CEO LEADERSHIP SERIES: HOW FLEXIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY GOT THIS STARTUP THROUGH TOUGH TIMES (Ashton Tweed)
Falling and breaking a hip is a perpetual fear for older people and their families. A hip fracture can result in the loss of mobility and independence and lead to complications that can be fatal. Wamis Singhatat wants to prevent hip fractures from happening in the first place.
Mr. Singhatat is the CEO of ActiveProtective Technologies Inc., a start-up company based in Fort Washington, Pa., that is developing a wearable device to protect the hips of older adults in the event of a fall. Called Tango Belt, the device combines a wearable inflatable airbag with smart technology that monitors behavior and alerts caregivers to reduce traumatic injuries.
In 2019, Tango Belt received the kind of attention founders dream about when the product won the Extreme Tech Challenge, a global competition for startups sponsored by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson. But then the COVID-19 pandemic derailed ActiveProtective’s plans to pilot the device in skilled nursing facilities.
Mr. Singhatat was appointed interim CEO in October 2020 and CEO a year later. In an interview with Ashton Tweed...
