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Inside a virtual world, a patient reaches up to pluck apples from a tree, paddles a canoe across shimmering water or throws sharp punches in a boxing match — all while a calm voice reminds them to squeeze their shoulder blades and stay aligned.
What feels like play is actually physical therapy.
MoveMend, a health tech startup co-founded by NYU Langone clinician Gabrielle Berne and Tandon graduate Punit Vats, uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to reimagine the rehab experience. Its software transforms therapist-prescribed exercises into motion-tracked games, helping outpatient clinics tackle one of the field’s most persistent challenges: keeping patients engaged between visits.
“No one likes doing their exercises,” Berne said. “It’s not fun. We’re trying to change that — to make it playful, to disguise the therapy.”
All it takes is a front-facing camera and an internet connection. No extra hardware. Once set up, patients can follow along at home with the help of Mendy, a cheerful AI assistant who offers real-time feedback like: “Try punching across your body” or “Nice adjustment.”
The idea began in a hospital room. At NYU Langone, Berne saw patients once a week — even though many needed care every day. “They were just lying in beds, and I didn’t have the tools or time to support them between sessions,” she said.
She later experienced that same gap from the other side. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berne guided her father’s rehab over FaceTime.
“There wasn’t a solution that felt comprehensive — something that supported both the patient and the clinician,” she said.
Berne brought that problem to the NYU Tandon Future Labs' HealthTech Challenge, where she met Vats — an engineer with a background in urban science and a lifelong interest in smart systems.
“MoveMend is like a robot. It sees what you’re doing and gives feedback,” Vats said. “But we’re not trying to build something robotic — we’re trying to build something natural. Something seamless.”
With Vats’ technical skills and Berne’s clinical insight, the pair built a working prototype in just one summer. Their collaboration deepened as they moved through many of NYU’s startup programs — Future Labs, Tech Venture Workshop, Startup Sprint, and now Summer Launchpad. Along the way, they pivoted from inpatient hospital care to outpatient clinics, secured their first angel investor and completed a pilot study at NYU.
“That was a long time coming,” Berne said. “It took a lot of push through the bureaucracy of the health system. So it felt really good to get that done — and to get good results from it.”
Still, implementation has its hurdles. Many clinicians are hesitant to adopt new technology. So the team’s ongoing challenge is to design a tool that fits smoothly into existing routines, feels intuitive for patients and builds trust with early adopters.
“It’s exciting, challenging, scary — all of the above,” Berne said. “But we believe in what we’re making. And we know the need is real.”
