Oct. 7, 2021
Schulich alumni use technology to create health-care social impact
The path to entrepreneurship hasn鈥檛 always been a straight line for and .
The co-founders of NanoTess, a material science startup, have persevered through their share of trials and tribulations since their days at the 草莓污视频导航.
On Oct. 6, 2021, they were rewarded for their efforts by being named co-winners of the 2021 Schulich School of Engineering Alumni Early Achievement Award.
They say appreciation and gratefulness were the first words that came to mind when they were told they had won.
鈥淚t鈥檚 often mentioned that a founder鈥檚 journey can be a lonely one, so it鈥檚 important to surround yourself with champions,鈥 says Leslie, BSc (Eng)鈥15, BComm鈥19. 鈥淭hat is exactly what we have at NanoTess 鈥斕齛 network of supporters and champions who believe in both of our founders and our business.鈥
Drawing on personal experiences
Leslie and Mulia were motivated to make a change in the world after Mulia lost his father to cancer and his mother to a chronic infection.
They created in 2020 in hopes of solving health challenges using nanotechnology, with a focus on treating chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers.
鈥淚t was very difficult not being able to provide the best life-saving care to a loved one living in Mexico,鈥 says Mulia, BSc (Eng)鈥15, MEng鈥19. 鈥淲e quickly appreciated how fortunate we are in Canada with our health-care system.鈥
Not only were they aiming to build a business based on new technology like catalytic nanomedicine, they also wanted to provide social impact.
鈥淥ur focus became to provide affordable life-changing health care so that people don鈥檛 have to choose between drowning in debt or saving a loved one,鈥 Mulia says. 鈥淭o date, we have supported hundreds of families in Mexico to avoid those same impossible decisions.鈥
An opportunity in education
Both Leslie and Mulia look back on their time at 草莓污视频导航 with fondness, viewing it as integral to where they are today.
Leslie holds bachelor鈥檚 degrees in mechanical engineering and finance while Mulia has a bachelor鈥檚 in chemical engineering and a master鈥檚 in software engineering.
Schulich provided the best problem-solving training I could have hoped for as a young engineer. Through the experiences I gained in both course work and extracurricular activities, I was able to develop a foundational tool kit which I have built upon ever since.
- Megan Leslie
For Mulia, coming from a low-income family in Mexico and arriving at Schulich on a full-time scholarship provided him with one thing: an opportunity that changed his life.
鈥淪chulich opened a world of possibilities, from exciting competitions, international internships and extraordinary people who want to change the world positively along the way,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 am really thankful that the school believed in me and put me on the path that has helped shape who I am.鈥
Bright futures ahead
Winning the alumni award also gave the pair an opportunity to look forward.
They say they hope to commercialize the technology behind NanoTess and get it into the hands of the people who need it.
They also hope their story serves as inspiration to current and future students about how unique everyone鈥檚 path is.
鈥淵ou never know what life will throw your way,鈥 Leslie says. 鈥淛ust be open and willing to see it. I鈥檝e learned that each of these opportunities has taught me something and I鈥檓 beyond grateful for my diverse career.鈥
Mulia agrees, adding you have to learn to embrace the pitfalls and failures along the way.
Maybe you graduate in a downturn or a pandemic, but the key is to lift up your eyes when things get tough 鈥斕齛nd they will. It鈥檚 just a matter of focusing on the next 20 steps, even though you don鈥檛 see the summit yet.
Congratulations to the other winners who were announced during the ceremony:
Alumni Leadership Excellence -
Diversity and Equity -
Entrepreneurship - 听
Environment and Sustainability -
Technical Achievement -
Watch the full awards ceremony here: