The Ansary Entrepreneurship Competition has long served as a springboard for innovation, helping Senior Design students turn ambitious projects into thriving ventures. Among the standout winners from the 2024 competition, none have captured the entrepreneurial spirit better than the first-place team, Knee-sy Does It. With their breakthrough knee therapy device, this team of biomedical engineers has proven that even undergraduate projects can transform lives. But what have the winners been up to since their triumph?
Brandon Sems and Margaret Gibson, two Knee-sy Does It team members, have gone all in on entrepreneurship. Their $10,000 Ansary prize and $15,000 Venture Prize from the DEBUT Challenge fueled their transition from student engineers to business founders, funding research and development to refine their prototype into a market-ready device. Their knee therapy device, which automates stretches for patients recovering from knee injuries and surgeries, personalizes treatment plans and tracks progress using integrated sensors and a mobile app, providing critical insights for patients and healthcare providers.
According to Gibson, “Our work is just beginning. We’re committed to making knee rehabilitation more accessible and effective for millions of patients.”
The duo has begun preliminary talks with manufacturers and initiated FDA approval processes, aiming to secure Class I medical device certification. Additionally, they are planning clinical trials to validate the product’s effectiveness and safety. Their ultimate vision is to lease the device to clinics and homes, making high-quality physical therapy affordable and convenient.
While Sems and Gibson have taken an entrepreneurial route, their teammates, Jalen Bailey and Grace Fukazawa, have opted for complementary paths. Bailey has joined a leading biomedical technology firm, leveraging the lessons learned during the Knee-sy Does It project to develop next-generation healthcare solutions. Fukazawa, on the other hand, is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomechanics, focusing on the intersection of rehabilitation technology and patient outcomes.
The team’s success underscores the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship. The team’s advisor, Dr. Jennifer Kang-Mieler, noted, “Their drive to solve real-world problems epitomizes what we aim to instill in our students. Their work is a testament to the potential of biomedical engineering.”
The Ansary Competition provided a platform for Knee-sy Does It and continues to inspire students across disciplines. The 2024 competition was notable for the prominence of healthcare-related devices, with the second-place team tackling tinnitus and the third-place group working on infant medical monitors.
Like their peers, the Knee-sy Does It team exemplifies the potential of student-driven initiatives to influence industries and improve lives. Their journey highlights the enduring impact of the competition, a program designed to equip young innovators with the resources and confidence to succeed. As Knee-sy Does It moves closer to market readiness, the team’s work reflects the competition’s core mission: empowering students to turn bold ideas into meaningful change.
Courtesy of stevens.edu
