A growing frustration with service providers and an IDEA Bank student competition spurred Troy University student Vamsi Jupudi to launch a business that is now one of just three businesses competing for as much as $100,000 in funding with Alabama Launchpad.
A Masters of Computer Science student and former IBM staffer from Tirupati, India, Jupudi found a way to apply artificial intelligence to the mental healthcare delivery field.
“The spark for Cognera Health came from my personal experience with accessing mental health resources. Like many people, I encountered significant barriers – long wait times for appointments, limited support between sessions, and a fragmented care system that was difficult to navigate. This firsthand experience illuminated the critical gaps in mental healthcare delivery that many face daily,” he said.
“Through my background in technology and AI, I had a crucial realization: there was enormous potential for advanced AI to transform the mental healthcare field. I saw that by applying cutting-edge AI technology to mental healthcare, we could create intelligent systems that provide continuous support, personalize care, and help practitioners deliver more effective treatment,” he said.
Jupudi reached out to fellow TROY alumnus Jaydeep Patel, who has a Masters in Clinical Mental Health from TROY and experience as a juvenile court liaison. Patel’s clinical expertise validated Jupudi’s concept and confirmed that an AI-driven approach could address real gaps in the current system and potentially revolutionize mental healthcare delivery.
“This validation of harnessing advanced AI for mental healthcare became the foundation of Cognera Health,” Jupudi said. “By combining my technology background with Jaydeep’s clinical expertise and later bringing in John Budala’s healthcare IT experience, we formulated our concept of collaborative intelligence – a system where AI and human expertise work together to deliver comprehensive mental healthcare.”
Budala, who serves as Cognera Health’s president, has more than 30 years of IT experience, and, more specifically, 15 years as a healthcare technology executive.
While the trio had a concept and a plan, the company was lacking key elements to make the leap from paper and testing to reality. The Sorrell College of Business filled the gaps for the co-founders.
“Sorrell College played a pivotal role in transforming this technology-driven vision into a viable business,” he said. “Through the IDEA Bank at Troy University, we received crucial mentorship, particularly from Lynne Firmin George, who has been instrumental in guiding our business development. Her expertise and the resources provided by the IDEA Bank helped us refine our business model and develop a clear go-to-market strategy.”
Such a linkage between students in computer science and clinical mental health and business doesn’t necessarily happen every day.
“The bridge between my Computer Science studies and business really started in Summer 2024 when I met Lynne Firmin George. I had this idea about using AI for mental health but wasn’t sure how to make it into a real business. Lynne told me about the IDEA Bank student competition, which honestly changed everything for me,” said Jupudi.
A game-changer indeed. Jupudi, who had come to TROY in August 2023 from IBM in India for the master’s program, won the 2024 Troy Starters Business Idea Competition, hosted by the Troy University IDEA Bank and Sorrell 360 Center in December of 2024.
Not only did he find support from the IDEA Bank, but from others in the University as well.
“Through Lynne, I also connected with Preston Pritchett. Both were incredible in helping us build the best possible business plan. They showed me how to take my technical concept and transform it into something that could actually work as a business in the real world,” he said.
Along with George and Pritchett serving as advisors, Small Business Development Center Juliana Bolivar and Dr. Brittany Dennis, assistant professor and clinical co-director for the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Interpreter Training in the College of Education, provided invaluable support.
“We’ve also recruited highly skilled individuals from Troy University as Member Technical Staff (MTS), including Nanda Kishore Mysuru, Ritheesh Mekala, and Sai Krishna Koneru, all of whom hold master’s degrees in Computer Science,” said Juputi.
A solid business plan and strategy was crucial for the fledgling company, but the real transformation into the “real world” came as a direct result of winning the competition.
“A critical milestone came when we utilized the funds from winning the IDEA Bank Business Idea Competition to travel to San Francisco for a major healthcare conference. This experience was invaluable – it gave me the opportunity to meet different stakeholders in the healthcare industry, validate our concept with experts and investors, and gain insights into the broader healthcare technology ecosystem.
“The connections and validation I received during this conference gave me the confidence to take the next big step: incorporating Cognera Health, Inc. This formal establishment of our company marked our transition from concept to reality and allowed us to begin developing our Minimum Viable Product,” said Jupudi.
George expressed her gratitude for Jupudi and his team’s perseverance.
“I am very proud of Vamsi and his team for their dedication to their mission of transforming the mental healthcare industry. It takes a lot of hard work, persistence, and courage to make the progress that they have made with Cognera Health,” she said. “Their commitment, coupled with an openness to feedback for continuous improvement, is what truly sets them apart. I am thrilled that they can participate in Alabama Launchpad and learn from the most experienced and innovative business leaders in our state. Regardless of the pitch competition outcome, this team is destined for greatness and will undoubtedly make an impact on shaping the future of mental healthcare.”
Jupudi said participating in the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s Alabama Launchpad program has brought the co-founders an even wider stage.
“The statewide competition further expanded our network, connecting us with partners, and mentors across Alabama. This broader exposure has been invaluable for gaining insights into the healthcare market’s needs and regulatory requirements. It also highlighted the significant demand for innovative mental health solutions, especially in underserved communities,” he said.
In addition to competing for non-dilutive funding, meaning the company doesn’t have to exchange any ownership interests in exchange for the money, Jupudi is finding validation for the process TROY resources use in advising entrepreneurs.
“Last week, our Financial Advisor from Alabama Launchpad told us we have ‘the best financial plan he ever saw in the last four years in Alabama Launchpad competition.’ This validation really shows the value of the guidance we received from SCOB and how it helped us develop not just a technical solution, but a solid business with strong fundamentals,” he said.
