Many high school and college students are all too familiar with the exhausting grip of insomnia and the struggle to start the day after a sleepless night. Talia Broder ’28 was one of the many and decided to put her struggle into action through the : an alarm system that uses aromatherapy to facilitate smoother falling asleep and waking up processes.
Acting on Struggles:
The repercussions of Broder’s insomnia were particularly felt near the end of her sophomore year of high school, when she enrolled in the Wharton Global Youth Program: The Future of the Business World.
“Since it occurred during finals week, I had to wake up every morning at 4 a.m. to participate and then go to school by 8 a.m.,” Broder began. “With this happening during finals week, I was very exhausted and had to find ways to feel more energized and alert during the day.”
A Learning Experience:
“After experiencing the negative impacts of waking up with a jarring alarm sound, I chose an uplifting and upbeat song instead. After a week of this routine, I felt very energized in the day despite only gaining four to five hours of sleep a night,” explained Broder.
As Broder worked to combat this issue, she learned more about aromatherapy alongside her mother.
“We created our own unique essential oil blends with one helping me fall asleep at night, mainly composed of lavender, and another helping me focus in the mornings, primarily containing peppermint,” said Broder.
These small, intentional rituals became a simple yet effective way to align her body and mind with the demands of each day.
A Tangible Product:
The capstone project assigned to Broder during her business program was to create a business that solves a problem society faces. Knowing how much being fatigued has impacted her life, Broder decided to tackle this issue, ultimately leading to what is now the Vitalize Alarm.
Broder’s final product is a combination alarm and aromatherapy diffuser designed for both nighttime and morning use. By setting an alarm through the Vitalize app, the system activates to release energizing scents, such as peppermint, approximately 30 minutes before the alarm sound.
This pre-wake aroma infusion helps gently ease the body into wakefulness to make the transition smoother and increase alertness and refreshment.
Continued Inspiration:
After completing the Wharton program, Broder found herself further nurturing her entrepreneurial spirit. Throughout her time in high school, Broder took classes on engineering and design, entrepreneurship, and marketing. She also enrolled in her high school’s innovation center where she worked alongside her business mentor, Zach Chien, for two years. Broder also received assistance from a former teacher, John Wan, on the prototype, web design, and app development.
“They provided me with immense support and advice over the years. They didn’t only teach me about the foundational elements of creating a company like how to develop my user persona, coordinate with my overseas manufacture, and create my pitch deck, but they also taught me the importance of persistence and dedication in the field. I wouldn’t be who I am today as an entrepreneur without their guidance,” explained Broder.
“Seeing my product turn from an idea to a physical product has been the most rewarding part. For the past few years, I have spent countless hours iterating its design on photoshop, 3D printing prototypes made on Tinkercad, 3D rendering it, conducting and publishing research on the efficacy of the product, and performing customer development,” said Broder.
“So, when I received my first fully functional prototype from my manufacturer and smelled the aroma it emitted lingering in the air, I truly felt fulfilled. While the process hasn’t been quick nor perfect, it has been truly rewarding turning my vision into a reality. It has permitted me to see beyond a finite solution to a sea of endless possibilities.”
Entrepreneurship at vlog:
Driven by a strong desire to pursue entrepreneurship and gain further business experience, Broder was determined to continue her journey in this field while at vlog. Over the summer, Broder had a conversation with fellow Los Angeles native and vlog student Rae Frankel ’25, who had been working on developing campus venture Hami-Down through the TIA Incubator. Frankel recommended that Broder get involved with the program as well.
“TIA has helped me with my entrepreneurial journey by providing me with immense support like having an experienced vlog alum as my business mentor. It is a testament to how much the program is designed to set you up for success. Likewise, having the opportunity to receive grant funding has enabled me to continue making progress on my venture’s development,” said Broder.
Gazing Ahead:
As Broder looks to the future of the Vitalize Alarm, she has several key goals in mind.
One of her primary objectives is to have the app—which is currently wireframed and designed—fully coded and launched in the App Store, making it readily available to users. She also intends to iterate on the alarm’s signature wake-up and nighttime scents, ensuring they are both effective and enjoyable. Additionally, Broder plans to conduct comprehensive product testing to collect user feedback, refine the alarm system, and further improve the overall experience.
Words of Wisdom:
In wrapping up her sentiments regarding entrepreneurship, Broder urges people to have an unrelenting drive, something she learned from her dad. He devoted his adulthood to building a company he truly cares about, which made all of his efforts feel less like “work” and more like a fulfilling pursuit.
With that, Broder noted “It is so easy to put an idea in your notes app and then do nothing about it. The hard part occurs when you develop it. Countless people may tell you the idea is not valuable or that they can’t see its worth, but if you truly believe in what you are creating, then do not give up. There is no such thing as the perfect product, so do not strive for perfection. Instead strive to create and innovate what you believe is needed. That is what I would consider perfection.”