Julia Kao-Sowa

How are you innovating to advance preventive medicine?

Pediatric surgery patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) face post-op complications that cause organ damage, longer stays, and the onset of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome (LCOS), a dangerous condition. LCOS diagnosis is too slow and unreliable, stealing young lives before we can react.

We are developing a Continuous Lactate Monitoring wearable to ensure lactate levels are measured in real-time, with data readily available to clinicians. This innovative lactate measurement can also be used in emergency rooms to monitor sepsis and vascular surgery patients. For providers, it can reduce ICU stays and lower costs.

How has Emergence contributed to your work?

The Emergence Accelerator was an incredible experience for me and my team. It pushed us to think more deeply about the future of our venture and equipped us with tools and connections that will support our success. The program is also filled with inspiring people who create a truly special and supportive community.  

How did coaches, industry and investor collaborators impact your success?

Emergence helped me expand my horizons to many aspects of innovation and start-ups that I had not known before, pushed me to learn beyond my comfort zone, and introduced me to a really inspiring group of peers and mentors. I found the troubleshooting discussions really helpful, as it was nice to see how other people approached challenges that we were going through as well. 

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