Episode 257 | Ankit Shah & Brent Pekarski of UGen | Transforming Rehabilitation Through Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology

Episode notes

In this episode, Ankit (founder of UGen) and Brent (a physical therapist at University Hospitals) about why rehab is primed for innovation, and how UGen is tackling the biggest breakdowns in physical therapy. Ankit shares how his grandfather’s Parkinson’s journey inspired him to apply his electrical engineering and sensor research background to build wearable motion sensors that deliver real-time, multi-sensory feedback at home, while capturing clinician-ready data to improve care decisions. Brent explains the clinical pain points UGen can solve: limited face-to-face time, poor home-exercise compliance, and the “honor system” that leaves therapists guessing, plus how UH’s sports medicine growth and the Haslam Sports Innovation Center create a pathway for tech adoption. They also discuss UGen's presence at the NFL Combine, expansion into neuro and assessment, and founder lessons on hardware difficulty, workflow fit, and building with patient safety in mind.

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