Meet the Startup Delivering Emergency Medical Supplies with Drones
When the chances of survival for health emergencies like cardiac arrest decrease by 10% every minute, slow response times are terrifying. And for the bystander who called 911, "Every minute waiting feels like an eternity," explained Usman Jamal, CEO and founder of Reflex, "You feel helpless and there's not much you can do until first responders can arrive."
Reflex's mission is to save lives lost to slow response times by equipping bystanders with the necessary equipment and instruction to initiate the first response process. The startup is a medical drone delivery platform, administering life-saving supplies to the scene in time-critical emergencies. After the bystander dials 911, the drone is dispatched to their location. Then, the drone delivers the equipment to the scene, and a 911 operator instructs the bystander on how to start administering aid. All the while, first responders are en route.
The drones function within two markets. One is emergency response, delivering supplies like Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) or EpiPens. Second, they work within the healthcare industry to transfer lab samples, blood, and organ transplants. The implementation of Reflex's drone network brings benefits in terms of both cost savings and improved patient outcomes. According to Jamal, decreasing response times by one minute in the US could save roughly $7 billion in healthcare expenditures and save about 150,000 lives.
Reflex began as a research project for Jamal's first year at Georgia Tech as a part of the Grand Challenges living and learning community. His project posed the question, How might we reduce emergency response times?
According to Jamal, the answer to this question is complicated. The 911 emergency system was introduced in 1968, and despite significant advances in technology, the system has not undergone substantial evolution since its inception. The technology used in call centers is also inconsistent, as it relies on the funding allocated to individual locations. "Especially in rural call centers, we are still using this old, outdated tech… urban [locations] have more money to purchase resources and more people," explained Jamal. Urban areas present their own unique challenges, characterized by increased traffic and denser populations. Additionally, the healthcare and emergency response industries are understaffed. All these challenges collectively contribute to the current state of emergency response times.
This is where Reflex comes in, utilizing drones to overcome the current limitations that restrict the potential of emergency response systems. According to Jamal, Reflex "[gives] that person an opportunity or a chance they didn't seem to have — and that's really important." The use of this technology not only gives the person in the emergency the opportunity to be saved but also provides the bystander with the tools to help.
For Jamal, Reflex's mission is deeply personal. He knows what it feels like to be the bystander waiting for first responders to arrive and has lost family due to slow emergency response times. It was this experience that motivated him to start Reflex — and continues to motivate him even now, when he faces the inevitable difficulties of the startup world. "In those moments when a contract isn't signed or things don't go your way, just take yourself back to that place and understand why you started," said Jamal.
Reflex’s journey has not been without challenges. Jamal is bootstrapping the company, meaning he is building the company with his own resources. Despite the obstacles bootstrapping has presented, it’s an experience that Jamal feels has made him more resourceful and analytical in his decision-making. “It's important, especially for students and early-stage founders, to learn to look for the hidden opportunities – the ones that aren’t always obvious at first but reveal themselves when you’re resourceful and willing to think differently,” said Jamal.
Since Reflex was founded in 2019, the company has experienced significant growth. In 2022, the startup won the People's Choice Award at Georgia Tech's Inventure Prize Finals and participated in the CREATE-X Startup Launch. Then, in 2023, the company won Georgia Tech's Alvin M. Ferst Entrepreneurship Award. The startup has also conducted case studies with partners such as Grand Canyon National Park, Panama City Beach EMS, and Colquitt County Regional Hospital. Currently, they are partnering with Arrive AI in Indiana to do autonomous deliveries using mailboxes and delivery points.
No matter where Reflex is headed, Jamal is keeping his mind fixed on Reflex's goal: to save lives. "Always focus on the impact… Doing things the right way takes time, and it takes intention. If you stay committed to the mission, the results will surely follow."