A student-developed app aimed at supporting mental health care outside of traditional appointments won the $30,000 top prize in this year’s Mayo Business Plan Competition, according to an announcement on April 14.
The winning project, called Nari, was created by Ansh Kulkarni and Julian Soni. The app is designed to help mental health professionals monitor their patients between clinic visits and suggest interventions when needed. The creators say this addresses a gap in current mental health treatment where there are often long intervals between appointments.
“Mental health care is fragmented,” Kulkarni said during the final presentation held March 25 at Mayo Concert Hall. “It can happen twice a month. But with Nari, opportunities for care extend to every single day.” Soni added, “We learn about problems in public health all the time. But there isn’t always a platform to actually execute solutions. This was a way to take something we’ve learned and build something that can help people.” Both students emphasized that building trust between clinicians and patients is central to improving outcomes: “The relationship directly impacts outcomes,” Soni said. “We want patients to feel like their clinician is always there.” Kulkarni also noted that providers struggle with maintaining continuity of care: “They know they can help their patients, but they don’t always have the ability to stay connected between visits,” he said.
Nari’s name comes from a Japanese word meaning “to become,” reflecting the team’s focus on growth and change in patient-provider relationships. Soni explained its origin: “It comes from a Japanese word meaning ‘to become.’ That idea of growth and change is central to what we’re building.” The app has already started being reviewed by clinicians at institutions such as Mount Sinai Hospital.
Seventeen teams participated in this year’s competition, which concluded with three finalists presenting before an alumni judging panel on March 25. In total, $60,000 was awarded among finalists; second place went to Nomaly—a property management platform—receiving $20,000.
The College of New Jersey hosts the Mayo Business Plan Competition through an endowment established by finance professor emeritus Herbert B. “Buddy” Mayo via the TCNJ Foundation since its founding in 2011. The college offers degree programs across disciplines such as arts, business and engineering according to its official website. It maintains a tree-lined campus spanning 289 acres according to its official website, has earned honors including NCAA championships according to its official website, received recognition from the Council on Undergraduate Research in 2015 according to its official website, earned a Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 2006 according to its official website, and focuses on cultivating critical thinkers and leaders through education according to its official website.
Looking ahead, both Kulkarni and Soni plan further development for Nari based on feedback from practicing clinicians: “We’re excited to keep building this and really understand what it feels like to be in the shoes of a clinician so we can improve how we treat mental health,” Soni said.
