Sean Yu, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Sean Yu, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Chief Innovation Officer, Simbex

Sean brings to Simbex more than 20 years of experience in advanced research and product development. He is equipped with cross-functional engineering expertise from his training and professional development. In academia, Sean’s research focused on human systemic and computational biomechanics, the modeling and digitization of human motion, and physical interventions for human performance. Sean has served as Project Director on NIH-funded research programs at the University of Southern California before shifting from academia to industry. Prior to joining Simbex, he served as Senior Product Architect and BioTech Lead at Garmin International for almost a decade.

With expertise in wearables, biomechanics, human physiology, and algorithm development, Sean has architected and developed medical devices (e.g., higi Health Kiosk), consumer electronics, and differentiated solutions with a human-centered focus and evidence-based approaches. He led and contributed to several projects, including fitness and wellness wearable watches, from biosensor integration and algorithm
development to ideation, system design, and market launch. With multiple provisional and granted patents, he has delivered biomechanics-based wellness programs, algorithmic solutions for wellness monitoring (e.g., Garmin’s Stress Monitoring & Body Battery), software-as-a-service, and consumer-facing wearable products (e.g., Garmin vivoSmart & vivoActive). At Simbex, Sean operates at the intersection of the technology and business worlds, leading and supporting teams on internal and external innovation projects that have led to commercialized products. The product categories span wearables and rehabilitation electromechanical systems, targeting consumer health, Sports-tech, and MedTech markets.

Sean holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics concentration) from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (Solid Mechanics concentration), and a Master of Business Administration degree (Marketing concentration) from the University of Kansas. He is based in Kansas City, Kansas, with his family and travels for business.