Chad Pozarycki and José Andrade, both graduates of the Georgia Institute of Technology, have launched Deleon, a startup that applies NASA technology to preventive health monitoring. Their company has developed a biochemical system that uses daily urine samples to monitor metabolites associated with overtraining, stress, and recovery. The founders plan to expand the technology’s use for early disease detection.
Pozarycki and Andrade adapted NASA’s data transmission methods—originally created for sending chemical information over long distances—for personal health tracking. They aim to make metabolic monitoring more accessible and focused on prevention.
“Something that always frustrated me about metabolomics was its lack of focus on preventive care,” said Pozarycki. “We created Deleon by combining these ideas and tracking the human metabolome to optimize for healthy lifestyles.”
The two started Deleon after finishing their graduate studies at Georgia Tech, supporting themselves with part-time jobs as they developed the business. Funding was initially difficult to secure. “I finished my Ph.D. and didn’t have any income. CREATE-X gave us $5,000 in seed funding, which made it possible to keep going,” said Pozarycki.
CREATE-X is an initiative at Georgia Tech designed to encourage entrepreneurship among students by providing resources such as funding, mentorship, and connections with industry partners like Pravida Health. Through participation in CREATE-X’s Startup Launch program, Deleon received guidance on customer discovery and had opportunities to test their product commercially.
At Demo Day—the final event of the Startup Launch program—Deleon presented its prototype alongside other student-led startups. The company’s approach drew attention from investors, resulting in a $200,000 investment that enabled further product development and team growth.
“CREATE-X is a hands-on environment where students build real products and learn what it takes to bring them to market,” Pozarycki said. “That experience changed the way we approached the company — we learned how to talk to customers, refine our pitch, and scale responsibly.”
Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurial programs like CREATE-X play an increasing role in supporting student innovation while also contributing talent retention and investment within the Southeast region.
“I would recommend the CREATE-X program to anyone,” Pozarycki said. “Even if you don’t think you want to start a company, I think there’s a lot you can learn about yourself and about the world in this program that may change your mind and give you the chance to control your own fate.”
Applications are currently open for those interested in participating in CREATE-X’s Startup Launch program; early admission is encouraged as spots are limited.
