For Akepko Gasonoo, science has always been about solving real-world problems. As an academic and researcher, he has spent 16 years in the lab developing and refining the OLED technology that powers PrintedSUN, a company using light in new ways, from wearable therapy devices to AgriTech and signage.
Traditional LED chips are bulky, require high-vacuum processes, and need to be made at high temperatures. PrintedSUN’s surface lighting solution is less than one micrometre thick, lightweight, and adaptable. It is a game-changer for industries that rely on precision lighting on conformable surfaces.
Bringing Healthcare Closer to the People Who Need It
Akpeko is driven by one goal: making healthcare more accessible and designed with the patient in mind. Unlike traditional LED therapy devices, PrintedSUN’s applications allow for eco-friendly, lightweight wearable wraps that deliver uniform, large-area therapeutic light, enabling effective phototherapy that supports home care and real-time monitoring.
“A vision of providing good health and well-being for people drives me to keep
going. That keeps me motivated through the challenges that come with
being an entrepreneur and a founder.”
Phototherapy is highly sensitive to skin tone, something most traditional medical devices do not account for. PrintedSUN’s approach changes that. With OLED technology, treatments can be fine-tuned to match the exact pigmentation of each patient, ensuring more effective care.
Working Around Biases
As a Black immigrant, Akpeko has noticed subtle biases in Canadian culture, the oversight of varied skin tones in the production of medical devices being only one. He struggled to find his place. Was he an academic? An entrepreneur? An innovator? The intersection of these identities was not always clear, and the barriers in front of him often felt overwhelming.
“Coming from an academic background with no formal business training,
purely my transition from pure research into the innovation space has
inspired many in the academic community, showing that it’s possible to
commercialise research for the greater good of society. Many things are
being discovered in our universities and our labs, but they aren’t being used.
For me, as an academic, getting into the innovation space is an
encouragement to those in my community, and in the world of academia, to
do something about the challenges that devil our world today.”
Carrying the Torch for the Next Generation
Being in rooms where he didn’t see many people like himself was not easy. Having mentors, coaches, and peers who didn’t share the same lived experience was intimidating. But for Gasonoo, that is exactly why pushing forward is so important.
“It falls on us to carry the torch. There are success stories, and we can continue
in their footsteps. Breaking the stereotype is a challenge that makes us
stronger.”
Akpeko’s journey has been one of continuous learning. His work is built on research, testing, and adapting. If an idea does not work, he simply sticks to his philosophy:
“You win or you learn.”
When things get tough, he falls back on his primary mission that started it all: making healthcare more accessible and personalised for everyone. And he is just getting started.
