Shavini Fernando Is Building a Healthier World with OxiWear

The inspirational founder and her FDA-approved hardware are prepared to aid humanity.

“When people dare me, I want to show them how it’s done!”

This is motivation in its purest form, a driving factor for Shavini Fernando, a VR and game developer-turned-founder of OxiWear. Her backstory is as inspirational as what she’s managed to build in such a short time – which still keeps growing. Earlier this month, Shavini sat down with our Chief Innovation Officer Nathalie Sonne to discuss her path to founding OxiWear, here’s what we learned.

OxiWear aims to reduce patient vulnerability to injuries caused by low oxygen through continuous oxygen monitoring and low-oxygen alerting. The Virginia-based company simplifies this process using a sleek and discreet ear-wearable, positioning itself in the ever-evolving world of wearable technology.

But Fernando’s story dates further back. She reflects on it candidly, saying, “I was an athlete! I was a sprinter and a swimmer — I didn’t know I had a hole in my heart. I never got diagnosed. By overtraining, I busted my lungs and heart.” She was diagnosed with Eisenmenger Syndrome in 2015. “My lungs have readjusted to support my lifestyle, so I have severe pulmonary hypertension along with it.”

As a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension, she is prone to hypoxia, which has led to several cardiac arrests and hypoxic strokes. “What happens is, suddenly, my oxygen drops really low, or my blood flow starts reversing, which can cause oxygen to drop,” she describes in more detail.

Upon earning her Master’s Degree in Technology and Culture at Georgetown University, she suffered from an episode of cardiac arrest. “The doctor said I can’t live alone and can’t study at Georgetown because it was too hilly for me.” Some may see this as prudent advice, but Fernando saw it as a dare.

“To prove to my doctors that I can live alone and I can still do my normal, crazy, and adrenaline stuff, I developed OxiWear, so I can know when my oxygen levels are dropping low,” she starts before taking the routine next step, “then everyone wanted me to commercialize it!”

Before this September, OxiWear patiently waited for certified FDA approval, although Fernando describes how important it is to raise money when obstacles arise.

“If you don’t show any money coming in, it makes it even harder to raise money! You need to be flexible and find a way to divert the route while sticking to your mission.”

But even in challenging situations, Fernando knows that veering off track is just an opportunity to prove herself, saying, “Once you’ve had a cardiac arrest and been revived, your panic button is disabled for life. No matter what happens, you just know life will work itself out.” And so it has, with premier advisors and investors joining the fold, including Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports.

This growing relationship with the famed entrepreneur began at a pitch competition in Georgetown arranged by Leonsis’ family. After some time and a $40,000 prize, “I went to him and said, ‘we’re just opening up investing and… would you be willing to introduce me to some people in your network?’ He said, ‘That’s not what you should ask young lady… you should say, ‘Ted, I want you to invest in my company!’”

On the topic of more diversity in the health and wellness tech sector, she asserts what all founders should: “Do not judge a book by its cover! When I first went to raise funds, they thought I just came out of college. They thought I wasn’t going to be able to do it. Most of them wanted a male white founder.” “Whether it’s a male or a female, what you should check is how driven they are and how much they can do. Not their color or their gender or their background or their age.”

Since she’s past that beginner’s stage and the FDA's official clearance is secured, a new chapter unfolds for OxiWear. “Now, we can openly go to any part of the market and sell, then tap into the entire pipeline!” Fernando exclaims, recalling their tip-toeing approach before regulatory approval. “It was tricky because it's not just about getting approval from the FDA; it’s the competitors who are always watching and trying to put you down before that. So you need to be careful until you have that clearance."

And while the ear-wearable device is sleek, Fernando laughs off the finer things, suggesting, "If you’re a hardware medical founder, you need to put a luxury life aside!” Her logic? “You’re often the lowest-paid person on the team.” And so is the case for many entrepreneurs, who often watch growth from a bird’s-eye-view and take all the emotional upside that goes along with seeing their vision expand.

As for its potential effects on society and chronic oxygen health issues, she says, “It will be one of those devices that help you make decisions faster and make people confident not to let any disease define their life.” After asking if this will also be fit for prevention, she nods with a resounding yes before I can even finish, responding, “It will be more of a preventative and safety device.” So, even though OxiWear’s distinct gadget does not cure people, it will keep them healthy before matters worsen.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” she declares.