“I was the type of kid who collected caterpillars and watched them become butterflies, and looked at everything I could under a toy microscope.”
Outside Guy
Days spent with an “insane amount of time outdoors” included soccer, bicycle riding and fort building.
All in the Family
Jason had fun watching his inventor/professor dad design and draw things, and play with “cool gadgets” in the lab.
Endless Ideas
By middle school, Jason was drawing an invention every day. “Some were ridiculous, but it was a good exercise regardless.”
“I had a stack of papers with hundreds of ideas drawn out. That helped expand my view of what can and can’t be done. And what makes sense.”
“Exeter was where I really grew up.”
Four-year Volunteer
Exeter Social Service Organization “opened our eyes to how powerful service is,” Including a service trip to Costa Rica.
Furthering Invention
To create more avenues for idea exploration, Jason founded two student clubs: Invention and Biology Research.
“Harkness forces you to articulate and learn how to listen, and being in such a diverse student body opens your mind to different modes of thought.”
“At Exeter, I became a more optimistic person, and I learned to put others before myself.”
Columbia Bound
While majoring in biomedical engineering, Jason becomes close friends with two freshmen, Katherine and Kevin, who will later join him for the Ebola Challenge.
Global Startup #1
He co-invents a device for managing postpartum hemorrhage in low-resource areas, and pursues clinical trials in Bangladesh.
“My interest in global health and startups that have a tangible benefit on other people’s lives stems from my experience doing community service at Exeter.”
Columbia Ebola Design Challenge
Jason and his friends develop Highlight, a powder that mixes with bleach to improve decontamination in the field.
Highlight Takes Off
Acclaim leads to news coverage and product validation. The New York Fire Department adds Highlight to decontamination protocols.
“At that point we realized that this was not just a project but a viable business.”
Kinnos is Born
As juniors, the trio creates a company to refine and commercialize Highlight.
“Our goal is to get Highlight to as many people as possible as quickly as we can.”
Big Win
Kinnos wins the 2015 USAID Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge, from a pool of 1,500 entries. Their $500,000 grant enables testing in Liberia.
2016 Forbes 30 Under 30
Kinnos gets the nod. The college seniors look forward to 2017, with planned sales to NGOs and pilot testing in hospitals.
Patently Excellent
Kinnos is a 2018 Patents for Humanity winner for its ongoing work in fighting Ebola contamination.
Impressive Fellow
2018 Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation award given to Jason for “building solutions that positively impact the world.”
Bringing it Home
Targeted for use in U.S. hospitals, Kinnos announces development of second product, Highlight Wipes, set to launch in 2019.