-kind mental health assisting robot.
Fueledbyhisownstruggleswith
mentalhealthandinabilityto ind propercounselingsolutions,Jacob Boyledecidedtochangethewaywe addressmentalhealthstruggles.
MARCoisaninteractiverobotthatcannot onlyhelpyoungadultsandteensasan innovative,reliable,andaffordablesolution, butitcanalsohelpdrivetheindustry forwardbyintroducingnewtechnologies andsolutions.
InthisExclusiveInterview,JacobBoyletalks aboutmentalhealth,entrepreneurship,and MARCo.
What is your earliest memory as an entrepreneur that you can remember?
WhenIwasinelementaryschool,Ihada “company”Icalled“WalletFullof Businesses,Inc.”Itwasjustmemaking variousthings-hand-drawncomicbooks andchildren'sbooks,cookies,claymodels, etc.-andsellingthemtofamily,friends,and ourneighborEd.
Atthatage,Ijustsawitassomethingfunto doandgetacoupledollarsoutof,but lookingbackIrealizehowmuchofan entrepreneur'sjourneyIwentthroughpitchingtomyparentsSharkTankstyleto fundmylatestventure,doingcustomer interviewstolearnwhatwouldmakemy classmatesbewillingtobuymybooks, pivotingwhenabiggeropportunitycame along,andchoosingthefreedomofthe entrepreneuriallifeovera9-5job(i.e., choresforanallowance).
Talk to us about your personal experience with mental health and your struggle when it came to inding a helping solution.
I'vestruggledwithmymentalhealthsince latemiddleschool,earlyhighschool, primarilywithdepression,anxiety,andself-
harm.I irstnoticeddepressivesymptoms inmiddleschool,andstartedharming aroundsophomoreyearofhighschool,butI couldn'tunderstandwhatwasgoingonor thatthesewerepartsofabiggerproblem.
Ididn'tgethelpuntilsenioryearofhigh school,andeventhen,itrequiredalotof peopletonoticewhatwasgoingon, understandthiswasserious,and indthe helpforme.Ineverwouldhaveknownhow tonavigategettinghelponmyown,and whenIspoketomostpeoplemyage,they didn'tunderstandandgotangrywithme forthewaysIwasacting-therewasjusta lotofstigmaarounditatthattime.And onceIgraduatedhighschool,Ilostaccessto thecareIneeded.
Collegewasbetter,asmyschoolhadagreat oncampuscounselingcenter,butonceIwas outofschool-whetheritwasforasemester orpost-graduation- indingexternal supportwasnearimpossible.Ihadno money,hadtopayoutofpocket,andgot placedinmonths-longwaitlistswithno hopeofgettinganysupportwhenIneeded it.AndIwasn'talone-mostofmyfriends weregoingthroughsimilarstrugglesand didn'torcouldn'tgetanyhelpwhenthey neededitmost.Iknewsomethingneededto changeinthewayweaddressmentalhealth struggles.
You created MARCo to help teens and young adults struggling with mental health. What was the innovation that went behind creating this interactive robot?
ThetwobiginnovationsbehindMARCo wereitsconversationaldesignandits physicalformfactor.Workhadbeendone beforeondevelopingchatbotsformental healthcare,butwhatwe'vetriedtodois stepbeyondasimplechatbotinteraction. WedesignedMARCo'sconversationstobe long-formtomimicrealhumaninteractions.
Chatbotshavehadthelimitationof onephraseinputandonephrase output,butMARCo'sdialoguesare moredynamic.Iftheuserwantsto talktoMARCofor30minutes straightwithoutinterruptionas theyrantabouttheirday,theyhave thatoption.We'vepushedthe envelopeintermsofthelimitsof conversationalAItomakeitas intelligentaspossible.
Beyondthatisitsphysicalform. Whereasothersinour ieldhave takencostly,existingrobotsand addedtheirownsoftwareata signi icantpricemarkup,MARCo's hardwarewasdesignedfromthe groundupbasedonhundredsof customerinterviewstomakeit optimalforourtargetusersand keepthecostsaslowaspossibleto theendcustomer.Thishastaken yearsofdesignoptimizationand usertesting.
Do you think robot-assisted therapy is the future? Can it replace traditional therapy services or stand as an alternative?
I'ma irmbelieverthatthebest technologyneverreplaceshuman skillsandservices;iteither augmentsthemtobebetterthan everor illsagapbetweenthose skillsandservices.
Likewise,withMARCo,wearenot tryingtoreplaceanytraditional therapyservicesbutaccomplish thosetwogoals.Forthosecurrently receivingsomedegreeofcare, robot-assistedtherapycanaugment caretodeliverbetteroutcomesto theclient,reducewaittimesand gapsincare,andenableproviders todelivercareinnewandmore
ef icientways.
Forthosewhoarenotreceivingany degreeofcare,robot-assisted therapycan illinthegapscreated bylackofaccess,highoutofpocket costs,stigma,mistrustinservices, andseeminglyendlesswaittimes. Thiscombinesnottoforma replacement,buta“therapeutic alliance”betweentraditional servicesandrobotaugmented services.
More and more people are talking and discussing about mental health in recent years. What would you attribute this change to?
COVID'sbeenabigitemthat's shiftedtheconversationtobemore open.Ithasaffectedeveryonein somewayandhascreatedan unprecedentedmentalhealthcrisis. Ratesofmentalillnessrocketed, andtypicallyassomethingbecomes morecommon,italsobecomes morenormalizedtotalkabout
Asidefromthat,there'sbeenabig generationalshift.Older generationsgrewupinvery stigmatizedtimes,whereasyounger generations,especiallyGenZ,have grownupwithmentalhealth services,groups,clubs,andmedia muchmoreprevalentintheirlives thankstothehardworkofservice providersandadvocates.Asthese youngergenerationsenterthe workforceanddominatesocial mediaplatformsastheyemerge, theyaremuchmorecomfortable sharingtheirownexperiencesand stories,evenifit'sanonymous, acrossallkindsofmedia.
Finally,anotherbigshifthastodo
withthemoney.Mentalhealth startupsandunicornshavebeen aroundforyears,butoverthepast coupleyearsthey'veseentonsof fundingpourinfromVC'sand investorswhoseethegrowth potentialinmentalhealthcare.As thatmoney lowsintothese companies,itenablesthemtoget higherpro ilesponsors,gettheir messagingoutfurther,anddrivethe conversationnotjustabouttheir companybutaboutmentalhealth ingeneral.
Being a young entrepreneur, what would be your advice for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs?
Tome,therearetwoprimary reasonspeoplemightbecome entrepreneurs.The irstisthatthey themselveslovetheentrepreneurial lifestyleandallitsperksand challengesandwanttoliveit
Thesecondisthattheyhavea visionofawaytomakeasigni icant impactorchangeontheworldor someindustryandtheonlyway theyseetodothatisbybecoming anentrepreneurtobringtheir visiontoreality
Myadviceistoknowwhichreason you'regettinginto entrepreneurshipandstaytrueto thatpurpose.Igotintoitforthe secondreason-Ihadnointentions ofgettingintoentrepreneurshipin mylifeat irst,butwhenIsawa problemwiththestateofmental healthcareandhadavisionforhow itcouldbebetterthrough technology,Isawstartingmyown businessasthewaytomakemy visionareality.Butthere'ssomuch pressuretoswitch,tolookforthe
quickestpathtowardspersonal successthatitcanbecome overwhelming.
Myadviceisalsotostaytrue,no matterwhat,towhatyouwantto do.Becauseifyoudon'tfeellike you'redoingtherightthingforyou, you'regoingtobemiserablethe wholetime.
Finally, what does the future look like for MARCo? How do you plan on expanding its reach and usability?
MARCoiscurrentlygreatfor supportingpeoplewiththeir mentalhealth,butourvisionfor MARCoistohelpthepeopleat highestriskinthemostserious situationswithit.Thismeansa medicaldeviceMARCofor treatmentofthosewithchronic mentalillness,sufferingimmensely astheresultofmajordepression andcomorbiddiseases.
ThisMARCowouldbeat irst prescriptiononly,butasthe technology,science,andregulatory
“I’m a firm believer that the best technology never replaces human skills and services; it either augments them to be better than ever or fills a gap between those skills and services.”
Jacob Boyle
Founder & CEO MARCo Technologies LLC
environmentimprove,eventuallyit couldbesomethingthatanyone sufferingfromseverementalillness couldgetoverthecounter,covered byinsuranceassoonasthey needed.
Togetthere,wearedoinga combinationofreal-worldtestsand clinical.
How Two Young Female Entrepreneurs
Use Their Love for the Arts to Advance Their Community
Thecoronaviruspandemicinspired countlessadultstoreassesstheir careersandlifechoicesandperhaps makesomechanges.Butitwasnotonly adultsthatfelttheycouldhaveagreater impact.Twoyoungfemaleentrepreneursfelt compelledtosharetheirloveforthe performingartswiththeircommunities. Theirgoal:improvecon idenceandmental healthamongchildrenandcreateperforming artsopportunitiesforothers.
HOW MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES CREATED A SPARK
Intheearlydaysofthepandemic,stories aboutmentalhealthchallengesamongkids andteenagersabounded.Uncertainty, lockdowns,andfearofthediseaseput additionalpressureonyoungpeoplewho alreadyfelttheneedtoperformatschooland beyond.
Whileexternaldemandscontinuedtomount, manyfelttheircon idencedrop,often becausetheywereunabletoexpress themselves,demonstratetheirtalents,and realizetheirpotential.Aboutone-thirdof high-schoolstudentsreportedmentalhealth challengesduringthepandemic,accordingto theCentersforDiseaseControland Prevention(CDC).AJohnsHopkinssurvey foundthatnearlyonein iveyoungpeople
sufferedfromanincreaseindepression.
Whilethose iguresarerightlygivingcause forconcern,theyinspiredtwoaccomplished youngartists.ElitedancerMadeleineChen andaward-winningmusicianElizabethEcht decidedtousetheirloveofperformingarts forthebene itofyoungpeopleinthewider community.TheyfoundedVisionfor Con idence(V4C),anon-pro itwiththegoal ofsupportingaspiringartistsontheir journeyandsharingthementalhealth bene itswiththeirwidercommunity.
HOW FINE ARTS SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH
Foryears,evidenceofthementalhealth bene itsofexposuretoandparticipation in ineartshasbeenmountingup,both anecdotallyandscienti ically.For example,studieshaveshowna connectionbetween inearts activitiesandincreasedmental healthandwell-beinginthose affectedbyautism.
MadeleineandElizabethbelieve thateveryyoungpersoncan bene itfromeasieraccessto inearts activities,whethertheyaredealingwith adisabilityorsufferingfromlowcon idence ingeneral.Oneoftheirmostrecenttarget
groupsincludesyoungpeoplewith rarediseases.Theirconditionshave beenlinkedwithahigherriskof feelingsofisolationandother mentalhealthproblems,including lowself-esteem.
Asidefromthesespeci icgroups, thetwoentrepreneursarelooking tocreateperformingarts opportunitiesforyoungchildren andteenswhowouldotherwise havemissedout.Althougharts featureinmanyschools' curriculums,fundingcutsinthe publicschoolsystemhavemade accessto ineartseducationand relatedopportunitiesmoredif icult.
Asaresult,talentedchildrenand teenagershavebeenmissingouton animportantcreativeoutlet,and somearemissingonce-in-a-lifetime careeropportunities.V4Cis attemptingtomakeupforthe shortfall.
“We'vebeeninvolvedin inearts fromaveryyoungage,andwe realizethattheresourcesthatwere giventousarenotnecessarily availabletoalotofotherkids outsideofourowncommunity,” saysV4Cco-founderMadeleine Chen.
“Thatinspiredustocreatea programthatsuppliesresources andmonetarysupporttostudents whowanttopursuetheartsasa careerwhentheygetolder.”
Sincethenon-pro it'sinception,the teamhasbeenabletoraisenearly $30,000inscholarshipfundsand hasstartedtransforminglives.In June2021,forexample,V4C awardedatravelscholarshiptoan
exemplaryyoungartistatThe DallasConservatory.The scholarshipallowedherto participateinthenational inalsof theNewYorkCityDanceAlliance (NYCDA),anincredibleopportunity shewouldhaveotherwisehadto miss.
Theresultspeaksforitself.The scholarshiprecipientusedthe opportunitytowina$100,000 scholarshiptoPACEUniversity's commercialdanceprogram, successfullylayingfoundationsfor continuededucationandacareerin thearts.
A WIDER VISION FOR CONFIDENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH
Withearlysuccessstories con irmingthattheorganizationis onapromisingpath,founders MadeleineandElizabethhavenot lostsightoftheirbiggervision.
“Ithinkthereisadirectlink betweencon idenceandsuccess, andwewanttohelpotherchildren attainbothofthosethingsthrough performingarts,”saysMadeleine.
Psychologistsbelievethat projectingcon idencehelpspeople gaincredibility,dealwithpressure, andtacklepersonaland professionalchallenges.Allofthose couldalsobeconsidered prerequisitesforsuccess.
TheV4Cfoundersbelievethat performingartscanbecomea gatewaytogrowingcon idencefor childrenfromlessprivileged backgrounds,orthosewith disabilitiesorrarediseases.They
arepoisedtosharetheirskillsand passionnotonlybyteachingthe artsbutalsobyestablishinglongtermrelationshipswithscholarship recipientsandothers.
TheV4Cfoundersbelievethatarts andself-esteemtrainingcanhelp childrenwithdisabilitiesorrare diseasesparticipatemorefullyin society.Whileitmaybeeasyfor thesechildrentobecome marginalizedandsomewhat trapped,performingartsandselfesteemtrainingcanhelpthemstep outsideoftheirniche.Astheygrow theircon idence,theywill indit easiertoparticipatemorefullyand increasetheirqualityoflifeinthe longterm.
BENEFITTING ALL OF SOCIETY
Mentalhealthconcernsaffectall agegroups.However,mentalhealth challengesinchildrenandyoung peoplecanbeparticularly detrimentalastheymaypredispose thepersontoalifetimeofmental illnessormentalhealthconcerns.
Usingperformingartsasapath towardimprovedself-con idence andmentalhealthnotonlyhelps thoseaffectedbymentalhealth challengessincethepandemic. Theirchangedmindsetcanmakea bigdifferenceforentirefamilies andoursocietyasawhole.Asthe pandemiccontinuestorecede,we allstandtobene itfroma generationofhealthier,happier, morecon identyoungpeople.
Jessica Wong, Founder and CEO of Valux Digital,isadigitalmarketing expertandexperiencedPR executivewithover20yearsof successdrivingresultsforclients. Usingcutting-edgetechnology, JessicaandherteamatValuxDigital helpedcorporationsandstartups achievedigitaltransformationand developrobustdata-centric marketingcampaigns.Theystrive toimproveef iciency,affordability, rapidity,quality,and-most importantly-results.
Asadigitalexpert,Jessicawas invitedtopublishthought leadershiparticlesonForbesasan
of icialmemberoftheForbes CommunicationsCouncil.Shealso providesbusinessadviceto millionsofEntrepreneur.com readers.ShewasnamedtheMost In luentialCEObyCEOMonthly magazine.
TheWomeninITAwardshave namedJessicaa inalistforthe DigitalLeaderoftheYear.MARsum USAhasrecognizedherasoneof theTop100Marketing& AdvertisingLeaders.Inrecognition ofherworkwithValuxDigital,The FemaleCEOoftheYearAwards recognizedherastheBestDigital Marketing&PublicRelations
About the Author
AgencyCEO.TheGlobal100Awards havealsonamedJessicaCEOofthe Year.
Throughherextensivedigital experienceinpharmaceutical, healthcareandbiotechnological, Jessicahasbeennamedasthe authorizeddigitaltransformation advisorfortheRareAdvocacy Movement(RAM),the irst community-baseddecentralized autonomousorganizationdedicated tothebestinterestsofpeople diagnosedwithlifealteringrare diseasesandtheirfamilies.
COOKING AN UNMATCHABLE EXPERIENCE
Interview with Leonardo De Aguiar
What according to you
makes one a powerful entrepreneur? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?
Personally,apowerfulentrepreneur issomeonewhohasasocial responsibilityandleavesapositive impactonsocietyandtheindustry theyarein.Ifonecanachievethat, itcreatesapowerfulentrepreneur.
Theyalsomustbededicatedand responsibletotheoverallindustry,
theirteam,stakeholders,andthe communitytheyserve.Iaman advocateofservantleadership, whichisputtingpeople irstand I'vedonethatsincedayoneand willcontinuetodothatinthe future.
What is your earliest memory as an entrepreneur that you can remember?
Theearliestentrepreneurial memorythatIhavewasworking withafriendofmine.Hestarteda
smallcoffeesalesoperationwhere welived,andIrememberbeing aroundtheageof15,andthinking thatIwantedtohelphimsell coffee.WhenIhitmyearly20s,that isreallywhenI irstdippedmytoe intotheentrepreneurialworldwith adigitale-commerceshoponsocial media.
What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the food and dining space?
Myfamilyhasalwaysbeenrooted
Leonardo De Aguiar, Founder & CEO of INTUEAT
inthefoodandbeveragespaceas wellashospitality.Fromanearly agetheyexposedmetotheinner workingsoftheserviceindustry andpiquedmyinterestinfoodand beverage.Ultimately,itledmeto myforayintofoodanddining.
However,whatforti iedmyinterest wasthedatenightgonewrongwith mynowwife,whichwasthetrigger point.Myexperienceandfamily historyledmeto indthat opportunityandnichewithinthe marketspacewhichgavemean“ah ha”momentofincorporating technologyintofoodandbeverage.
What was the idea behind INTUEAT? What makes the platform innovative?
TheideabehindINTUEATcame frommyformercateringappcalled ChefConnect,whichwasasmallscalecompanyinDenverthat providedupscalein-homedining experiences.Whenthepandemic hit,Ihadtopivotandtheideaof INTUEATcametobe.Becauseit becameunsafetogointoclients' homes,wefoundourselvesneeding tocomeupwithadifferent approach.
Theideawastocreateaplatformto attempttoreincorporatethese wonderfulandpassionatechefs thatwerebeingfurloughedby doingbuy-one-give-onemealsfrom alocalrestaurantoffering consumerstakeoutanddelivery
Fromthere,wethoughtofhowwe canincorporateallthesechefsthat havebeenfurloughed,sowe pivotedChefConnecttobecome accessibleandscalable,whichled totherebrandofINTUEAT.Our
missionbehindtheplatformwasto putaspotlightonindependent chefsandhighlightthemasartists.
Wewantedto indnewwaysto assistthesewonderfulchefsby providinganavenuetodelivertheir artistryandshowcasetheirskillsby interactingwithdiners,whichled totheoverallconcept.Asfarasthe platformbeinginnovative,itcomes downtoouruniquepositioningof celebratingeachchefandtheir skillsetandputtingthem irst Additionally,whatmakesthe platforminnovativeistheseamless bookprocess,whichputsthechefs inthedriver'sseatbycontrolling theirscheduleandwhateventsthey accept
Wealsostreamlinedtheprocessso it'squickandef icientforclients. Finally,notonlyarewespotlighting thechefs,butweareinitfor helpingthembuildabetterquality oflife.
What according to you are the biggest challenges that a young entrepreneur faces running a startup?
ThebiggestchallengesIseein youngentrepreneursishavingselfcon idence,gettingintothat entrepreneurialmindset,exposure tothespace,notbeingafraidof makingdif icultdecisionsand burnout.Ihaveseenalotofpeople inmygenerationstrugglewith thesechallengeswhenbecomingan entrepreneur
Goingfromgraduatingcollegeto beinganentrepreneurislikebeing thrownintothedeependofapool andgoingforit.With entrepreneurshipbecomingless
mainstreamnowadays,wedon'tget a irst-handlookintothehurdles, decision-makingprocess,andthe failuresthatyou'llendurealongthe way.Thislackofexposurehinders howweasentrepreneursviewthe space.
Weshouldtalkaboutourfailures andhowweovercamethem. Additionally,entrepreneursneedto remindthemselvesthatjust becauseitdidn'tworkoutthatone time,theyshouldn'tgiveupand alwayshavecon idencein themselves.
Whenitcomestomakingdif icult decisions,I'veseeninthespaceand mypersonalexperiencethefearof makethoseheavydecisions.Istill strugglewiththischallenge,butI remindmyselfthatthisjobisn't easyandtherewillbedecisions thatneedtobemade,butoverall, youneedtohavethatclearvisionof whatyourbusinessisandmaking strategicandbene icialdecisionsin ordertosucceed.
Lastly,beinganentrepreneur whetheryou'rejustenteringthe spaceorhavebeeninitfordecades, canleadtoburnout.It'simportant tobemindfulofthisandmakesure tocarveouttimeforyourself.
What does a day in the life of Leonardo De Aguiar look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?
Work-lifebalanceasan entrepreneurisextremelyhardand bringslonghours.Anaverageday beginsat4:15a.m.whenIstartoff gettingreadyformydayand makingsuretotakecareofall householdresponsibilitiesuntilI
havetoleavearound6:00a.m.
Fromthere,I'mattheof ice typicallyfrom6:30a.m.until1:00 p.m.,dependingontheday.WhenI getintotheof ice,Ihandleadmin workandhigh-levelworkfor INTUEATuntilroughly8:30a.m. Theteamcomesinaroundthat time,whichiswhenIstartworking withthem,takemeetings,trytodo moreworkandanycollaborative workasateamuntil1:00p.m.
Afterthat,Icomehomeeither between1:00p.m.and3:00p.m. dependingonmyworkloadforthat day.WhenIgethome,Itakesome timetorelaxandthenbetween 3:00p.m.and6:00p.m.,I'm answeringemailsand inishing othermeetingsthatmaybe scheduledlaterintheday
Wherethework-lifebalancecomes intoplayisbeingawareofwhere theenergyisgoingandbeing mindfuloftheotherresponsibilities Ihaveoutsideofworkandtending tothoseresponsibilities,soIcan takecareofmyself.
What would be your advice for young entrepreneurs and business leaders struggling to take that leap of faith?
AnyadviceIgivetoayoung entrepreneurallgoesbacktomy favoritequotefromReidHoffman, “anentrepreneurissomeonewho willjumpoffacliffandassemblean airplaneonthewaydown.”Taking theleapoffaithisoneofthe hardeststepsofbecomingan entrepreneur,reallyleaning forwardisterrifying,butonceyou doit,itbecomessigni icantlyeasier overtime.
ABOUT INTUEAT
Establishedin2019,INTUEATisaninnovativeluxury brand&digitalmarketplacethatprovidesdiscerning dinersaccesstoaneliteportfolioofhand-selected privatechefswhoarepassionateaboutproviding bespokein-homeculinaryexperiences.
Comprisedofthebestintheindustry,INTUEAT'sChef membersarehighlyrespectedculinaryprofessionals whoseskillsareunique,re ined,andheldinhighesteem amongtheirpeers. Eachofthecompany'schefs demonstratequalitiesthatsurpasstheircolleaguesin everyaspectoftheirartistry.
ThebestadviceIcouldgivetoa youngentrepreneuristothink aboutReidHoffman'squoteand embracethatspiritandmindset Youhavetobuildyourwingsonthe waydownandnotbeafraidofwhat comesalongtheway.
Finally, what does the future look like for INTUEAT? What are you most excited about?
ThefutureofINTUEATisfor continuedgrowth,notonly internally,butourexpansioninto othermarkets.Additionally,our developmentintoourplatformand ourchefsthatmakeupourroster throughourrecruitmenteffortsfor thechefs.INTUEATisalsomakingit apriorityforanempowerment efforttolocalcommunitiesthatwe provideourofferingsinsuchas Denverandthesurrounding mountaintowns,andtheSouth
FloridaandDallas,Texasareas.
Wearefocusingongivingbackto causesthattheINTUEATchefsare passionateabouttohelpmakea differenceandtyingthatintoour overallmessagingofbeingabrand withapurpose.We'regoingto continuetogrowinthestateswe arecurrently,ourprocessesandour brandtomakeabiggerimpactand footprint.INTUEATiscontinuing thepositivemomentumand workingonthenichesthatwe foundworkforus.
Weareexcitedtocontinueour serviceswiththewonderfuland passionateprofessionalchefsand continuetobuildourcommunity.
Creating a Future of Hope
Alina Su
Itissaidthatthereisnobetterexerciseforthe heartthanreachingouttoliftpeopleup.Itis liberating,empowering,andtransformational. Itispowerful!
Withthesameintentionofliftingpeopleupand createabetterfuture,AlinaSuisspearheadinga transformationalvisionthroughhercompany NovaXSBiotechCorp.
NovaXSisasmartmedicaldevicestartupbuilding adrugdeliveryplatformtomakeiteasierfor
peopletogetaccesstoqualityhealthcare.
InthisExclusiveInterview,theyoungand powerfulentrepreneurtalksaboutherjourney, challenges,andhervisionforthefuture.
What according to you makes one a powerful entrepreneur? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?
Apowerfulentrepreneurissomeonewhotakes responsibilityforhumanbeings'wellnessand
createsabetterfuture.Powerful entrepreneursdesignthefuture, aligntheirownvisionandactonit daily.Romewasn'tbuiltinaday andbuildingourfuturewillnotbe anydifferent.
Creatingpositivechangeinthe worldiswhatpowerful entrepreneursdoeveryday.Asa leader,Iamanaction-orientedtype. Ioutlineandexecuteastrategythat
makesmyvisionareality.Insteadof sittingaroundandphilosophizing abouthowtochangetheworld,I focusoncreatingrealchangeslike themanypatientswehelpevery dayatNovaXS.
Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as an entrepreneur that you can remember?
Growingup,Irememberbeingvery curiousandalwaysasking questions.Iloveschoolandbeingin thelab.Sincestartingmycompany NovaXS,I'veconsideredmyselfa researcherandstudentbeforea businessperson.Thatbeingsaid,I amalsoaproblem-solveranda goodentrepreneurwhofocuseson solvingaproblem,notsellinga product
Myearliestmemoryofthisiswhen Ihadtobalancethreedifferent rolesasanentrepreneur, researcher andstudent.My , morningstartedwithattendingmy classesandsimultaneously inishingmybreakfastwhile readingindustry-relatednewsand improvingthecompany'sproduct design.Iwouldbrainstorminthe afternoon,gotothelabtoresearch regenerativemedicine anddiscuss , drug-devicecombinationswithmy professor andourscienti ic , advisoryboardfromHarvard,exP izer,UCBerkeley
Iwouldthentalktoinvestorsabout newupdatesandreceivefeedback andmakeasecondroundofedits onmypitchdeck.Iwouldsitin MBAclassesinBiotechnology EntrepreneurshipandBusiness CaseAnalysisat9PM.
Finally,Igettogohometothink backandsummarizeallthatIdid today.Ialways indmyselfsleeping withmyglasseson,withapenand bookinmyhandsinceIbarelyhave timetosleep.Ilearnedhowto becomeagoodbusinessleader frommydadandgrandpa,who wereserialentrepreneurstheir wholelives.Theyhadalargeimpact onmebeingtheentrepreneurthatI amtoday.
What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into healthcare and tech space?
Myinquisitivenatureand imaginationworkedhandinhand withmyloveforscience.Wantingto understandmysister'smedical conditionpushedmetostudy bioengineeringattheUniversityof California,Berkeley,andobtaina
degreeinPublicHealthand Bioengineering.TodayIamaPh.D studentatHarvardMedicalSchool, furtheringmyeducationin BiologicalandBiomedicalSciences. Asastudent,I lourishinthelab studyinggeneeditingand degenerativediseases.Throughout mylabwork,I'venoticedhow peoplenavigatethehealthcare systemandoftencannotaccessthe necessarycare.
What led you to start NovaXS, BioTech Corp.? What was the pain point you wanted to address through this platform?
WhenIwasgrowingup,mysister wasdiagnosedwithachronic conditionrequiringhertomakea one-hourround-triptothenearest hospitaleverydayforthreeyearsto getmultipleshots.
Lookingbackonmychildhood,I re lectonthetimeIspent inding waystosupportmysisterthrough hertreatments.Iamnaturally curious,andIrememberthinkingof waystoimprovesuchanagonizing process.
WhenIrealizedmysisterisnot aloneinthestruggletoaccess qualityhealthcare,Iwantedtouse myexpertiseforgoodandtake action.
Didyouknowthatoneinfour adultsandtwointhreechildren haveaneedlephobiaandthat50% ofmedicationsforchronicdiseases aren'ttakenasprescribed?Mygoal istomakehealthcaretreatments moreaccessible.
Iassembledateamofmy classmates,professors,mentors, andfriendstostartNovaXSBiotech
Corp,asmartmedicaldevice startupbuildingadrugdelivery platformtomakeiteasierfor peopletogetaccesstoquality healthcare.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in your journey as a young Entrepreneur, Investor, and Inventor?
Oneofthebiggestchallengeshas been ightingthestereotypes peoplehaveaboutme.Asayoung femaleentrepreneur,myabilityis oftenquestioned,andIhavetogo aboveandbeyondtoprovethatI deserveaseatatthetable.
ButIremindmyselfthatthese stereotypesarenottrueandare projectionsofothers'insecuritiesin themselves.IacknowledgewhenI ambeingtreatedunfairlyanddo notletitpreventmefromdoingmy bestwork.Iamdetermined,strong, andcapableofdoinganythingIset mymindto.
What does a day in the life of Alina Su look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?
Agoalofmineistohavealonglastingcareerhelpingpeopleaccess qualityhealthcare,soIrealizethe importanceofahealthywork-life balance.Tostartmydayonthe rightfoot,Imeditatewitha peacefulmindandcatchuponthe latestnews.
Creatingaritualformymorning routinesetsmeontherighttrack andkeepsmemotivated.Iamthe mostcreativeintheafternoons, whichIsetasideforcollaboration withmyteam.Sincemyteamisall aroundtheworld,Iusuallyhave meetingswithourpartners
Alina Su Founder & CEO NovaXS BioTech Corp
overseasintheevenings. Afterthosemeetings,myworkday ends,andIgettoindulgeinmy guiltypleasures.Oneofmyfavorite thingstodoafterahecticdayisto readagoodbookandescapefora while.
What would be your advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders in the healthcare space?
Iwouldtellentrepreneursto connectwithothersandprioritize buildingrelationshipswithclients andinvestors.Itrequirestimeand patience,butifyoucancreatelonglastingrelationshipsinthis industry,youwillbeableto ind waystomakeyourbusiness relationshipsmutuallybene icial.
Ialsorecommendenrollingin acceleratorprogramslikemHub MedTechAcceleratorandBerkeley SkyDeck,whichgivebusiness leadersaccesstoresourcesand mentorstohelp ine-tuneproduct development,leadershipstrategies, andmuchmore.
Finally, what does the future look like for NovaXS? What are you most excited about in the coming years?
Onedayourappwillhelppeople withchronicillnessesselfadministertreatmentsandprovide theirdoctors'dataontreatment monitoring.Theappwillconnectto aninjectorthatdoesn'trequire needles.Youjustholdittoyour skin,andpressurepushesthe
medicineintoyourbody.
Moreinjectabletherapiesare lookingformoreeffectiveand convenientdeliverymethodsthat improvethepatientexperience. NovaXSistakingapatient-centric approachtomakeself-injections easyandcenteringourwork aroundremotehealthcare optimization.
Forthemillionsofpeoplewhodeal withchronicconditionslike diabetesorgrowthhormone de icienciesorforhopefulfamilies goingtheIVFroute,Ihopethat NovaXSwillplayaroleinmaking theirliveseasier.
ZZA SABUW
Pune’s Rising Star in Fitness Modeling
SABUW
InthebustlingcityofPune,where traditionmeetsmodernity,Munazza Sabuwalahasemergedasabeaconof inspirationintheworldof itnessmodeling.A contentcreator,professionalmodel,and titleholderofMissHadapsarandMissPune, Munazza'sjourneyisatestamenttopassion, discipline,andauthenticity.
Atjust26yearsold,shehascarvedaunique pathinanindustryoftendominatedby unrealisticstandards,provingthatstrength, con idence,andindividualityarethetrue pillarsofbeauty.
FROM PASSION TO PURPOSE: THE MAKING OF A FITNESS MODEL
Munazza'sloveaffairwithmodelingbeganat theageof18,sparkedbyadeepadmiration forthefashionworldshegrewupwatching. IconslikeGigiHadidandKendallJenner fueledherdreamsofwalkingtheramp,butit wasn'tuntilanopportunityknockedthather journeytrulytook light.“Icouldn'tresistit,” sherecallsofher irstmodelingoffer.What startedasapassionprojectalongsideherjob andstudiesquicklyblossomedintoafull ledgedcareer,withoffersforshoots,ramp walks,andshowstopperappearancespouring in.
Herentryintopageantrycameasanatural extensionofhermodelingpursuits.Winning titleslikeMissHadapsarandMissPunewasn't justaboutthecrown—itwasaboutowning herstory.“Theygavemeaplatformtostep intomypowerandshareitwithothers,”she says.ForMunazza, itnessmodelingand
pageantryaremorethanskindeep—they're aboutexpression,growth,andinspiring otherstofeelseen.
REPRESENTING PUNE: A BLEND OF WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY
Pune'svibrantenergyhasundeniablyshaped Munazza'sapproachtohealth,beauty,and communityengagement.Knownforitsrich culturalheritageandprogressivespirit,the citymirrorsherphilosophyofbalancinginner andouterwellness.“It'snotjustaboutouter appearance,”sheexplains.“It'sabout embracingyourroots,supportinglocal,and showingupauthentically”RepresentingPune hasinstilledinherasenseof responsibility—toberelatable,giveback,and empoweryoungwomento indcon idencein theirownskin,whetheronastageorin everydaylife.
Thisconnectiontoherhometowndrivesher toengagewithhercommunitymeaningfully Throughherwork,sheencouragesothersto celebratetheiruniquenessandpursuetheir goalswithauthenticity,re lectingPune's dynamicspiritineverystepofhercareer
DISCIPLINE OVER MOTIVATION: A FITNESS MANTRA FOR ALL
Whenitcomesto itness,Munazzaswearsby onesimpleyetpowerfulmantra:“Discipline overmotivation.”Shebelievesthatwhile motivationcansparkthejourney,it's disciplinethatsustainsit.“Therewillbedays whenyoudon'tfeellikeworkingoutoreating clean,andthat'sokay,”sheshares.“Butif
you'vebuiltafoundationofdiscipline,you'll stillshowupforyourself.”ForMunazza, progressliesinthesmall,consistent steps—notinchasingperfection.It'satip sheeagerlyshareswithherfansinPune andbeyond,inspiringthemtoprioritize long-termcommitmentover leeting inspiration.
BALANCING ACT: FITNESS AMID MODELING AND PAGEANTRY
Jugglingthedemandsofmodeling,pageant responsibilities,anda9-5jobcould overwhelmanyone,butMunazzathriveson balanceandconsistency.“Idon'tchase perfection—Iaimforbalance,”shesays.Her itnessroutineispracticalandadaptable:a quick30-minutehomeworkout,mindful eating,orsimplyprioritizingrestwhen needed.Listeningtoherbodyiskey—some dayscallformovement,othersforstillness. Duringintenseperiodsofback-to-back shootsorpageantprep, itnessbecomes lessaboutaestheticsandmoreabout buildingstamina,mentalclarity,andinner strength.It'sthisgroundedapproachthat keepshershiningbothonandofftheramp.
OVERCOMING THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE
Likeanyjourney,Munazza'shasn'tbeen withoutitshurdles.Thetoughestchallenge shefacedwassilencingherinnercriticand resistingthetrapofcomparison.“Earlyon, itwaseasytofallintoself-doubt,”she admits.Themodelingworld'sunrealistic standardscouldhavedimmedherspark, butMunazzafoundherstrengthbystaying rootedinher“why.”Forher,modelingand pageantswereneverjustaboutlooks—they wereaboutcelebratingheruniquenessand inspiringothers.“OnceIembracedthat, everythingshifted.”
