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50 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 17, 2023 Serial entrepreneur Moschella's latest startup Populi mines healthcare data to predict growth opportunities By Norman Bell Hartford Business Journal Contributor A cross the broad spec- trum of American busi- ness, customer data is recognized as a valuable asset that potentially could drive revenue-boosting decisions. From a mom-and-pop restaurant trying to understand which menu items are the most popular and most profitable, to Fortune 500 companies making similar calcula- tions on an enterprise level, the trick is managing and manipulating the data to maximum advantage. The larger the database, the larger the headache. And few industries have the massive amount of data — and such a mixed record of handling that information effectively — as health care. Enter Populi, the Farming- ton-based firm offering healthcare data analytics as a subscription service. The man behind Populi is Bill Moschella, a serial entrepreneur and innovator in the artificial intelligence space. Healthcare entities — from hospitals to doctors to insurers — are still finding their way after a traumatic conversion from paper to digital records. As Moschella explains the situation, the next phase of the battle involves siloed information and systems that don't talk to each other. But perhaps the most limiting factor is they're only looking at their own data. Think about a hospital trying to decide whether it should use its limited capital to open a women's health center in City A, or an outpa- tient surgical center in City B. By mining its own data, it might have a sense of how either decision might impact its existing patient base. But what about the prospect of capturing new business? That's where Populi's data access and analytical abilities make the difference, Moschella explains. Populi captures a host of data streams and manages more than 180 billion transactions a year. Populi monitors 8.5 million medical practitioners and 1 million healthcare organizations. The company tracks referrals, proce- dures, costs, outcomes and verifies it all against payer claims data. Location records are geotagged for integration with mapping tools. The result is that Populi can provide a 360-degree look at the market and, using artificial intel- ligence technology, can project procedure trends and highlight geographic opportunities to serve new markets. All of that data better posi- tions the hospital to make the winning choice. Populi can use the data to model and predict patient usage and advise marketing strategy and delivery. Another service differentiator, Moschella said, is Populi's ability to deliver the data in a format that pairs with the systems healthcare organizations already use, like Salesforce and Tableau. Populi also provides help building applications. It's a powerful mix that works on a scalable subscription service model and comes with customer service, he said. While declining to discuss Popu- li's client base, Moschella said reception has been strong. This is Moschella's seventh startup. He's perhaps best known for Evariant, a healthcare consumer and physician engagement firm that was acquired by Healthgrades (now Mercury Healthcare). In addition to serving as CEO of Populi, he's executive chairman of Stemify, an online learning platform that tests students' math skills, uses artificial intelligence to identify knowledge gaps and creates an individualized curriculum using a cache of videos and tutorials. And he's managing director of Masheen, a family-owned and run investor in startup technology firms. Movia Robotics sees growing role in fight against autism; eyes eldercare, hospital markets By Norman Bell Hartford Business Journal Contributor R obot Kebbi stands just 12.5- inches tall, but it's a giant in the fight against autism. Its round eyes blink and its eyebrows rise; facial expressions charm and dazzle; it raises its arms to celebrate successes on computer exercises. Kids grin, giggle and connect. Parents melt. And autism takes a step back. Kebbi is one of four robots deployed by MOVIA Robotics' founder Timothy Gifford in the fight against autism spectrum disorder, a range of conditions that affect one in every 36 children in America and as many as 75 million worldwide. While Kebbi is popular in home learning environments, NAO, the self-proclaimed "oldest and wisest" of the Movia family, is designed for use in educational and special- needs environments. NAO stands 22.5-inches tall and has fully articulating arms and legs. In a short video clip posted on Movia's website, NAO explains in its digital voice that it can "learn and move alongside you." The iPal robot stands 36-inches tall and is designed to perform in a classroom or group environment. According to Movia, it can lead groups through physical activities, storytelling or other lessons. Misty II humbly brags, "some say I'm the smartest robot in the Movia family." The compact space-age looking Misty II "delivers life skills, daily living, learning readiness and academic content to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs," according to Movia. New market opportunities Movia Robotics has come a long way since the early days in the labs at UConn. "We actually made our own robots when we first started out in 2008," Gifford recalls. "The NAO robot became available in the second year of our research, so we switched over to using the NAO as we wanted to use commercial off-the-shelf robots. We started using Kebbi in 2020." Most of Movia's robots are from Taiwan or China, but some have come from Europe, Gifford said. But the software that makes the robots special is unique and made in Connecticut. The robot's nonjudgmental persona makes individuals with special needs feel safe, secure and heard, Gifford said. This allows a peer-to-peer relationship to develop between the student and robot, enhancing development of social and emotional skills. The academic program is grade- level and ability-specific. It has been developed by experts and tested in universities. Robots deliver consis- tent messaging and never get tired. The robots don't connect to the internet so no personal data is at risk. The Department of Defense has selected Movia Robotics products for use in its schools around the world. Prices range from $2,388 for Kebbi and the HomePal package to over $17,000 for Nao and the enterprise-level teacher's aide package. Each robot includes one of three use-specific programs that track student progress. Gifford said he expects a new arrangement that offers Movia's prod- ucts through Best Buy's online site to expand sales. Movia will continue to handle support and training. Down the road, Gifford said he sees potential use of the robots in eldercare and hospital environ- ments. But that kind of expansion would require new funding. He's closely watching the economy and market trends in anticipation of going out to raise capital with a Series A offering, perhaps in the fourth quarter. A student works with the robot Kebbi. PHOTO | COURTESY MOVIA ROBOTICS Tim Gifford Bill Moschella TECH COMPANIES TO WATCH MOVIA ROBOTICS Industry: Robotics Top Executive: Timothy Gifford, Founder HQ: 72 Prospect Place, Bristol Website: MoviaRobotics.com Contact: 860-256-4797 POPULI INC. Industry: Data analytics Top Executive: Bill Moschella, CEO HQ: 400 Farmington Ave., Farmington Website: Populi.ai Contact: 860-996-8754