Flourish Science

When I was in grad school, pitch competition winners had a business plan and deck. Today's student entrepreneurs have live products, launched in multiple countries, with thousands if not hundreds of thousands of users!! Our future is bright!! Congrats to Marcos Rojas Pino, Xuan Zhao, PhD and Kavindya Thennakoon for winning the Stanford Accelerator for Learning pitch competition this week! 🤔 Clinical Mind Ai is an AI-powered platform that simulates real-world patient interactions to teach clinical reasoning. 🤔 Tilli is a learning toolbox (physical and digital tools) that progressively builds and measures 8 foundational skills from self-awareness to metacognition. 🤔 Flourish Science has Sunnie, an AI-powered well-being coach to help students manage stress, improve mood, and strengthen social connections. So fun to be on the judges panel with Jeong Choe, Ph.D.. Monique Malcolm-Hay, Dylan Arena, Malvika Bhagwat, Gloria Lee, Shelley Goldman, Michael Hardy, and Bryan Richardson. Thank you Isabelle Hau and Angela Chen for inviting us to attend!! And last but not least, THANK YOU to ALL the student entrepreneurs: Pear Chotbunwong, Brent Johnson, Mara Steiu, Jeff Cott, Eli Strauss-Reis! #edtech

Have you ever considered your relationships as an "emotional portfolio"? 🗂️ During my PhD, I attended an emotion conference where I discovered a concept I still think about often: "emotionships." The idea is that we have different relationships that help us manage a variety of emotions like sadness, anger, or anxiety. Here’s where it gets interesting: research led by Elaine Cheung found that people who diversify their emotional support—turning to different people for different emotional needs—tend to have greater well-being than those who rely on just a few close relationships for everything. It's not about having more relationships, but about having specialized ones. In our professional lives, this can be especially relevant. Maybe you have a colleague who's great at brainstorming when you're feeling stuck, a mentor who offers encouragement when you're doubting yourself, and a friend outside of work who helps you unwind after a long week. These connections might not involve deep, soul-searching conversations every time, but they enrich our lives in ways we might not even realize. By diversifying our "emotional portfolio," we can build a more robust support network that enhances our overall well-being. If you’re curious about this concept, the full paper is definitely worth a read!: https://lnkd.in/gyXwV2yr P.S. Sharing a bouquet my fiancé embroidered a few years ago because I think it beautifully captures the idea of cultivating diverse emotionships 💐☺️ #Emotionships #Relationships #Emotions #EmotionRegulation #MentalHealth #Wellbeing

We are deeply honored to receive such incredible recognition! This achievement isn’t just about the pitch—it’s a testament to the hard work, passion, and belief of the entire Flourish team in creating something that truly makes a difference. None of this would have been possible without the invaluable feedback and support from mentors, users, friends, and supporters who have been with us throughout this journey. Thank you for being part of the Flourish journey!

On Sunday, I had the privilege of pitching Flourish Science to 300+ Stanford University students at the StartX Campus Demo Day 🙏 🌱 StartX has been a transformative—pushing us, supporting us, and inspiring us to grow. In fact, we love it so much, we moved our office into the StartX space to stay close to this incredible community! Earlier this year, as a Student-in-Residence at StartX, I got my first taste of the energy and support that make this community so special. Fast forward to now, joining the full-time program and sharing our progress at Demo Day felt like a celebration of how far we’ve come—and how deeply StartX has shaped our journey. A heartfelt thank you to the amazing people who make StartX feel like a second family ❤️ : Kyle Wong, Pengpeng Wang, Anne Caillat, Pablo Lleras, Ryan Flanigan, Laura Kenney Bullard, Tota Zoura, Darsh Singh Mann, Ana Garcia Cortes, Ankita Tiwari, Erik Pavia, and Cameron Teitelman. And to everyone who stopped by our booth (beautifully put together by Xuan Zhao, PhD and Sunday Holland), asked thoughtful questions, and shared your excitement and encouragement—thank you! Your energy fuels us to keep going 🌟☺️ If you’re a Stanford University student or faculty member exploring the idea of launching a venture, I can’t recommend StartX enough. It’s a place where your ideas—and you—can truly flourish (pun intended 🌱😁)! P.S. Only StartX would think to add a fun bubble photobooth to the event—scroll to the last pic to see how much fun we had with it! 😂 #StartX #DemoDay #Community #Stanford #Flourishing

We spend 1/3 of our lives at work, yet many of us never truly get to know our coworkers or build meaningful connections. As it turns out, building friendships in the workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game changer. Research shows that these connections foster collaboration, boost engagement, and make work feel more purposeful. For me, the most incredible part of the startup journey has been forming a deep foundation of friendship and trust with my co-founders, Xuan Zhao, PhD and Tianyi X.. It’s not just about enjoying the good times together—it’s knowing, without a doubt, that we’ve got each other’s backs, even when things get really tough. I don’t take this kind of bond for granted, and I’m truly so grateful for it. While this kind of trust develops over years, it’s also shaped by small, everyday moments. Sometimes, all it takes is asking the right question to spark a real connection. Here are three questions that can help foster meaningful conversations with your team (you can keep it light or go deeper, depending on what feels comfortable): Level 1 (Light): "What would a perfect day look like for you?" Level 2 (A little deeper): "What's an act of kindness you've witnessed that’s stayed with you?" Level 3 (Deep): "When have you felt most disconnected from yourself, and what helped you find your way back?" If you’re looking to build a stronger connection with someone or deepen an existing one, these questions can help create more meaningful conversations. #WorkplaceConnections #TeamCulture #Friendship #GetCloser

Election season can bring intense anxiety. Nearly 70% of Americans report feeling stressed about the 2024 election, worried about how policy changes might affect their daily lives. Even though I'm not a U.S. citizen, I share this stress, knowing that the election's outcome will have real, tangible consequences for all of us. To help manage these feelings, here are several expert-backed coping strategies: 1. Pinpoint Key Issues: Identify which policies or issues affect you most. Reflect on why they resonate with you—this can help you understand the root of your stress, whether it’s related to personal safety, rights, or economic stability. Sharing these concerns with friends, family, or a supportive community can be validating and grounding. 2. Take Control in Small Ways: Channel energy into areas you can control. This could mean voting (if you can), volunteering, or simply setting non-political goals, like completing a personal project or spending quality time with loved ones. Small, intentional actions can provide a sense of empowerment. 3. Ground and Connect: Community can be a powerful anchor during stressful times. Lean on friends, family, or local groups that bring positivity into your life. Social connection and shared experiences make stress more manageable and provide space to talk things through in an affirming environment. 4. Focus on Physical and Mental Health: Good sleep, balanced nutrition, and movement are critical during high-stress periods. Try deep breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or walks in nature. Set aside time each day for activities that bring you joy, whether that’s a favorite hobby or time spent with friends. These steps can help you manage election stress while staying connected to the causes that matter most to you. Remember: you’re not alone in feeling this way, and there are ways to stay grounded, empowered, and connected. ❤️ #ElectionAnxiety #MentalHealth #CopingStrategies

”I want to be part of what’s next.” Yes, yes, YES! Leena Nair, it was such a pleasure meeting you and your amazing CHANEL global innovation team Kristijana St. Clair, Danielle Zhu, Gregory Baratte Waidlich at StartX! And we were so happy to be on Team Chanel and cheering for you at the GSB talk—we were in awe! You’re such an inspiring role model for a female CEO. Thank you for creating a platform that elevates our voices and brings us together. To help people flourish, outside and inside—together! 🌱 Sending our love and admiration to y'all—from three female founders at Flourish Science ❤️

“I want to be part of what’s next” is one of Gabrielle Chanel’s most famous mottos. Embracing her audacious spirit, we are constantly reinventing ourselves and connecting with new ideas and partners. We've been building an innovation ecosystem across the House with top academic institutions, start-ups, Big Tech, and other innovators, to prepare the House for the future. One example is our partnership with StartX, an accelerator program for Stanford alumni. This collaboration was initiated by the Chanel Open Innovation team to explore forward-thinking topics such as longevity, generative AI, the future of work, social impact and sustainability. We’re also deeply committed to supporting women founders, who remain underrepresented in the world of entrepreneurship. Last week, I visited StartX in California and met inspiring women entrepreneurs. We discussed courageous career pivots, new business models, the ups and downs of fundraising, importance of mentorship, and how to envision a brighter future for women founders. Their drive and creativity were awe-inspiring - from inventing solutions for neurodivergent populations, enterprise AI platforms, quantum mechanics for modelling climate change to wearable robotics and technology to support mental well-being. I left feeling more knowledgeable and optimistic, knowing these pioneering women are shaping a better future! Mary Zhu, Develop for Good, College students and industry mentors building software for nonprofits. Kathryn Zealand, Skip, Powered wearable technology dedicated to helping people move with joy. Xuan Zhao, PhD, Flourish Science, Science-based, AI-powered solution for everyday mental health and well-being. Sharon Zhou, PhD, Lamini, Giving enterprises the ability to turn proprietary data into the next generation of LLM capabilities. Christine Irish, TryTo.ai, Resources and tools designed to support neurodiverse individuals in their job search journey.

I’ll be honest: As an introvert, networking has always been one of the most draining parts of being a founder. But just as deep work and reflection are essential for driving a startup forward, so is building relationships. Over time, I’ve realized networking doesn’t have to feel like a chore—it can be meaningful and even rewarding. Here are a few mindset shifts that transformed networking for me: 1️⃣ Focus on a few, not many.  At big events, it’s easy to feel pressured to meet everyone—but I’ve learned that’s unnecessary. I now focus on connecting with one or two people at a time. There’s something reassuring about smaller, more meaningful conversations where you can get to know someone beyond the surface. Plus, research shows that deep conversations—especially those involving self-disclosure—lead to greater connection and fulfillment for everyone involved. 2️⃣ Shift the focus from yourself to others.  One thing that always felt disingenuous to me about networking was the pressure to show up flawlessly (which isn’t possible anyway!). This pressure is tied to the psychological concept of self-presentation—the instinct to manage how others perceive us. But whenever I remind myself to shift focus—becoming genuinely curious about the other person’s passions, challenges, and experiences, and thinking about how I can contribute—it transforms the interaction into something far more meaningful and authentic. 3️⃣ Harness the power of compliments.  Research by my co-founder, Xuan Zhao, PhD, shows that we often underestimate the power of compliments. Networking events offer the perfect chance to express sincere appreciation for someone’s work, ideas, or even their approach. A thoughtful, heartfelt compliment doesn’t just make the other person feel good—it sparks a genuine connection and can make the conversation more memorable. Networking still feels draining at times, but I no longer dread it the way I used to. These small shifts have made it feel more authentic and less overwhelming. P.S. This picture captures a memorable conversation Xuan and I had with Jeff Cabili at Stanford University Graduate School of Business's Venture Studio Demo Day! We loved hearing his insights—Jeff has been teaching Nonverbal Communication (Body Language and Voice) at Stanford Continuing Studies since 2006! (Photo credit: Saul Bromberger /Sandra Hoover Photography) #NetworkingTips #Introvert #FoundersJourney #MentalHealth

You know those days when your to-do list keeps growing, and all you want to do is power through? I think we’ve all been there. But here’s something I’ve learned: sometimes, the best thing we can do for our minds isn’t to keep going, but to pause. And when we combine that pause with a moment in nature, it can work wonders. You don’t need to embark on a long hike or spend hours in the wilderness. Research shows that even just looking at nature for a few moments can refresh your brain. In a 2015 study led by Kate Lee, students who took a 40-second break to look out at a flowering green roof made significantly fewer mistakes on a mentally exhausting task than those who looked out at a concrete rooftop. Just 40 seconds of greenery—imagine that. For me, even small moments of nature—like glimpsing the hills in the distance on my bike ride to the office or watching a hummingbird on my balcony—can help clear my mind and bring me back to the present. If you're feeling overwhelmed, maybe take a small break. Step outside, listen to the wind, feel the sun on your face, or even just look out the window at some trees. You might be surprised by how much it helps. Want to invite more nature into your everyday life? Here are a few simple ideas: 🌱 Adopt a plant—it’s a small piece of nature you can nurture every day. 🖼 Decorate your space with nature photos that inspire you. 🕊 Set up a bird feeder and enjoy watching them visit. 🌼 Pick up a nature book—learn more about the plants and wildlife around you. I’m writing this post from a park bench right now, and just being outside for a few minutes has shifted my whole mindset. I hope you get the chance to experience a moment like this soon. ❤️ What’s one way you’ve enjoyed nature recently, however small? #MentalHealth #StressRelief #Productivity #Wellbeing #Nature