Katelyn Holt, NEMIC Fellow and KOLT Innovations Founder, named 2025 PBN Healthcare Hero & 2025 RIBC Winner
Journey From Bedside to Breakthrough
At the heart of every healthcare innovation is someone who sees a problem not as an obstacle—but as a call to action. For Katelyn Holt, that moment came during a drive home after a long nursing shift, reflecting on a patient who had suffered unnecessarily due to inadequate urinary care products. That quiet moment sparked an idea—one that would take her from a seasoned cardiac nurse to a full-time medical device entrepreneur and one of Rhode Island’s most inspiring innovators.
A Nurse with a Vision
A proud graduate of Salve Regina University, Katelyn dedicated over 14 years to bedside nursing, primarily in cardiac care. During that time, she saw firsthand how current solutions for male urinary incontinence failed to preserve patient comfort, skin health, or dignity.
In 2015, inspired by the gentle tension of a child’s finger trap toy, she sketched a concept that would eventually evolve into the KT Cath—an external urinary catheter designed for men. After years of refinement, she was awarded a patent in 2020. Just two years later, she made the leap from clinical practice to full-time entrepreneurship, launching her company, KOLT Innovations.
Innovating with Purpose: The KT Cath
The KT Cath offers a significant improvement over existing incontinence products. Built with a soft, flexible braid mechanism that gently conforms to the body, the device ensures a secure fit and effective urine drainage—without the common issues of slipping, tugging, or skin damage.
“You only need one KT Cath for a 24-hour period,” Katelyn explains. “It decreases the amount of diapers used, reduces the need for lotions, and—most importantly—makes the patient more comfortable, dry, and mobile. No adult wants to wear a diaper.”
The KT Cath is currently undergoing early testing, with encouraging feedback from both patients and clinicians.
Growing with Support
While Katelyn has been the driving force behind KOLT Innovations, she’s also leveraged key support along the way. In 2022, she joined NEMIC’s Med Tech Leadership Program (MTLP) to gain critical insight into commercialization, regulatory pathways, intellectual property, and go-to-market strategy. Her clinical expertise and entrepreneurial drive made an immediate impression.
Following MTLP, she was accepted into NEMIC’s EMPOWER Accelerator Program, designed to provide tailored technical assistance to underrepresented entrepreneurs in health and wellness. Through EMPOWER, she found deeper mentorship, access to tools, and a supportive community that helped bring her vision into sharper focus.
Katelyn continues to work closely with NEMIC, regularly engaging with NEMIC’s cofounders, Aidan Petrie and Lydia Shin Schroter.This ongoing relationship has helped her refine both product and business fundamentals.
Recognition and Momentum
Katelyn’s work is gaining well-deserved recognition. Her recent milestones include:
$75,000 Innovation Voucher from RI Commerce (2023) for product refinement with Nova Design
Healthcare Hero Award from Providence Business News (April 2025) for her impact on patient care
Winner of the 2025 Rhode Island Business Competition (April 2025), recognizing KOLT Innovations as a top emerging startup
Awarded a catalyst grant from the Rhode Island Life Science Hub (May 2025) to support clinical evaluation and gather patient feedback
She also recently shared her story in The Boston Globe, highlighting both her personal journey and the unmet need her product addresses.
Looking Ahead
With a new non-provisional patent underway for an updated KT Cath, Katelyn is actively seeking manufacturing partners to bring the product to market. She continues to grow KOLT Innovations while raising her family—driven by the same empathy and patient-first mindset that defined her nursing career.
Though early-stage funding remains a hurdle, Katelyn remains hopeful and energized by Rhode Island’s expanding innovation ecosystem.
“More grants are always the best for startups,” she noted in her PBN interview, underscoring the need for continued investment in clinician-led innovation.
A Story Worth Watching
Katelyn Holt’s path from nurse to inventor is a powerful reminder of how firsthand experience, paired with persistence and the right support, can lead to transformative change. Her work has the potential to redefine urinary care for millions—offering patients greater comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Stay tuned as KOLT Innovations continues to grow—reshaping the future of care, one patient at a time.
