BCW WIN Participant Triumphs in 2025 National Institute on Aging Start-Up Challenge

CatchU, a standout participant in the Business Council of Westchester’s Westchester Innovation Network (WIN), has been named a winner of the prestigious 2025 National Institute on Aging (NIA) Start-Up Challenge.

Developed by JET Worldwide Enterprises Inc. (JET), the innovative smartphone health app was selected as one of only seven winners from a competitive pool of 275 applicants nationwide.

CatchU is a pioneering digital health tool designed to measure visual-somatosensory integration (VSI), a critical neurological process required for everyday mobility, such as walking and maintaining balance. Research has shown that impairments in VSI are direct indicators of adverse clinical outcomes, including an increased risk of debilitating falls and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults.

The journey to the winner’s circle was rigorous. Out of the initial 275 applications, CatchU was selected as part of a 21-cohort group of finalists that underwent an intensive bootcamp and formal accelerator program. As one of the seven ultimate winners, CatchU will receive a $75,000 cash prize.

This funding is set to catalyze the company’s next phase of growth.

“The prize money will give CatchU the opportunity to strengthen its leadership team, create deeper healthcare relationships to accelerate our commercial rollout, and showcase CatchU at premier medical conferences to drive visibility, traction, and revenue growth,” said Dr. Jeannette Mahoney, founder of JET and the lead visionary behind the app.

The success of CatchU is deeply rooted in the Westchester ecosystem. WIN, an initiative of the BCW, facilitated a critical match between CatchU and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains. This partnership allowed the startup to conduct a clinical trial on patients, the results of which were highlighted in the journal Brain Sciences.

The study findings were compelling: CatchU reliably captured VSI measurements with virtually no systematic bias compared to traditional, bulky laboratory apparatus. Furthermore, the app’s responses were significantly less variable, suggesting that this remote digital health solution captures more consistent and reliable data than existing gold-standard hardware.

Dr. Mahoney emphasized the importance of recognition.

“It’s such an honor to know that the work we are doing aligns nicely with NIH’s mission to advance transformative science and improve health outcomes for our older adults,” said Dr. Mahoney.

The collaboration is a prime example of WIN’s mission to pair innovative emerging technologies with local organizations to spark industry growth within the county.

“CatchU’s victory underscores WIN’s primary goal of helping new companies scale their businesses and thrive within the Westchester community. Congratulations to Dr. Mahoney on this deserved achievement,” said BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon.