Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Chen.
Debbie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My background is in Biomedical Engineering. I have a B.S. in Bioengineering from UCSD and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Tufts University. I’ve spent most of my science career developing optical imaging technologies and have a wide breadth of experience on many different projects from diabetic neuropathy to plankton imaging to drug discovery.
A couple of years ago, I decided that I wanted to learn how to fight because I was fed up with being so conflict-averse my entire life. I started training Muay Thai, and that has made me not only the most physically strong but also the most mentally strong I’ve ever been. In July 2018, I decided that I wanted to quit my job and pursue Hydrostasis full-time, partly due to the fact that I wanted to make a bigger impact on the world, and partly because I needed more flexibility for my young family. It has been a little over seven months, and I’m having an absolute blast.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been smooth. As a scientist with no business experience, I had to really learn everything from the ground up. I didn’t understand a lot of the startup jargon and talking to investors was incredibly daunting.
Thankfully, I have a great network of mentors that I’ve met through the Hera Labs and Ad Astra Accelerator programs. Through those programs, I learned how to pitch, I learned how to step into my strengths as a founder, and I learned how to just relax and be myself.
As a scientist, I’m always looking for the exact answer and with startups, there sometimes isn’t a right answer. It’s just what works right now, in the time frame, the resources, and information you have. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is to just to trust my gut instincts.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hydrostasis – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Hydrostasis provides real-time hydration monitoring systems for coaches and athletes. We are initially targeting Collegiate Sports teams because the need for data-driven technologies for performance edge as well as risk-management is very front-of-mind these days.
We are super excited to be working on a pilot program with the University of San Diego to validate our product. We are known for our science-based, impact-driven brand. We provide a personalized optimal hydration range for each individual athlete and can notify them before dehydration or over-hydration symptoms arise. What I’m most proud of is that we provide a simple solution to a very complex problem. We are very focused and very customer driven.
What really sets us apart is our ability to translate our technology into Healthcare. We believe that hydration monitoring should be a standard of care because it is so fundamental to human health. We are laying the groundwork for a 510k FDA approval and are aiming to target Hospitals, as well as out-patient populations in Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Chronic Kidney Disease.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
I love being in San Diego. I moved here for my undergraduate studies at UCSD and fell in love with how relaxed the city is, yet there is a buzz of passionate people doing amazing things, while still enjoying their life outside of work. I moved to Boston for graduate school and loved living in Boston, but when it came to deciding where I and my family would like to settle down, we chose San Diego.
I love that San Diegans value spending time outside, enjoying the weather, relaxing on the beach as well as lifting each other up as a city. I’ve found an incredibly supportive network in the San Diego startup community.
I really honestly don’t have much to complain about the city. Maybe the fact that nobody knows how to drive when we get some rain? Personally, I love the rain, but the traffic is pretty terrible every time it rains.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hydrostasis.com
- Email: dchen@hydrostasis.com
- Instagram: @hydrostasis_monitoring
- Facebook: @hydrostasis
- Twitter: @hydrostasis
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