Nine WashU student-lead ventures are finalists set to compete for $22,500 in awards in the 2020 Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC) later this month. This week, we are publishing Q&A articles to feature each venture team. Today’s featured team is EpiSurveil.

About EpiSurveil

EpiSurveil is developing a nocturnal seizure detection system.

Industry: Medical Device/ Biotechnology/ Artificial Intelligence

Number of Employees: 4

Total Funding (as of March 2020): $2,000

What problem are you solving?

Inaccurate nocturnal seizure detection methods that led to sudden death in epilepsy.

About the Founding Team

Ben Davidorf is a 20-year-old Biomedical Engineering major and Healthcare Management minor from Los Angeles, CA. He enjoys playing basketball, guitar, skiing, and snowboarding.

Instagram: @bendavidorf

Facebook: Ben Davidorf

LinkedIn: Ben Davidorf

Toshihiro Kosins is 22 years old with a BA in Physics and minor in Mathematics. He is currently majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Electrical Engineering. He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and his hobbies include soccer, hiking, reading, and traveling.

Instagram: @mistahammahtoshi

Facebook: Toshi Kosins

LinkedIn: Marcus Toshihiro Kosins

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your venture?

In many forms, working with a smaller team is more productive.

What do you love about being an entrepreneur?

I love the creativity involved in overcoming an obstacle, and the subsequent excitement once you’ve overcome that obstacle.

What words of advice do you have for those interested in starting a business?

Whether it’s a small project, a skill you want to pick up, a mere thought of an intervention you have, or a business you want to start, just start it and it will take you farther than you would’ve imagined.