Mark Kelly

Class of 2025-2026

Dublin City University, 2025
Biotechnology

Capstone Project Abstract:

The student will be working with AssistIQ, an innovative computer vision and AI startup in the Heathtech industry. Every year hospitals lose millions of dollars in revenue due wasted or untacked surgical supplies. The current industry standard requires clinical staff to manually document supplies as they are used during surgery, however up to half of these go uncaptured in the hospital inventory system. These manual procedures take attention away from patient care, promote wastage and ultimately account for significant lose of revenue.

AssistIQ has developed a way to capture any supply by simply placing it under a camera for a fraction of a second. They use an advanced computer vison model integrated with AI and a comprehensive cloud database of surgical supplies to reach a capture accuracy of 99%.
Currently rolled out in leading hospital systems such as Northwell health and Owensboro Health AssistIQ has found their initial value in operating rooms. However, as the company grows, they are looking to refine their go-to-market approach and explore additional areas for expansion.

Over the next 11 months, the student will work with AssistIQ to evaluate the potential for their product in other high procedural cost areas. At the end of this project, the student will communicate clear and actional insights that AssistIQ can leverage in the next stage of their growth.

Why did you choose ESTEEM?

With a background in Biotechnology and experience launching two startups, I was drawn to ESTEEM for its unique focus on bridging science and entrepreneurship. The program’s emphasis on real-world application, hands-on learning, and exposure to areas like AI, data science, and startup development made it the ideal next step for my career. I found the capstone project, IDEA Center resources, and the opportunity to work closely with early-stage ventures particularly valuable in preparing to build impactful solutions in the healthcare industry.

What do you hope to do after ESTEEM?

I hope to leverage the refined entrepreneurial skills and strategic business acumen developed in ESTEEM to start my own company and tackle problems with global significance. Practically I am passionate about the intersection of AI and Healthcare, I feel this is growing market and use case for AI here is a true force for good. An entrepreneurial career in this field would be the dream!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Since 12 years old I have competed in Kickboxing. I am also an avid listener of various podcasts about history and science. In recent months I have developed a hobby for brewing beer, it is a slow but rewarding process and I think it scratches that same "make it yourself" itch that entrepreneurship does.