Tsense wins Rep. James Comer’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Kentucky’s First District

When asked what inspired the creation of Tsense, Shuban Gowda said, “For nearly twelve years of my life, I lived with uncontrolled tics, but without a medical assessment or diagnosis. What began as small, involuntary movements grew into something that dictated every part of my life, from classrooms where pencils slipped from my hand to family dinners where silence was filled with tension instead of comfort. Each day was shaped by a condition no one seemed able to fully explain. My family searched for help, but access to a Tourette’s Syndrome specialist was nearly impossible. The specialists were hours away, appointments took months to secure, and the lack of answers slowly eroded both my studies and my home life.

“This absence of care was devastating. Without guidance, my family and I were left to argue, guess, and hope. The years of uncertainty were some of the hardest we endured together. What struck me most, though, was realizing that my story was not unique. Thousands of children face the same reality: living with tics that affect their confidence, education, and relationships, yet having no immediate access to the specialists who could help them.

“Out of this pain grew my passion. While I couldn’t change the shortage of specialists overnight, I realized I could use my growing skills in software to at least give families a starting point. I began studying how specialists conduct evaluations and how research frames diagnosis, and I asked myself: What if I could translate that into a digital tool? An app? Not to replace doctors, but to bridge the gap between overlooked suffering and professional care.

“That same question became this app. It is my attempt to transform years of frustration into something constructive: an app that provides early insight, guided assessments, and next steps for families like mine.

“For me, entering the Congressional App Challenge is not simply about recognition. Winning would matter less than knowing that this app could reach more people, raise awareness, and help children avoid the years of confusion and hardship I endured. My inspiration is deeply personal: I want no child, no parent, and no family to suffer as mine did. This app is my way of fighting back against that silence and giving others the answers I once desperately needed.”