Starting an AI Venture at 18 with Global Teen Partners I Never Met—Here's My Journey

My mornings kick off around 3 a.m., greeted by a flurry of messages from web developers stationed in California, GitHub alerts from Florida, and a compilation of research articles sent from Michigan. By 7:50 a.m., I transition into my day as a senior in high school situated in Seoul.

This isolated and unconventional routine became my strange new normal after creating an AI-focused startup with global collaborators I have yet to meet face-to-face. My driving force was enhancing Alzheimer's diagnostics without an initial network—so I forged one digitally.

A Fearful View of Alzheimer's Disease

Throughout my upbringing, Alzheimer's was a constant narrative, depicted as a daunting illness that strips away a person's essence. The reality that someone I care about could become a familiar stranger frightened me. By high school, this fear transformed into an urge to tackle the issue.

A competition came into view, intended to back innovative health solutions, and I decided to take part.

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Building a Team Across Borders

Realizing I couldn't tackle this endeavor alone, I sought individuals outside of my immediate circle who brought diverse skills and insights. My search unfolded online where I shared my vision on forums, posted elaborate proposals on Discord, and set up GitHub projects.

After a series of initial rejections, I finally received affirmatives from California, Florida, and Michigan. This marked the beginning of Reteena—a playful nod to 'retina' reflecting our mission to revolutionize Alzheimer's diagnostics. Unexpectedly, we evolved into a cohesive team of high school students determined to make a significant impact on the disease.

Making Alzheimer's Diagnostics Reachable and Economical

Targeting primarily students wasn't my intention; however, those were the forums I frequented, and they became my responders. Our venture has been self-financed, focusing initially on improving low-field MRI scan clarity—a cost-effective alternative for communities. By leveraging machine learning, we aimed for breakthrough enhancements.

Our daring ambition was to democratize access to early Alzheimer's diagnostic tools. The arduous pathway from dream to execution taught me more than any concept alone could.

Leadership Under Siege

The devotion and workload my team shared felt overwhelming, and I struggled with the time differences without causing delays. This led to nights filled with concerns over potentially squandering my team’s trust through ill-timed decisions.

Within those pressing moments, where anxiety felt tangible, I questioned everything—from my capabilities to the team's path and my merit for their trust.

The Encouragement of Publication

Recognition came when our research appeared at the esteemed IEEE BigData 2024 Conference. This was the validation we needed, proving late nights were warranted, yet it marked merely the start. We grew from a virtual chat group to a 12-member innovative startup.

We widened our efforts, revealing crucial insights on recognizing Alzheimer's sooner, propelled by internet-facilitated transparency that attracted mentors and motivated budding entrepreneurs.

Eager minds from across nations then started reaching out for guidance on embarking on their health tech journeys.

Our First Market Product

The culmination of our efforts was 'Remembrance,' an AI-based therapy tool designed to assist those with Alzheimer's in recalling past memories via gentle, memory-stimulating queries.

We envisioned a seamless archive, linking memories and facilitating an evolving personal memory landscape. Yet entry into the healthcare sector exposed us to considerable regulatory challenges.

Valuable Lessons from a High School Premier

Through a challenging two-year period, we realized just how intricate healthcare innovation is. However, these learnings at a young age are treasures, as they come without the heightened pressures found later in life.

Whether Reteena meets our original vision remains secondary to the experience of building and tackling real-world issues over seeking fleeting success.

That's the essence of the experiment, marking every sleepless night as a success.