More than 50 innovators from across the region applied to the Age Tech Big Idea Pitch Contest – a funding contest to promote businesses that improve the lives of older adults. After a rigorous review by industry experts, five founders earned their place in the spotlight to compete at the 2025 Age Tech Big Idea Contest Finale, and one was crowned the first-place winner.
Max Justice Founder of Setas Eternal Living (Franklin County). Max won both the $25,000 Grand Prize Judges’ Award and the $2,500 People’s Choice Award for his biodegradable, carbon-negative mycelium-based coffin, designed to offer a regenerative alternative to traditional burial and cremation practices.
After sweeping both honors, Max was pleasantly surprised stating “I wasn’t really expecting to win the People’s Choice Award, so it means a great deal. It was gonna go forward whether I won or not, but I’ve had two great coaches, Joe (Hackett) and Julie (Bratton), and a great relationship with Ben Franklin Tech Partners.”
Second place and a 10,000 Judges’ Award went to Robert Duschl, Founder of Nomo Innovations (Lancaster County), for their night light with a high-tech twist. The smart night light connects to Wi-Fi and sends alert texts if no motion is detected during key watch periods, offering peace of mind for families.
The May 15th finale was hosted virtually by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin CNP), an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). John Sider, Vice President of Business Development at Ben Franklin CNP, served as Emcee and framed the contest within Pennsylvania’s growing senior population. “Age Tech is not only a growing market opportunity—it’s a moral imperative in rural and aging regions like ours,” Sider said. “We’re proud to support visionary entrepreneurs who are building scalable solutions to improve life for older adults.”
Each finalist brought forward a powerful solution aimed at helping our senior population age safely, independently, and in the best health. What made each innovation unique wasn’t just their intellectual property, it was the purpose driven origin story each founder had that sparked their business ideas.
After weeks of preparation to refine their pitches, finalists were given an opportunity to describe their innovation to a panel of judges and 79 attendees.
The distinguished judging panel included:
- Dr. Eunice Yang, CEO of Okay2StandUp
- Jennifer Gilburg, Deputy Secretary of Technology & Innovation, DCED
- Jim Fetzner, President & CEO, Long Term Care & Medicaid Innovations
- Dr. Marty Sliwinski, Director, Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State
“This is just super exciting,” said Dr. Marty Sliwinski. “It’s always great to see innovative thinkers bring ideas into practical application and scale them up.”
Jennifer Gilburg added, “It was powerful to see such a wide range of solutions — our top two winners tackled entirely different problems, and that diversity is exactly what the Age Tech market needs.”
Jim Fetzner concluded, “Great ideas don’t create themselves — it takes vision and real work. You all brought that today.”
Dr. Nicole Osevala, Division Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Penn State Health, served as the event’s featured speaker. Her keynote addressed the growing healthcare needs of aging Pennsylvanians and the urgent innovation gaps in dementia care, rural services, and independence-supporting technologies.
The contest also featured strong pitches from three other finalists who were encouraged by judge, Dr. Eunice Yang as she reminded them, “Don’t think if you didn’t win that it’s the end of the world. It’s only the beginning.” Those finalists are:
- Sara Peterson (Mercer County) – OP Clinical Innovations OP Clinical Innovations (OPCI) is a clinician-led manufacturer of custom orthotic and prosthetic devices, designed with care and precision to meet the needs of every patient to move independently.
- Kevin Mekulu (Centre County) – Dementi Analytics Using AI-powered, speech-based assessments, Dementi Analytics offers a groundbreaking mobile app for the early detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Michael McShane (Centre County) – LION Mobile Clinic by Tailgate Health Ventures Taking healthcare to the people, Tailgate Health Ventures delivers high-quality medical services directly to communities through an innovative “tailgate” model—meeting people where they are.
The Age Tech Big Idea Contest is more than a competition — it’s a platform for founders who are designing a better, more dignified future for older adults. By supporting entrepreneurship in this growing space, Ben Franklin CNP is investing in innovation that improves lives and strengthens Pennsylvania’s economy.
The contest was produced by Cathy Von Birgelen, Director of the Ben Franklin Learning Center. “This initiative reflects Ben Franklin’s broader mission to identify, launch, and grow early-stage technology companies across the region.”
To meet the finalists and learn more about their inventions and inspiration, visit our YouTube channel.
