{"id":207557,"date":"2023-05-22T14:12:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T14:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.engr.uconn.edu\/?p=30707"},"modified":"2024-04-04T03:04:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T07:04:39","slug":"alumnus-startup-helps-prevent-falls-associated-with-toileting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2023\/05\/alumnus-startup-helps-prevent-falls-associated-with-toileting\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Design Project Becomes Budding Business for Bronen ’20"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Olivia Drake, Written Communications Specialist
\nPhotos by Christopher LaRosa, Media Producer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeremy Bronen \u201920 (ENG) knows firsthand the struggles of living with discomfort. For the past decade, the 26-year-old, who majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Connecticut, has suffered from chronic back pain after sustaining three separate injuries, which for brief periods of time, had rendered him unable to walk.<\/p>\n

Bronen, like 11.1% percent of adults in the United States with mobility issues<\/a>, makes adjustments to his lifestyle by altering his standing, sitting, and sleeping positions for comfort. But when nature calls, toileting can be among the most agonizing struggles of daily living.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen pain is associated with going to the bathroom, it\u2019s not just hard on you physically, but emotionally,\u201d Bronen said.<\/p>\n

Bronen is hoping to alleviate the pain and exertion of bathroom breaks with his invention, the SedMed Toilet Lift Assist. The ergonomically designed tool helps older adults and those with physical disabilities get a lift on and off the latrine.<\/p>\n

The Toilet Lift Assist is the first product to be launched by Bronen\u2019s Woodbridge, Connecticut-based startup company\u2014SedMed Inc. Bronen founded the business while a senior at UConn and he made his first sale this May.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is that the Toilet Lift Assist not only alleviates physical discomfort but also empowers individuals with disabilities and older adults to reclaim their independence in the bathroom,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A BUDDING ENGINEER AND ENTREPRENEUR
\n<\/strong>Bronen developed an interest in engineering early on, with a subtle push of parental encouragement. In his hometown of Woodbridge, Bronen and his father would devote their leisure time to creating, crafting, and constructing multiple mechanical projects in the family\u2019s workshop. Together, the father-son duo manufactured a wooden chariot, a lap desk, and an oversized wooden Swiss watch, among other projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cherish those memories of building and fixing things with my dad,\u201d Bronen said. \u201cI was always fascinated with the creativity and innovation of new things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bronen found more innovation inspiration exploring new products on the global crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. He developed a fascination with start-up businesses, and this led to an internship\u2014the first of many\u2014at the Yale School of Medicine. There, he 3D printed patient brains with intracranial electrodes for epilepsy surgery planning.<\/p>\n

So, when it came time to apply for colleges, Bronen was immediately drawn to UConn\u2019s School of Engineering<\/a>. \u201cAll things pointed me to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Jeremy<\/a>
Jeremy Bronen ’20 visited his alma mater in April.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP
\n<\/strong>Three years into his studies at UConn, and knowing he had a knack for both engineering and entrepreneurship, Bronen reached out to Jennifer Mathieu, executive director of Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation<\/a> (CCEI). CCEI, a center within the UConn School of Business, offers business model coaching, training, financial support, and a summer fellowship to help students launch their entrepreneurial ventures.<\/p>\n

Mathieu suggested he attend CCEI\u2019s Get Seeded program<\/a> as a guest judge, and that is where Bronen met graduate student Timothy Krupski \u201915 (ENG), MBA ’21, MENG \u201921. At the time, Krupski was hoping to find a solution to help his wheelchair-bound and close family friend \u201cGrandma Grace\u201d with bathroom independence. Following a recent stroke, Grace was struggling to use the toilet without assistance from family and friends.<\/p>\n

At Get Seeded, Krupski\u2014who was pursing his master’s in business administration and master’s in engineering at the time\u2014was hoping to sponsor a Senior Design Project with the expectation of creating a product that could help Grace and others suffering from similar tasks of daily living. The Center for Disease Control reports<\/a> that almost 15 percent of all bathroom injuries occur while using the toilet, and for people over the age of 85\u2014toilet slips and falls account for 50 percent of all injuries.<\/p>\n

Bronen was up for the challenge and the duo became not only senior design teammates but business partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were two characteristics I identified in Jeremy that I knew could set a course for a future partnership in our entrepreneurial journeys,\u201d Krupski said. \u201cFirst, Jeremy is resilient! He has a \u2018never say never\u2019 attitude which, combined with a strong work ethic, made him a valuable asset as a student and even better business partner. Second, Jeremy remains humble in his approach, he can accept constructive criticism while firmly advocating for his beliefs on propelling the business to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bronen and Krupski took full advantage of what the CCEI had to offer. Bronen first led his Senior Design<\/a> team through CCEI\u2019s Accelerate UConn program<\/a> (UConn\u2019s NSF I-Corps site) to conduct customer discovery. The team was then selected in a competitive pool of candidates for the CCEI\u2019s Summer Fellowship Program<\/a> (UConn\u2019s startup accelerator) in 2020. And ultimately, the toilet lift assist team was selected in the top five to participate in the Wolff New Venture Competition<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The programs provided the team with a solid business acumen needed to launch a startup while allowing Bronen and Krupski to solidify their partnership. As a result, SedMed was born.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still remember the first meeting I had with Jeremy and how impressed I was with his maturity and thoughtfulness,\u201d Mathieu said. \u201cI have helped to launch and grow more than 500 startup teams and small business ventures over the last six years. Jeremy stands out at one of the very best entrepreneurs that I have had the privilege to support. He has always been incredibly coachable, curious about how things work, passionate, and willing to take risks. I am so proud of all he has accomplished with SedMed and I am grateful to be a mentor to support him throughout his entrepreneurial journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"sed<\/a>PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
\n<\/strong>After only one year of development, Bronen and advisor Krupski debuted their electric toilet lift prototype at UConn\u2019s Senior Design Demonstration Day in 2020. Although he presented virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project took third place, which left Bronen encouraged and eager to do more.<\/p>\n

For the next three years, he incessantly morphed the lift assist to meet the needs of his future clients.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went through the wringer of changing the product based on customer discovery. We\u2019d take the product to stakeholders, investors, manufactures, and ask, \u2018What do you think?\u2019 We did that 1,000 times, and I swear by that. It\u2019s so important to keep your ear close to the ground and feel out what other people are thinking,\u201d Bronen said.<\/p>\n

Initially, Bronen engineered an electrical lift, but discovered the wire could become a tripping hazard. He explored alternative powering methods, and ultimately chose to use gas springs as a mechanism for lowering and lifting.<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s the only non-electric toilet lift on the market that mounts onto a toilet and provides effective help for anyone weighing between 70 and 275 pounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no battery, there\u2019s no motor. The gas springs are like something you\u2019d see in a car trunk or screen door that lets you slowly lower, or slowly close,\u201d Bronen explained. \u201cIt\u2019s designed to lift 80 percent of your body weight and take the work out of it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to altering the powering device, Bronen spent countless hours scrutinizing every component on the lift assist and asking experts how he could make parts more natural feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much I didn\u2019t know. For instance, while it\u2019s easy to run my finger across most surfaces without any problem, older adults have fragile skin that can tear easily. Things like that needed to be taken into consideration,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery small detail has been methodically and exhaustively looked over. I\u2019m constantly asking myself, \u2018how can I make it safe, comfortable, and ergonomic as possible?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The project recently caught the attention of Associate Dean Daniel Burkey, Castleman Term Professor in Engineering Innovation, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a dean, I\u2019m very proud to hear that Jeremy\u2019s business, which he started as a student, is taking off,\u201d Burkey said. \u201cHis entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to improving lives exemplify the transformative power of engineering innovation. His efforts will resonate far beyond the realms of mobility and healthcare, inspiring us all to pursue empathy-driven solutions that make a profound difference in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

HELPING THE HELPERS
\n<\/strong>While the lift assist can help individuals reduce the risk of falls and injuries inside their own homes, Bronen hopes hospice and health care workers\u2014who help patients get on and off the toilet\u2014also will benefit from the product. The lift assist can prevent workers from obtaining serious injuries on the job, which may lead to workers compensation claims, lost labor, and institutional liability, Bronen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealth care workers and health care institutions are also at the forefront of our vision of a safer, easier work environment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"senior<\/a>
Jeremy Bronen ’20, pictured in center, is sponsoring a team of undergraduates designing a “smart toilet.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

GIVING BACK TO THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
\n<\/strong>Three years have passed since Bronen and his sponsor Krupski debuted their initial toilet lift during UConn\u2019s Senior Design Demonstration Day.<\/p>\n

And on April 28, Bronen returned to the Gampel Pavilion sponsoring his own team of undergraduates.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a sponsor is a good way to pay it forward,\u201d said Bronen, who\u2019s advising four students majoring in mechanical engineering (ME) and computer science and engineering (CSE). The team is designing a \u201csmart toilet,\u201d a tool that tracks the frequency of usage on the toilet and reports any falls to 9-1-1.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made good progress so far, and it\u2019s been a fun project. We\u2019re getting a good jump on product development,\u201d Bronen said.<\/p>\n

LOOKING FORWARD
\n<\/strong>Two-and-a-half years after starting their SedMed partnership, Krupski decided to part ways with the business. The new father handed the full reigns over to Bronen last January, and has been busy raising his now 7-month-old son.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I claim [my son] is my greatest invention to date,” Krupski said. “His arrival shifted my priorities and I wanted to make sure I was spending as much time with my family as possible, which for an entrepreneur is a difficult thing to do. In addition, I had no doubt Jeremy would fill my departure with the people who can take SedMed to the next stages. He certainly succeeded in that goal and I am proudly cheering from the sidelines.”<\/div>\n

Now that SedMed is awaiting a shipment of 250 products and making his first sales, Bronen\u2019s goal is to grow the business’s team. He recently hired an engineer is and presently seeking a sales manager and other team members. This summer, Bronen hopes to recruit a UConn student to fulfill the role of SedMed\u2019s first marketing intern and continue networking with like-minded engineers and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

Connecticut Small Business Development Center and CTSBDC Business Advisor Denise Whitford helped SedMed to secure over\u00a0$1 million\u00a0in funding, including\u00a0$931,000\u00a0raised in a seed round, led by Connecticut Innovations, along with an additional\u00a0$115,000\u00a0in grant funding from organizations like CTNext, FORGE, the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, UConn IQ, and the UConn School of Engineering.<\/p>\n

The product is available for $1,199 or $899 for preorders. For more information, email SedMed<\/a>, visit SedMed’s website<\/a>, or follow SedMed on LinkedIn<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, we\u2019re slowing extending our reach, but our long-term vision is for SedMed to become a [brand] standard for people who struggle with daily living.\u201d<\/p>\n

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