Background and Inspiration

In 2018, during technology conferences, Susan Sly found herself engaging in unexpected discussions with fellow women about personal health issues such as sleep patterns and menopause. As she entered her late 30s and began experiencing perimenopause, Sly recognized that this pivotal health transition was rarely discussed openly, particularly within tech circles.

The Need for Innovation

Menopause is a universal experience for women, with over 50 million American women currently affected. As more than 6,000 women in the U.S. reach menopause daily, Sly felt a pressing need to create solutions addressing this period in women’s lives, especially considering the research linking menopause to increased risks of anxiety and depression.

ThePause.AI: A Vision Transformed into Reality

In 2023, Sly founded ThePause.AI, a startup based in Phoenix, dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence for menopause management. She gathered a team of experts, including cardiology and genomics specialist Mia Chorney, to ensure the project was grounded in medical credibility. The team’s first significant hire was data scientist Nate Kelly, a graduate of Arizona State University.

Creating Harmoni: AI-Powered Support for Women

The flagship product, Harmoni, is a subscription-based mobile application designed to assist women through various stages of menopause. The application employs advanced AI algorithms that assess user data alongside inputs from ThePause.AI’s medical team to provide tailored health recommendations, symptom tracking, and even meal planning assistance.

Moreover, Harmoni facilitates engagement through features like competitive 30-day challenges aimed at promoting healthier lifestyle choices such as improved sleep, reduced alcohol intake, and increased physical activity.

Innovative Features and Future Aspirations

Kelly emphasizes the potential for predictive capabilities within the app. As data collection expands, the team aims to refine functionalities that might predict symptoms like hot flashes based on user behavior and dietary choices. “We’re collecting important data, and I think we can start going into more of the predictive models of AI,” Kelly remarked.

Kelly attributes his success to the foundational experiences he gained during research projects at ASU, which instilled in him a problem-solving mindset essential for startup environments.

Support and Growth in Healthcare Innovation

ThePause.AI has recently been selected for the Mayo Clinic and ASU MedTech Accelerator program, enabling collaboration with experts to navigate regulatory requirements and foster product commercialization.

With aspirations to hire more from ASU’s exceptional pool of graduates, Sly praises their entrepreneurial spirit: “They’re very curious, very entrepreneurial and very focused on asking questions for advancement.”

Commitment to Women’s Health

In addition to its initial offerings, ThePause.AI recently introduced guided meditations within the app, further supporting women in managing stress related to menopause. Sly’s ongoing commitment is clear: “We’re going to keep talking, keep listening and keep working until women have the support they need and deserve.”