As SEI celebrates 25 years of the Social Enterprise Track of the HBS New Venture Competition, we are connecting with alumni on their entrepreneurial journeys and what NVC meant for them. Sidhant Jena (MBA 2011) is Co-founder of StatDX, and won the Social Enterprise Track Grand Prize in 2011 for his venture, JanaCare.
Tell us about JanaCare. What was your inspiration for starting this venture?
JanaCare was born after a summer project (between my first and second year) with the famous Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Devi Shetty on a rural cancer screening program, where I worked with a team from MIT to develop a mobile phone app to triage for oral cancer in rural communities in South India. The project inspired us to leverage mobile technology to democratize diagnostics for cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. The vision was simple yet powerful: bring sophisticated diagnostic capabilities directly to patients wherever they are, eliminating barriers of distance, cost, and infrastructure.
How has JanaCare evolved? How did your experience with JanaCare inform your subsequent work?
JanaCare grew from three founders with a PowerPoint presentation to 50 employees across Boston and Bangalore. By 2020, we were shipping millions of tests annually, reached nearly 2,000 clinics across 15 countries, achieved FDA clearance for one of the very first smartphone-connected diagnostic devices, and had partnered with giants like Medtronic, AstraZeneca, Siemens, and Roche. This experience directly informed my next venture in 2022, StataDX, which I founded with Dr. Donald Ingber at Harvard's Wyss Institute to build a novel diagnostic platform for neurology. The core lessons from my first venture—building strong teams, maintaining mission alignment, and ensuring R&D integrity—are fundamental to StataDX's approach as well.
How did the New Venture Competition help further your exploration and venture?
The New Venture Competition was transformative for JanaCare. Beyond the visibility and validation it provided, the competition gave us the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship immediately after graduation. This platform helped us recruit our initial team and raise the capital necessary to launch the company. Most importantly, it validated our belief that mobile technology could revolutionize healthcare diagnostics. The competition experience taught us how to articulate our vision clearly and demonstrated that our idea resonated with both judges and potential stakeholders, providing the momentum we needed to transform our concept into reality.
Did you take advantage of any other social entrepreneurship resources while at HBS?
Professor Tarun Khanna's mentorship was invaluable throughout our journey at HBS and beyond. His guidance helped us understand the nuances of building technology solutions for emerging markets, raising capital, and the importance of creating sustainable business models that could truly serve underserved populations. The broader HBS ecosystem, including connections with faculty, alumni, and fellow students passionate about social impact, provided ongoing support and networking opportunities.
What changes have you seen in the social entrepreneurship landscape since you were a student at HBS?
The social entrepreneurship landscape has matured significantly, with increased investor interest and more sophisticated funding mechanisms specifically designed for impact ventures. There's greater recognition that social enterprises can achieve both meaningful impact and financial returns. Technology has also become more accessible, enabling entrepreneurs to build scalable solutions more efficiently. However, the fundamental challenges remain: building sustainable business models, ensuring product-market fit, and maintaining mission alignment while scaling.
What advice would you give to aspiring social entrepreneurs?
In medical diagnostics—and social entrepreneurship broadly—you cannot compromise on quality. Your product must work flawlessly every single time, which requires unwavering patience, mission-oriented team members, and relentless dedication to R&D integrity. My advice would be to build a strong core team that shares your mission alignment from day one and be prepared for a longer journey than traditional "tech ventures"!
