Gabriel Mecklenburg, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Hinge Health, is driven by a belief that even outdated systems can be radically improved through experimentation and persistence. His own journey recovering from a torn ACL illuminated the flaws of conventional musculoskeletal care. What started as a judo injury led to the realization that physical therapy hadn’t evolved in decades. “You have to do the uncomfortable thing as a founder and just put yourself out there and hear ninety nine No’s from people until you hear that one Yes,” he says. That grit defined the early days of Hinge Health, which now provides digital MSK care to over 18 million people through 2,000 enterprise clients.
Born in Germany, Mecklenburg earned a master’s degree in materials science from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree in bioengineering from Imperial College London. At Hinge Health, he focuses on building operational and research systems that support high-performance clinical teams and scalable digital care. Before Hinge, he co-founded two other startups with Daniel Perez, his longtime collaborator and now CEO of Hinge Health. His work is grounded in his scientific training and operational mindset, traits that proved essential as the company grew from a kitchen-table prototype to a global leader in MSK care.
Mecklenburg’s approach to healthcare innovation is deeply iterative. He recalls building the first version of Hinge’s therapy sensors from Arduino kits and sewing the straps by hand. That early prototype helped their first user cut her knee pain in half and proved they had something real. Today, Hinge Health uses AI-powered motion tracking, personalized coaching, and even non-invasive pain relief devices like Enso to guide patients. “If the market needs and the user needs are real enough, the product can be totally garbage… people will still use it,” Mecklenburg says. That pragmatic yet bold approach continues to define his mission: reimagining rehab for millions.