Honors Student’s Startup Helps Physical Therapy Patients

Farquhar Honors College student Varun Kota has developed a startup to help improve the recovery prospects of physical therapy patients. The startup, called SMART MS3, aims to make the physical therapy process more efficient by providing direct and timely feedback between patients and their physical therapists.

SMART MS3 was conceived by Kota, a junior biology major, and his cofounder after conducting interviews and research that illuminated the widespread dissatisfaction among physical therapy patients with their long and uncertain recovery processes. The startup aims to minimize these recovery times by using an electromyography (EMG) sensor that measures muscle activity as patients complete their at-home exercises and a software app that sends this data directly to their physical therapists who can review their progress and tailor their exercise regimen accordingly.

Kota, involved with the coding of the app, is currently working with his co-founder, a graphic designer, and a team of engineers to optimize the device and app before it’s released.

“I have learned a ton through this process and [my] mistakes,” Kota said. “I now have an intimate understanding of the medical app framework, how apps are developed, time management, leadership skills, and public speaking. Initially, I really didn’t know how much I would learn from making a startup, but it has been an enlightening journey so far. I hope that I will continue to learn and improve myself as SMART MS3 continues to grow!”

Posted 12/12/21