Philbert Chen, MD

Co-Founder

Philbert Chen, MD, is an advisor and mentor for innovation programs at universities such as the University of Illinois, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Purdue. His work spans a wide range of projects, including mobility devices for individuals with disabilities, robotic prosthetics, oral cancer screening tools, and smart health monitoring systems. He has collaborated with researchers, students, and industry experts across the country.

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Dr. Chen earned his degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. His diverse career path—ranging from research at Biogen to sales, event management, and finance—eventually led him to pursue medicine.

Dr. Chen believes what you do when you’re not at work is just as important as what you do at work. He is passionate about photography, industrial design, renewable energy, and community development. He encourages curiosity, learning new skills, and sharing knowledge with the next generation.

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Mike Yao, Ph.D.

Co-Founder

Mike Yao, Ph.D., is a researcher, educator, and thought leader in human-technology interaction, digital marketing, and technology-mediated social behavior. As an advocate for open innovation and impact entrepreneurship, he has advised venture startups in the GreenTech, FinTech, and EduTech sectors and serves as a faculty mentor for multiple incubation and acceleration programs at the University of Illinois. ​

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Dr. Yao holds degrees in Communication, Cognitive Psychology, and Film Studies, from the University of California, Santa Barbara. An accomplished scholar, his professional and academic career spans both Asia and the United States. 

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Dr. Yao is deeply passionate about community engagement, social enterprise, and philanthropy. He served two terms as a board governor of The Women’s Foundation (Hong Kong), where he led initiatives to address gender-specific poverty and inequality. He is also serving on board of Countryside School in Champaign, IL, an accredited nonprofit K-8 independent school dedicated to innovative education.​​​