Drawing Inspiration from Everyday Life, She Uses AI to Reinvent Breast Cancer Rehabilitation

Editor's Note: With Shenzhen set to host the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, Guangdong is unlocking new global opportunities for Asia-Pacific youth. Produced by the International Communication Center of Southern Finance Media Corp., the youth program "Gen Z Pop Quiz" launches the special video series "Asia-Pacific Youth on Guangdong." Aligned with the three priorities for the APEC "China Year"—openness, innovation, and cooperation—the series spotlights young entrepreneurs from APEC economies who are visiting or starting businesses in Guangdong, sharing their real experiences of cross-cultural integration and their entrepreneurial stories in the province.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While medical advances have significantly improved survival rates, the journey to full recovery often faces a hidden hurdle: post-operative home rehabilitation. For many survivors, this period is marked by tedious exercises and emotional stress.

Mariia Rumiantseva—an experienced IT professional from Russia and the Founder and CEO of Mekla, a startup based in Guangzhou's Nansha District—is working to change that.

Mariia and her team are building an AI-powered home rehabilitation platform. By combining AI and computer vision with gamified interactive designs, the platform transforms repetitive recovery routines into an engaging experience while providing doctors with key clinical data. This creative approach draws inspiration from her everyday life in Guangdong, spanning from bustling night markets to serene local landscapes.

Operating from Guangdong Medical Valley, a national-level tech incubator in Nansha, Mariia's startup benefits from a robust biotech ecosystem and seamless connections to industry partners. Additionally, Nansha's policies provide her company with vital legal and operational support.

With Shenzhen set to host the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from November 18 to 19, Mariia sees boundless opportunities within the region's expanding innovation ecosystem. She is closely following the summit's agenda on startups and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). For her, APEC's focus on digital innovation and cross-border collaboration directly meets Mekla's current needs, whether it's gathering insights for her upcoming testing phase or tracking industry trends. Ultimately, she believes the opportunities brought by the summit will take root and flourish in the region, offering the exact resources and market intelligence she needs to scale her social enterprise.

What inspired this Russian entrepreneur to turn everyday life in Guangdong into an AI solution for breast cancer rehabilitation? Find out in this episode of "Asia-Pacific Youth on Guangdong"!

Chief Producer: Zhao Haijian

Supervising Producer: Huang Yanshu

Content Producers: Huang Zihao, Wu Wanjie

Poster Design: Zheng Jiaqi

Overseas Operations Supervising Producer: Huang Yanshu

Overseas Content Coordinator: Huang Zihao

Overseas Operations Editors: Zhuang Huan, Wu Wanjie, Long Lihua, Zheng Quanyi

Produced by: Southern Finance Media Corp.