Health Innovation Takes Center Stage at Babson’s First Health Pitch
At Babson’s inaugural Health Pitch competition, brothers Jackson Kuja ’25 of Babson College and Ben Kuja of Brandeis University took first place for their innovative mobile app, Off Days, designed to enhance muscle strength through visualization techniques.
“The idea started when I came across research on social media suggesting that visualizing a muscle group could actually increase its strength,” said Jackson Kuja, also a Butler Institute for Free Enterprise Through Entrepreneurship student scholar. “I reached out to Ben, my brother, to explore the psychology behind it, and we realized this could be something worth developing. Fortunately, I’m taking a mobile app development class right now, which gave me the skills to turn this concept into a real product.”
Ideal for athletes, individuals in recovery, or those without gym access, Off Days offers a unique approach to fitness and recovery by helping users combat inactivity-induced muscle atrophy. The app enhances strength and mobility during rest periods by allowing users to set personalized goals, target specific muscle groups, and access guided visualization sessions using the science of mental focus.
“This competition gave us the perfect opportunity to bring it to life,” Jackson Kuja said, “and we’re excited to see where it goes from here.”
Healthcare Collaboration
The Kuja brothers earned $2,000 for winning the Health Pitch competition, which empowers students to address pressing challenges in healthcare through entrepreneurial thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The inaugural event was held during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Organized by the Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship (KMH), the Hoffman Family Undergraduate Center for Career Development, and the Healthcare and Biotech Club, with support from the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship and the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the competition exemplified the One Babson spirit. It brought together diverse resources to inspire creative solutions and showcase Babson’s commitment to advancing healthcare innovation.
“The first Health Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition was a testament to the hard work and collaboration between our students, staff, alums, extended community, and faculty. It was also a significant example of student-led collaboration,” said Wiljeana Glover, research director of the KMH Center and the Stephen C. and Carmella R. Kletjian Foundation Distinguished Professor of Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship. “We hope to continue our commitment to achieving health and economic value as the KMH Center celebrates its five-year anniversary.”
The Inspiration Behind Health Pitch
The Health Pitch competition came to fruition with the vision and leadership of Jerry Gao ’25, president of the Babson Healthcare and Biotech Club. Inspired by his experience as an EMT during COVID-19, Gao saw firsthand the inefficiencies in healthcare systems and believed that business students like him could help create change.
“When I was a sophomore who assumed the presidency of Babson’s Healthcare and Biotech Club, I engaged with many student entrepreneurs in the healthcare space,” Gao said. “Simultaneously, I saw that many of my peers were going to pitch competitions at other schools, and I thought, ‘Why not host one at Babson?’ As a school centered around entrepreneurship, we have the talent and capabilities to host an event like this, inspiring students to think about how they could contribute to bringing the world to a better place through healthcare innovation.”
And Gao’s leadership was pivotal in every aspect, from securing key partnerships to personally inviting new Babson Provost Ariel C. Armony to attend and speak. This marked the provost’s first student event at Babson, making it a significant moment in his introduction to the community.
“This could not have been a better introduction to Babson,” said Armony, also the executive vice president at the College. “This is extraordinary. This is a fantastic example of Babson’s mission to educate entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities everywhere.”
Looking ahead, Gao hopes the success of the inaugural Health Pitch will pave the way for a deeper presence of healthcare innovation at Babson.
“This is a fantastic example of Babson’s mission to educate entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities everywhere.”
Ariel C. Armony, Babson provost and executive vice president
Meet the Other Top Ventures
The competition drew 24 initial entries, which Gao and his team narrowed down to six finalists. Teams pitched ideas ranging from mental health apps to sustainable menstrual products, all vying for the top spot. Finalists faced tough questions from a professional panel, adding rigor to the experience.
Second Place
HerWell ($1,000)—A women’s health app offering telehealth consultations, peer support networks, and a marketplace for reproductive health products. Team members: Caroline Huo ’24, Kunru Li ’24, Sofia Caffer ’26, and Lea Altshoul ’24.
Third Place
BanaPads ($500)—Affordable, biodegradable menstrual pads made from banana fibers with a “Buy One, Help One” model to support women in rural areas. Team members: Ayushman Rai ’27 and Raheel Shah ’26
Other Finalists
- AldaLife—Justin Jin ’27 and Will Schulhof ’28
- The Well Street—Exchange students Mandie Cao, Xiaoyin Zhang, and Xianrui Zhou
- AllMobile—Bertrand Aristide Inshuti ’27 and Jasper Pope ’27
Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership
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