Avionova (Techstars 2025) is a Columbus-based startup that is fundamentally changing how patients manage and relieve symptoms of balance loss, such as vertigo and motion sickness. Born out of a need to address conditions that affect over 40% of people worldwide, the company develops non-invasive earbuds designed to interact with the vestibular system through precise thermal stimulation.

Emilie Vallauri, Global Program Manager at Techstars, sat down with Noor Haj-Tamim, CEO and founder, to discuss her journey from building space education nonprofits at 17 to developing cutting-edge medical and wellness wearables that help people reclaim their lives.

Emilie Vallauri: To kick things off, can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background? How did you become an entrepreneur?

Noor Haj-Tamim: I am the founder of Avionova. I didn't necessarily know that entrepreneurship was a word when I was younger, but I was always someone who got in trouble in my classes because schoolwork just wasn’t interesting enough to me. I was always putting together my own programming and opening my own clubs. Even at the age of four, I was trying to put together bake sales and recruit the neighborhood kids.

I grew up watching my parents work; they are first-generation immigrants. My dad flew to the United States not speaking English, put himself through college, and worked three jobs at the same time. I realized I have that same drive. I started learning how to network when I was 11, started cold calling people at 13 for a drama club I was putting together, and learned how to do licensing at 15.

Emilie: You moved overseas and went to school in Jordan during your youth. How did that experience shape your path?

Noor: Going to school in Jordan shaped me in a major way. I experienced a clear divide between what girls were encouraged to pursue and what boys were given access to. At my school, girls were not allowed to go into the science labs or join the coding clubs, and that only made me more determined to pursue physics, STEM, engineering, and math.

At one point, I wanted to go back home, but my parents told me I had to finish high school first. So I did exactly that — I finished high school in one very sleepless year.

When I was 14, I applied for a scholarship from the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, thinking there was no way I would get it. But they connected with the fact that I was trying to build a transponder apparatus for skiers, and that became one of my first real signals that my ideas could matter.

From there, I went straight to college, became deeply involved in STEM programming, affiliated with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, and later went through NASA’s technology and entrepreneurship programming, where I worked on tech transfer projects as a student.

Emilie: I know you also founded a nonprofit when you were quite young. Can you tell us about that?

Noor: When I first wore an intravehicular activity suit, everyone around me was excited, but all I felt was this deep sadness. I realized that if I hadn't left Jordan, I wouldn't have been able to fly planes, build planes, or work with NASA.

That led me to open JSSOAR  (Jordan Student Space Outreach and Academic Relations), a nonprofit I founded when I was 17 to bring hands-on space and STEM education to Jordan. JSSOAR became one of NASA's first museum and informal education partners outside of the US. I was freshly 18 in the boardrooms of the US Embassy, surrounded by generals and diplomats, trying to deepen my voice to be taken seriously. The kids who first entered our program are so talented; today, they are opening their own companies, launching CubeSats, and presenting internationally. Building JSSOAR is where I truly learned to build a network, develop my skills, and advocate for myself and others.

Emilie: How did the idea for Avionova start? What problem did you set out to solve?

Noor: It actually started out as a technology for a payload we were going to do on a zero-gravity flight with IIAS and the Canadian Space Agency. Two weeks into development, I started learning how many people on the ground experience balance disorders. Over 40% of people worldwide experience balance loss, and $60 billion annually is spent in the US healthcare system because of this.

Every time I read about it, I thought, “That sounds like something that happened to me.” Then, two weeks later, I developed Ménière's disease and had the most severe vertigo episode of my life. I'm a strong believer in fate, and that really put me on the trajectory of realizing I had to build something because there is nothing out there for patients.

Emilie: I don't see any other members of the founding team. What is it like being a solo founder, and can you introduce the partners supporting you?

Noor: I am currently operating as a solo founder, currently expanding my team. But I am very fortunate to have an incredible group of advisors and partners supporting Avionova.

Alan Gilbert has been a key advisor to the company. I met him through Techstars, where he served as our Entrepreneur in Residence, and he has been instrumental in helping us identify the right engineering partners. Many of those partners come from the space and consumer hardware sectors, with deep experience in miniaturization and wearable product development.

I also met Dr. Schoo through the Techstars ecosystem. Techstars Columbus is powered by Ohio State University, and around that time, Ohio State had brought Desi on from Johns Hopkins as part of their ENT department. When I reached out, I learned that the timing was ideal because the ear, nose, and throat field remains underfunded and under-researched, and opportunities to advance this kind of vestibular research are rare.

Emilie: For clarity, what does Avionova do and why is it so important?

Noor: Avionova develops wearable earbud technologies designed to interact with the vestibular system—the part of the inner ear responsible for balance and spatial orientation. We are initially focused on people who experience motion-related discomfort, including motion sickness and vestibular challenges such as vertigo.

These conditions can have a significant impact on quality of life, limiting travel, work, and everyday activities. Many current approaches rely on medications or rehabilitation therapies, and available medications are often focused on managing symptoms.

Our technology is inspired by a clinical technique that has been used for decades to demonstrate how temperature can influence vestibular function. Building on that scientific foundation, we are exploring whether controlled thermal stimulation delivered through a wearable form factor can provide a convenient, non-drug approach to supporting vestibular comfort and balance.

Emilie: Can you tell us more about the specific applications of this product? I understand there are use cases for defense, space, and commercial markets.

Noor: When I first built Avionova, I was very space-centered because of my background. I planned to focus heavily on defense and space because spatial disorientation affects a significant portion of aviators, and in high-intensity environments like military aviation, pilots may be hesitant to disclose symptoms because they fear losing their positions.

But we are also building for people on the ground and at sea who experience balance-related challenges in their everyday lives and want to reconnect with family, travel, and adventure. Right now, we are focused on the maritime sector, especially expedition cruising and extreme environments like the Drake Passage, where motion, isolation, and harsh conditions can make balance and vestibular comfort critical.

This fall, we are entering a few pilot programs in expedition cruising. That is where we are seeing our strongest market fit today, with plans to expand into larger cruise lines over the next two to three years. Essentially, our product applies anywhere balance plays a critical role in an unusual or extreme environment.

Emilie: What types of products are you actively developing right now?

Noor: We are developing two distinct products: Asterra and Gravitone. Asterra is our wellness product focused on motion-related discomfort, including use cases in maritime travel and extreme environments. The name and brand are inspired in part by Vincent van Gogh, whose life has often been discussed in relation to vestibular conditions like Ménière’s disease. I have always been drawn to the way he translated instability, movement, and perception into art, and that inspiration helped shape the identity of Asterra.

Gravitone is our medical device application, focused on the clinical side of vestibular health. The name keeps the broader theme of spatial orientation and gravitational shift at the center of the brand, while allowing us to distinguish the regulated medical pathway from the commercial wellness product.

Emilie: Where are you currently standing in the product development stage?

Noor: It is a super exciting time. We just finished development on the second version of our clinical intended device (Gravitone). These feature better ergonomics straight out of benchmark testing, and we are doing a small product trial on a vessel. We also recently completed early controlled testing with the University of Reykjavik Department of Biomedical and Neural Engineering at their Motion Sickness Lab. On the motion sickness side with Asterra, we have finished our prototype and validated our core cooling technology, which does not use electricity. We are ready to start small-scale manufacturing for our upcoming pilots. It’s insane to look back and remember that the general device started as an idea on a sticky note.

Emilie: Your website lists several notable supporters and organizations—such as Veda, Life Time, CLIA, Halo Space, IIAS, AerOhio, and Ohio State University. What is your relationship with them?

Noor: It varies across the board. AerOhio has been a strong supporter of our mission, particularly through community engagement and awareness efforts. As an active skydiver, I've worked closely with the team on initiatives supporting vestibular health and have appreciated their willingness to help us connect with individuals who experience motion-related challenges in aviation and adventure sports.

More formally, we are a member of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) Industry Advisory Council, which allows us to engage directly with clinicians and patients to ensure we keep the patient perspective at the center of our development process. We are also members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and have a video coming out with them as we continue building relationships in the maritime sector.

Halo Space was one of our earliest supporters. I met their team in Saudi Arabia while speaking at an event, and we have an agreement to supply our earbuds for their near-space passengers once commercial flights begin. Lastly, we are highly committed to conducting our clinical research with Ohio State University and have built strong relationships with both their clinical and innovation communities as we explore future research collaborations.

Emilie: What sets Avionova apart from your competitors?

Noor: Today, most options for vestibular symptoms fall into a few categories: medications that help manage symptoms, rehabilitation therapies, and, in more severe cases, surgical interventions. We are seeing more innovation in the wearable space as well, including companies like Otolith Labs, which is developing a device based on Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation.

What sets Avionova apart is our approach. We are developing an earbud-based technology that explores controlled thermal stimulation through the ear canal to interact with the vestibular system. The science is inspired by caloric testing, a long-standing clinical method used to demonstrate how temperature can influence vestibular response.

Our goal is to translate that known biological mechanism into a wearable, non-drug solution that can support people in motion-heavy environments, from expedition travel to aviation and, eventually, broader vestibular care.

Emilie: What has been your proudest recent milestone?

Noor: As a young female founder, self-appreciation does not always come naturally, but there are moments that make you pause and realize how far you have come. One of those moments was being featured by Forbes Middle East and recognized among their top tech leaders of 2026. Seeing that story go live was surreal, especially because it represented not just me, but the years of work, risk, and belief behind Avionova.

Beyond that, I am most proud of how far the technology has come. We have worked through major technical hurdles, and now we are seeing genuine excitement from physicians, patients, and partners who understand the impact this could have. That is the milestone that means the most to me: realizing this is no longer just an idea. It is becoming something people are waiting for.

Emilie: What are the next steps for Avionova? Are you fundraising?

Noor: We are laser-focused on Asterra, our commercial wellness product, as we prepare for upcoming maritime pilots this fall and work toward securing our first purchase orders. To support that next stage, we are raising a $1,000,000 pre-seed round this year.

This funding will help us onboard our first two hires, advance the commercial wellness application, and begin small-scale manufacturing as we move from pilot validation into early revenue.

Emilie: What advice would you give to aspiring young founders who are just starting out?

Noor: I was actually talking to another 21-year-old founder about this recently. When I first started, I was scared because I had experienced failure before. I listened to everyone’s advice and felt like I needed approval from a mentor, friend, or expert before taking the next step.

My advice is simple: the company only moves when you decide to move. Just start building. You will make mistakes, but you will learn along the way.

For a long time, I doubted myself because I am not a physician. But as we built relationships with clinical and research partners at organizations like Ohio State University, the University of Reykjavik, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, I realized that you do not have to know everything yourself. You need to surround yourself with people who believe in the mission and bring the expertise you do not have.

When you start trusting yourself, your team, and your product, that is when the company truly starts moving forward.

Emilie: Finally, why did you decide to participate in the Techstars accelerator, and how did it help grow your company?

Noor: Honestly, it gave us everything. When I first started Avionova, I was playing it super safe, refusing to do anything except apply for grants—but how far can you really get without a physical product?

I actually met Tim Grace through a panel right after my space nonprofit had lost funding due to administrative changes. Tim was speaking about things changing for the better, and I challenged him from the audience, asking how he could say that when nonprofits like ours were losing funds. That spark started a conversation about Avionova, and he told me, "You need to come to my office."

Techstars completely changed my trajectory. It taught me how to build intentionally but adaptably. The brand name and credibility alone have gotten me so far, and the program pushed me out of my comfort zone to learn how to properly network, scale, and fundraise.

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