The Future Is Now: Rajatesh Gudibande Of GraphWear On How Their Technological Innovation Will Shake Up The Tech Scene

An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis

Keep an open mind. Tech is evergreen. I’ve learned that there can be several solutions to one problem. Today, with a diverse team, I love hearing what ideas my friends and colleagues can bring to the table to continue to make our device better.

As a part of our series about cutting-edge technological breakthroughs, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rajatesh Gudibande.

As Co-Founder and CEO of GraphWear, the first no-blood, no needle solution for glucose monitoring, Rajatesh Gudibande wants to reinvent the way we map human health. Combining his personal experience championing the necessity for access to affordable healthcare solutions, Gudibande graduated from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University with a Bachelor’s in electrical and electronics engineering before obtaining his Master’s degree in nanotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania. Rajatesh is passionate about GraphWear’s pursuit of equalizing healthcare for communities in need, leading the company to recently secure $20.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Mayfield.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

When I was 17, I visited a small, rural college in India. This was the first time I experienced this rural part of India, and I didn’t realize that it was one of India’s hotspots for malaria. As it turned out, the mosquitos loved me, and within the first two weeks, I got cerebral malaria. However, I did not receive that diagnosis until I had severe complications from being misdiagnosed with chickenpox. I experienced the lack of reliable healthcare access firsthand, and it begged the question: why isn’t access to healthcare for all a universal goal for everyone? Through my work with GraphWear, I set out to change this and equalize access to reliable healthcare options for communities across the globe.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Initially, our team was sourcing glucose from sweat, not interstitial fluid or skin molecules directly as we do now. Years ago, After working intensely in the lab with two back-to-back sleepless nights under our belts, our team was trying to solve the problem of how to simplify the way we source glucose through the human body. Before interstitial fluid, we sourced from sweat — which only worked after high-intensity movement. Sleep-deprived and frustrated, our team decided to try something novel. We jumped right into the lab and decided to reconfigure the sensor — something we wouldn’t usually dive into headfirst. We ate a fatty meal and decided to test our blood glucose with this new sensor — and It worked. It was a quick and dirty way to test, but we discovered that our sleep deprivation was helpful in the long run.

Can you tell us about the cutting-edge technological breakthroughs that you are working on? How do you think that will help people?

GraphWear is the first no-blood, no needle solution utilizing technology to sense glucose molecules on the skin. For diabetics specifically, the reality of glucose monitoring is painful and expensive. Keeping this in mind, the technology we’ve created Graphwear is innovative and bias-free, ensuring all patients have access to affordable, pain-free, and life-saving technology. While our initial focus remains on diabetes, our innovations will eventually help billions globally monitor everything from cholesterol and concussions to heart attacks and eventually even cancer risk. This technology can truly change the world’s approach to health management.

How do you think this might change the world?

There are around 450 million diabetics worldwide, and only 150 million currently have access to using the fingerstick meter, the traditional form of glucose monitoring. This method is not only painful and inconvenient but can also cause frequent infections. In the end, many people with diabetes give up on this method altogether. What’s worse is the 250 million who don’t end up monitoring suffer the consequences. Before GraphWear, there has not been a tangible solution found in non-invasive CGMs. We’ve had over 50 years since the inception of CGM technology to better execute this product, and the industry hasn’t done anything about it. The technology has not been adequate. If people were given access to more preventative care options, it would allow them to diagnose certain illnesses at an earlier rate. If anything, what we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, periodic testing is not a realistic solution to bigger problems. The best we can do right now is to be able to manage and monitor the symptoms of certain illnesses so that we prevent the expensive extremes of a condition.

Keeping “Black Mirror” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks of this technology that people should think more deeply about?

Some people shy away from something new that competes with the status quo., especially in the tech field. I’d encourage people to trust that the technology is as good as traditional methods, if not better. Although futuristic and novel, our device has the power to change lives for the better.

Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this breakthrough? Can you tell us that story?

The tipping point was my third malaria diagnosis in India. It was my first exposure to crises in healthcare. I realized that if I was lucky enough to afford treatment, imagine the millions who could not or had limited access. I had access to doctors and medications, but the true missing piece was the absence of labs — I saw that the logistics of healthcare were clunky, and so I set out to make a change.

What do you need to lead this technology to widespread adoption?

As soon as people know they have options, especially diabetics, then there can be widespread adoption of this new technology. People have been locked in ideologically to the traditional and current solutions to glucose monitoring. GraphWear flips the switch. Staying healthy and conscious of your body’s needs does not have to be painful or expensive.

What have you been doing to publicize this idea? Have you been using any innovative marketing strategies?

Right now, we’re in the stage of simply introducing ourselves. I’d encourage anyone interested to check out our website and read into the science behind our device.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Our journey truly took off after I received critical mentorship from my professor during my time at UPenn. I was working in his lab as a research assistant, just on the cusp of beginning GraphWear. He had the courage to ask the right questions and told me not to dwell on imperfection. His entrepreneurial spirit helped me ask the right questions about myself and my work. His attitude and our conversations were instrumental to our success.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Finding an alternative, non-invasive healthcare solution has allowed us to unlock a whole new outlook on what we can do to better people’s health. We’ve programmed our device to track glucose levels, but it doesn’t mean we’ll stop there. We’d like to soon expand our capabilities in order to monitor other chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. Our successes keep motivating us to push the boundaries of our technology and equalize healthcare access around the world.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. Be patient. Timelines can be affected by so many outside factors, and planning for these setbacks before they happen is the best way to remain calm. We’ve had to navigate many challenges and setbacks stemming from the pandemic, and as long as you stay flexible to the best of your ability, you can handle anything life throws at you.
2. Utilize your support system. Don’t be afraid to use the resources at your fingertips; it really does take a village, as the saying goes. GraphWear started out with a mission and personal interest to detect indicators of diseases, but it has evolved into a team of dedicated scientists and researchers, along with the support of our investors, to optimize our capabilities and find success.
3. Create open lines of communication with your employees. As a team leader, it’s crucial to continue to provide stability, particularly in uncertain times like the pandemic. For your team to continue to do their best work, reassurance from managers and senior leaders will only increase morale and boost performance. In the long run, this security enables people to focus on doing the work they love.
4. Have a backup plan. Having an idea, finding a team and running a successful company is by no means a linear process, especially for many CEOs. Before I started, I’d love it if someone were to talk to me about the reality of how agile one must stay to handle the bumps in the road.
5. Keep an open mind. Tech is evergreen. I’ve learned that there can be several solutions to one problem. Today, with a diverse team, I love hearing what ideas my friends and colleagues can bring to the table to continue to make our device better.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I think a so-called movement we should all be following is simply compassion. At the core of GraphWear, what truly drives our technological innovation and our overall progress, is our belief in the power of compassion for humans. Through an idea to help people stay healthy and become educated on their personal health journies, we’re on track to improve the lives of millions. If there are any founders out there looking for inspiration, start by thinking of the good you can do for others.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My parents are my supportive pillars. A tried and true term they used to say that still rings in my mind each day is simply, “never give up.” They reminded me that, if it was hard for me, it could be hard for everyone else, so I strived to be the first to break through and lead the way.

Some very well-known VCs read this column. If you had 60 seconds to make a pitch to a VC, what would you say? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)

At GraphWear, we’re pioneering a truly non-invasive health monitoring device. No needle, no blood, no urine. Now more than ever, we believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. We’d like you to join us on our journey to make it accessible and affordable for all.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

They can check out GraphWear Technologies Inc. on LinkedIn!

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

Thank you!