Spotlight On … Spero Koulouras

Spero Koulouras grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a Greek family, surrounded by many cousins. With a passion for sports, especially baseball, he dreamed of becoming a professional player for the Detroit Tigers. However, at 5’6” and 160 lbs, he decided to pursue a career in computer science instead. Spero was also inspired by his mother, who worked with blind children, to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities through technology.

He graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan. In 1981, Spero’s first tech job focused on implementing assistive switches as keyboard alternatives for the Apple II computer. He also worked as an engineer for over 14 years at Hewlett-Packard (HP), specializing in text-to-speech, voice recognition, and telecom technologies. His projects at HP took him to various places, including France, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and across the United States. It was while working with HP in California that he met a fellow engineer, Kari Bordsen, who became his wife of now 32 years.

Drawn into the world of Silicon Valley startups, Spero went on to lead the development of telecom, server, security, and business continuity products from 1996 to 2008. Afterward, he decided to take a break from tech to develop a 33-acre vineyard estate in Sonoma. 

Spero later explored alternative energy and transitioned into home automation. During this time, he and Kari were raising their daughter, Thea, in the town of Los Gatos. Like her father, Thea developed a love for sports. As a family deeply involved in sports, it was only natural that Spero became a travel softball coach.

In 2017, while Spero was at a tournament, the girls requested that he throw and hit the softball with more force. Fly balls during practice were not going as far, and the infielders pleaded for him to hit harder grounders. Initially, he assumed it was due to carpal tunnel, as his wrists became cramped and his grip weakened.

In the fall of 2019, after six months of doctor visits and tests, Spero was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 59. Over the next three years, he lost function in his right hand and arm. Now, after living with ALS for a little over five years, he has also lost function in his left arm and his ability to speak.

Following his diagnosis, Spero recognized that one of the many challenges of ALS is the high cost of durable medical equipment and navigating insurance processes. Determined to maintain his independence and help others do the same, he returned to his roots, focusing on affordable applications of AI and robotics.

“Everyone with ALS faces a unique progression and a finite timeline. Figure out what is important to you and let other stuff drop.” – Spero Koulouras

Spero then assembled a team at UC San Diego that was eager to innovate. Finn Biggs, a Computational Physics major, was brought on board to create a California Benefit Corporation. He enlisted Michael Fierro to help form the founding technical team. Together, Spero, Finn, and Michael launched AULI.TECH in 2023 with the mission to remove barriers in daily life for individuals with disabilities. Allen Cantwell, a colleague from HP, joined the team to build partnerships.

“…the tech is just now good enough that it can be used to make something for something for one person affordably. And we don’t have to be Tony Stark and we don’t need to fly. But if we can walk and use our limbs a little bit longer, we can dramatically reduce the cost of care and maintain independence,” Spero shared in his documentary, “Autonomous,” by RadioWest and Delaney Plant.

The initial prototypes for their device, Cato, were showcased in October 2022 at the ALS Association San Diego Walk. Cato is a compact, wearable wireless IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit, or Motion Controller) device that harnesses the power of machine learning and edge AI to provide a personalizable solution for individuals with motor impairments. AULI.TECH aims to secure enough funding from foundations to distribute their products to 1,000 disabled individuals for free in 2024.

In addition to his efforts at AULI.TECH, Spero became an ALS advocate, connecting with many ALS organizations, including the ALS Network (formerly ALS Golden West). He has participated in ALS awareness events throughout California. In 2023, Spero and his wife, Kari, joined the San Francisco Giants, and the ALS community for Lou Gehrig Day. This year, he attended the I AM ALS Community Summit and Flag Event, in collaboration with the ALS Network. He has also taken part in ALS Network connection groups, ASK ME educational webinars, and the Napa Valley Ride, Walk & Roll to Cure ALS.

AULI.TECH would like to provide Cato at no cost to people with ALS, and has built relationships focused on the development of Assistive Tech with teams at MIT, Berkeley, and UCLA. If you are interested in more information about joining their beta trial for the Cato, please fill out this Beta Interest Form.

The ALS Network is grateful to Spero, his family, and AULI.TECH for their dedication to those affected by ALS and their willingness to share their story.