“Dementia or, in general, mental health in today’s world is unfortunately overlooked as patients don’t visit the doctor nor take appropriate steps early. We’ve seen that and felt it along our journey.”
Entrepreneurs Today recently got in touch with Soubhik Das & Pushkraj Marne for the significant work that they have done in the domain, where they talk about their venture, Manastik, and the challenges they initially faced.
About the Founders
Soubhik Das has demonstrated exceptional leadership as an entrepreneur. Beginning with a small team of 5-6, his company now has more than 30 members. Driven by personal experience as a dementia caregiver, Soubhik turned his personal adversity into a solution, focusing on groundbreaking advancements in dementia care.
Soubhik’s expertise and influence have been recognised internationally. He was invited to speak at TEDx twice (2023 and 2024) and represented India at the ASEAN-India Startup Festival in Indonesia. Intel’s interview of his project underscores the significance of his work. The pinnacle of his achievements includes winning the prestigious BIRAC BIG 19 Grant, topping the Diagnostics category nationwide. Soubhik’s commitment extends beyond his professional sphere; his involvement with old-age homes and volunteer activities highlights his dedication to social impact.
Pushkraj Marne, Soubhik’s cofounder, began his journey at St. Vincent’s High School, where he led the chess team to three district championships. He pursued Mechanical Engineering at Pune University and became the National Electric ATV Racing champion at BAJA SAE. Pushkraj later earned an MBA in Finance from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, known as the “CEO factory of India.”
During his MBA, Pushkraj co-founded Manastik, a tele-neurology startup for dementia patient rehabilitation, alongside Soubhik Das and Akshay Sancheti. Manastik received early support from IIM Calcutta and secured India’s largest non-equity grant by topping the Diagnostic category from BIRAC, with incubation under IIT Kanpur.
Pushkraj’s experience with leading neurorehabilitation professionals, combined with his personal connection to dementia through his grandparents, provides him with a unique and empathetic perspective on the challenges faced by caregivers.
Finding Inspiration
The inspiration for Soubhik Das and Pushkraj Marne’s entrepreneurial journey was deeply personal and rooted in their shared experiences with dementia. During the pandemic, they decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, embracing the uncertainty and challenges as they arose.
Soubhik’s father is a dementia patient, and Akshay Sancheti, one of their co-founders, also has a family member affected by dementia. Pushkraj had observed several cases of dementia within his own circles. These personal connections to the disease highlighted the urgent need for effective solutions.
This intimate understanding of the challenges faced by dementia patients and their caregivers became the driving force behind their venture. They recognised the potential of technology to address specific problems related to dementia care.
This realisation was the pivotal moment that inspired their entrepreneurial journey, leading to the creation of Manastik, a tele-neurology startup focused on dementia patient rehabilitation. Their mission is to leverage technology to make a meaningful impact on the lives of dementia patients and their families.
About the Company
Co-founded by Soubhik Das, Pushkraj Marne, and Akshay Sancheti, Manastik is revolutionising healthcare with cutting-edge Teleneurology services specifically designed for dementia patients and their caregivers.
By strategically integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Manastik offers a comprehensive suite of primary and supplementary services that go beyond traditional dementia screening and tracking.
Their innovative platform serves as a holistic one-stop solution, streamlining critical aspects such as meticulous patient history recording, caregiver lifestyle management, and engaging brain games designed for cognitive stimulation. Manastik’s mission extends beyond providing technological solutions; we aim to bridge the gap between Neurology and state-of-the-art technology.
Soubhik shares,
“In our pursuit of excellence, Manastik actively collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of experts, including Neurologists, Neuropsychologists, Psychiatrists, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), and other Neurorehabilitation professionals.”
Pushkraj further adds,
“This collaborative engagement essentially ensures an in-depth understanding of the nuanced needs and challenges within the Neurology ecosystem.”
At Manastik, they go beyond conventional paradigms to address the intricate demands of Neurology.
Soubhik and Pushkraj assert,
“Our dedication to identifying gaps and developing innovative solutions is all due to our commitment to paving the way for a more accessible, efficient, and compassionate Neurology landscape.”
Solutions Offered:
1. Screening and Monitoring:
- Preliminary evaluation of dementia patients.
- Continuous monitoring of dementia progression through advanced tracking methods.
2. Supplementary Services:
- Generating summarized reports for easy understanding and tracking.
- Providing feedback during Neurorehabilitation exercises.
- Offering advanced lifestyle management tools for caregivers.
- Engaging brain games to stimulate cognitive functions.
By developing an end-to-end solution in the domains of Teleneurology and Teleneurorehabilitation, Manastik assists doctors and patients through cognitive tests and Neurorehabilitation therapies powered by Machine Learning. Their comprehensive healthcare services cater to all stages of dementia, ensuring support and care throughout the entire journey.
Challenges Faced
Although Manastik’s journey is relatively new, it has been marked by significant challenges typical of entrepreneurial ventures, especially in the healthcare sector.
One of the primary challenges has been connecting with various stakeholders and understanding the diverse user requirements. Healthcare demands an exceptional level of precision and care, and Manastik is committed to developing the best possible solutions. The day-to-day operations in the company have vastly changed from their initial stages, reflecting the evolving nature of their mission and objectives.
A major hurdle was deciding where to begin. Given that Manastik offers end-to-end solutions for all stakeholders in the dementia care community, pinpointing a starting point was daunting. To address this, they conducted critical user case studies and mapped out the user journey in detail to gain a deeper understanding of the problems they aimed to solve. This strategic approach helped them identify the most pressing needs and guided the development of their comprehensive Teleneurology and Teleneurorehabilitation services.
Milestones
Soubhik is a TEDx speaker and has given several talks till now. In one of his talks, he explores the parallels between tennis strategy and cognitive decision-making, using iconic matches to illustrate insights into anticipation, adaptability, and mental training. He emphasizes experiential learning and encourages finding unconventional sources of inspiration to navigate life’s challenges.
Drawing from personal experience as a dementia caregiver, Soubhik also discussed the challenges faced by patients and caregivers in another talk. He highlights how technology, especially AI, can provide solutions in dementia care. He introduces Manastik, a startup focused on teleneurology and tele-neurorehabilitation, aiming to transform healthcare through innovative technology.
Till now, Soubhik achieved numerous awards and has been featured in multiple publications such as IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Entrepreneurs of India, AOCNR 2021, Intel Software Interview, Intel DevMesh, TCS IT Wiz 2011, Unstop, ASEAN Festival, Mocero Health, BIRAC, and Tofler for their contributions to teleneurology and dementia care technology. His plan for the future is to come up with new technologies to address the current challenging scenario and to keep giving back to society.
In terms of Pushkraj’s achievements, he has worked closely with India’s top neurorehabilitation professionals for the past three years, including leading figures in Neurology. His expertise in dementia rehabilitation is enhanced by his personal experience as a caregiver for his grandparents with dementia, giving him a practical and empathetic understanding of the challenges faced by patients and their families.
The journey of both cofounders has been full of ups and downs. As they sign off, Soubhik and Puskaraj share one of the key takeaways from their entrepreneurial journey. They note,
“Entrepreneurs should keenly observe problems, as they may be opportunities in disguise.”
