YEREVAN, Armenia — SoftGuardian, an alumnus of the Incubation Program offered by the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) at the American University of Armenia, continues to advance artificial intelligence (AI)-powered healthcare innovation with recent recognition at two major regional entrepreneurship programs. Co-founded by Elen Hayrapetyan and Hovhannes Hakobyan, SoftGuardian received Second Place in the Starter Program at the Sevan Startup Summit 2025 and was honored with the GIST Spirit Award at the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Innovates South Caucasus program.
SoftGuardian has developed a smart pillow equipped with brainwave sensors that continuously monitor patients during sleep to detect and analyze nighttime epileptic seizures.
“When the world sleeps, epilepsy doesn’t,” said Hayrapetyan. “We focus on the most vulnerable time of day to make patients’ lives safer and easier, while giving doctors the reliable data they need to make better treatment decisions.”
The pillow records brain activity through embedded electrodes and sends the data to an AI system that analyzes and classifies neurological patterns. This allows doctors to receive reliable, real-time information on seizure frequency and treatment effectiveness. The team is also developing an optional alert feature that notifies caregivers during a seizure and plans to integrate a motion-detecting camera to assist in clinical documentation.
SoftGuardian’s journey began in the EPIC Incubation Program, where the founders, then students, turned their concept into a validated opportunity.
“We came to EPIC with a vision that needed to be validated and shaped,” noted Hakobyan. “Through mentoring and structured programs, we learned how to test our assumptions, pivot, and turn an early idea into a validated concept. EPIC gave us the foundation and confidence to grow.”
The team credits EPIC with introducing SoftGuardian to the Armenian startup ecosystem and opening doors to partnerships, events, and learning opportunities that continue to support their progress, even after leaving the Center.
Since graduating from EPIC, SoftGuardian has participated in several major programs that offered validation and international exposure.
“Being students made the journey more challenging, but also more rewarding,” said Hayrapetyan. “We’ve learned to accept our mistakes, stay open to feedback, and support one another through every stage. Each recognition we’ve received motivates us to keep building SoftGuardian and to show that Armenian innovators can make a global impact.”
Winning prizes at both the Sevan Startup Summit and GIST Innovates South Caucasus provided the team with public validation and strengthened their credibility. Mentorship throughout these experiences also shaped their communication and presentation skills. The team credits entrepreneur Armin Saidi, EPIC instructor and long-term mentor, for instilling the guiding question “Who cares?” — a principle that helps them focus on delivering real value.
SoftGuardian’s technology stands out for its hardware-specific AI integration. Unlike general brainwave analysis systems, its AI is designed to work directly with the pillow’s hardware, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and simpler clinical adoption.
The team’s collaboration with Somnus Neurology Clinic and medical advisor Dr. Samson Khachatryan has been critical for connecting their research to real-world practice. The partnership allows the team to align innovation with the needs of patients and neurologists alike.
While SoftGuardian plans to expand internationally in the future, the team is currently focused on product development and validation. Their long-term goal is to establish their smart pillow as a certified medical device with global application.
“Our project combines hardware, software, and medical research — all of which must evolve together,” the founders shared. “We’re taking the time to build a solid foundation before pursuing investment. Meanwhile, we’re maintaining close ties with investors and mentors whose insights will guide us when the time is right.”
Beyond innovation, the team’s mission remains deeply human: to make life safer for people living with epilepsy and to prove that Armenia’s young innovators can create meaningful, globally relevant solutions.
The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.
