Pioneering Pulse: HKUST Entrepreneur Trio Revolutionizes Contactless Health Monitoring

Standing at the intersection of technology and healthcare, the three visionary HKUST alumni—Dr. Kyle WONG, Dr. Nick CHIN, and Teric CHAN—never underestimates the power of their school-day dreams to safeguard the health of their fellow citizens. With unwavering dedication and innovative spirit, they have poured their hearts and souls into their inventions over the past five years, ultimately giving rise to the world’s first mobile app for contactless pulse rate measurement cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2024. That same year, Kyle and Teric were named on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the healthcare and science category, gaining global recognition as rising entrepreneurs.

For the trio, the past journey has not only yielded a pioneering app but also facilitated profound personal growth. They have evolved from postgraduate students focused on theories and research into co-founders of their own health tech start-up, PanopticAI, eyeing an ambitious goal—harnessing the immense potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to usher in a new era of remote health monitoring.

A Quick Scan to the Future of Healthcare

The groundbreaking app, leveraging PanopticAI’s Vitals Software Development Kit (SDK), offers a sneak peek into the future of personal healthcare, one that can truly break geographical boundaries. Using remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) technology, the app can analyze subtle changes in skin color captured by the smartphone camera to measure a range of vital signs in just 30 seconds¬—from heart rate and breathing rate to blood pressure and even stress levels. “This innovative approach eliminates the need for bulky equipment or physical contact, making health monitoring more accessible than ever before. The technology has been validated side-by-side against contact-based medical-grade devices, demonstrating comparable accuracy across various metrics,” said Kyle, CEO of PanopticAI.

Hailing from different fields within the HKUST Engineering School, the three co-founders pool their expertise gained from postgraduate studies in bioengineering, industrial engineering, and decision analytics, areas that the University has established a strong global presence.

“When conducting research, we realized that even the best innovations would remain in the shadows if we confined ourselves to the lab,” Kyle recalled, reflecting on the pivotal moment in 2020 when they decided to take the plunge and start their own business in partnership with Professor Richard SO, Associate Dean of the Engineering School.

The path to success was fraught with challenges, particularly as the global economy was battered by the Covid-19 pandemic at that time. The team then leveraged their expertise in AI and bioengineering to roll out body temperature screening technology, receiving positive responses from government organizations and companies. The pandemic highlighted the critical need for accessible and remote health monitoring solutions. This insight spurred the team to shift their focus to a more scalable solution, leading to the launch of the PanopticAI Vitals SDK two years later. “Building on our initial success, we focused on addressing the gap in accessible health monitoring by leveraging the power of everyday technology,” Kyle said.

Distinct Roles, Shared Vision

With bright smiles and sparkling eyes, Kyle exudes the charm of an entrepreneur, contrasting with the quieter demeanor of his co-founders. Teric occasionally chimes in to explain the system’s mechanisms, while Nick adeptly demonstrates the technology. Their roles are clearly defined: Kyle spearheads marketing and business development, Teric oversees product innovation, and Nick leads the technical aspects as the Chief Technology Officer.

“From day one we decided to start the business, we knew everyone would need a distinct role to address the diverse aspects of running a company,” Kyle remarked. “I embraced business development with my extroverted nature. Although it was a new role for me, my deep understanding of the underlying technologies proved invaluable when communicating with investors and clients.” He proudly showcased a customer portfolio that includes hospitals, non-governmental organizations, insurance companies, and large corporations. In recent years, PanopticAI has also secured funding from Gobi Partners GBA, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, and HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund.

On the other hand, Teric and Nick primarily work in the lab, modifying the product based on client feedback. “One of our key missions is to ensure the accuracy of our analyses,” Teric noted. “We had to explore various algorithms and meticulously examine each part of the app, from capturing images through the camera to analyzing skin colors and generating results,” he elaborated.

Reflecting on their challenges, the team paused in contemplation. “It was 2022 when we were deep in preparation for the product launch,” Nick recounted, breaking the silence. “We conducted testing day and night to ensure system stability. The stress was immense, but we made it together.”

Friendship Beyond Home Country

Having spent over 10 years in Hong Kong, Nick, originally from Malaysia, completed his bachelor’s through PhD degrees at HKUST. He decided to stay behind for his career after graduation. “I have formed valuable friendships with like-minded individuals at the University,” he expressed, turning to his business partners. “Also, the vibrant start-up ecosystem and abundant resources, such as the entrepreneurship fund and industry networks, have greatly supported our endeavors.”

So, what’s next after a fruitful year? “We aim to enhance the accuracy of contactless blood pressure measurement techniques to tackle the pressing issue of hypertension in Hong Kong and globally,” Kyle stated. Teric added, “It will require broad expertise in physics and mathematics, but we are confident in our team.” Nick glanced at his peers, nodding with a reassuring smile.

Whatever obstacles may lie ahead, the tightly bonded trio will stride toward their shared goal, driven by determination and genuine friendship. These young entrepreneurs are not just chasing their dreams; they are making a lasting impact on human well-being, transforming the landscape of healthcare with every step they take.