Annika Lundström, a former Youth Olympic table tennis player from Helsinki, Finland, has always had a passion for pushing limits. Today, she’s using her competitive drive as the CEO at a research-based startup named ReMinded to change the way mental health is understood and treated. With a device that measures cortisol, a key stress hormone, Annika hopes to give doctors a new tool to make mental health care more precise and data-driven.
Now based in the U.S., she recently worked through the Sullivan Family Ideator Program, at the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Center for Innovation. Her project—a device that measures cortisol levels through a simple saliva test—aims to offer quick, reliable data for mental health assessments.
From Athlete to Innovator
Annika’s path from table tennis champion to healthcare innovator began with her own experiences managing stress. Competing at the Youth Olympic level, she saw how stress impacts both body and mind, and she wanted to address these challenges on a larger scale. Transitioning to molecular biosciences, Annika envisioned a tool that would bring objective data into mental health care, addressing the current reliance on subjective assessments alone. Her device offers a new approach by providing concrete, data-backed insights into a person’s stress levels.
The Power of Mentorship and a Dedicated Team:
After relocating to the U.S., Annika was introduced to the Sullivan Family Ideator program through her mentor, Woody Bibb, Strategic Advisor, who recognized her project’s potential.
"Coming from a very heavy scientific background, this program really opened up my perspective,” said Annika. “Going into real environments, talking with people, getting their feedback on what we're doing and how it can become beneficial for them."
To fully understand her needs, Woody joined Annika in the Sullivan Family Ideator program, supporting her at every step. "For me to be a better mentor, I felt that I needed to go through the programming with her so that I could learn the language that was being taught", Woody said.
His insight into US healthcare markets helped Annika navigate the challenges of building a solution that could work in real-world settings. Annika’s team includes her chief scientific officer, who developed the biosensor technology, her chief scientific officer, Sanjida Yeasmin, an engineer, Chief Technology Officer, Adil Shah, a mechanical engineer, and Kien Nguyen, a technical advisor with over 30 years in healthcare. This group has worked with Annika to refine the device and prepare it for a successful launch.
What’s Next: Scaling Up for Broader Impact
Thanks to the support from the Sullivan Family Ideator program and her team, Annika prepared a compelling pitch that showcased her device’s potential impact. The venture’s $500,000 investment round, led by Kodori Ventures, will be a crucial step forward, providing ReMinded with the resources to develop the technology, pursue FDA approval, and establish partnerships with healthcare providers. With this investment, Annika and her team are ready to bring their technology closer to patients in 2025. To join the waiting list for this venture, you can click here.