Home topics start-up-entrepreneur Eduardo Jorgensen, Co-founder of Solus Health (pictured third from right) Startup Startup Startup behind wearable device for detecting cognitive decline win 54-hour pitch marathon James Harkness March 7, 2018 The brains behind medtech startup Solus Health outpitched 46 other founding teams to secure victory at the 54-hour Creative Tech competition, held at Techstar’s recent Startup Weekend in Brisbane (2-5 March). The winning startup is developing a shoe sole embedded with technology that detects changes in the gait of the wearer’s feet, with the aim being to help identify the development of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or dementia. Solus Health Project leader and co-founder Dr Eduardo Jorgensen told Dynamic Business that his startup builds on research, first unveiled almost six years ago, claiming that a change in a person’s gait in their walk could indicate early cognitive decline. “Despite this research, and the rise of wearable tech, there are no viable products out there that address the problem of early detection of dementia,” he said. “Typically, patients need to experience symptoms and then be tested for the disease, by that point the outcomes of preventive intervention diminishes. It seems like such a simple solution to put a sensor in people’s shoes, but with the right applications and analysis it could save lives. The judging panel, selected by startup accelerator QUT Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA), consisted of Professor Margaret Sheil, Brett Chenoweth, Michelle Eastwell, Cole Wilkinson and Garry Visontay. CEA’s Acting CEO Mark Gustowski said that the Solus Health team stood