Michael Bankowski

About Michael Bankowski

Generations of CareMy passion for caregiving was instilled by my beloved late mother, Rose. She served in the United States Air Force before dedicating her career to caring for Veterans at the VA hospital while also caring for her own aging mother and raising two boys by herself. Growing up, I saw firsthand the critical role caregivers play, shaping my lifelong dedication to serving others.Following in my mother’s footsteps, I joined the Air National Guard as a Security Forces member. Early in my career, I sustained an injury, and after September 11th, I was activated into the Air Force for two years. Once I transitioned out of active duty, I pursued a degree in economics at the University of South Dakota, with the goal of working in finance to retire my mom early.Everything changed in 2007 when my mom became seriously ill. For two years, I watched as she fought a long, drawn-out illness until she passed away on April 30, 2009. I was only 27, navigating this painful time with my older brother, Jason. Looking back, even with the support of family and loved ones, it was clear how much we were struggling. Two years later, tragedy struck again when Jason died in a car accident, shifting the course of my life completely.I then spent three years as a licensed nursing home administrator, but I was different. I was out on the floor, working alongside my staff to improve not only the quality of care for residents but also the well-being of caregivers. However, after clashing with corporate leadership over my vision, I left to start my own home care agency in 2014.As a full-time caregiver, I accumulated over hours of caregiving experience. I saw firsthand the challenges families faced—particularly in rural America. One client, living on a farm in South Dakota, had Parkinson’s and ALS. His greatest struggle wasn’t just his declining mobility but the guilt and shame of relying on his wife, who was burning out as his caregiver. Watching their struggle inspired me to invent ROSEIn 2021, I founded Prosperous Robotics to revolutionize mobility and caregiving through AI-driven robotic assistance. ROSE is more than a mobility aid—it provides physical, emotional, and cognitive support to enhance independence, dignity and overall quality of life. Today, our team is building a comprehensive solution spanning software, early intervention, and full robotic assistance. Through partnerships with top universities, healthcare institutions, and industry leaders, we’re creating a future where aging with dignity and independence is not just possible—it’s expected

Experience

1. Co-founder Co-CEO

   Prosperous Robotics Inc

   Apr 2025 — Present

   On April 30, 2025—a date once marked by personal loss—I stepped into my role as Co-Founder & CEO of Prosperous Robotics. What began as a deeply personal journey has now become a global mission: to transform caregiving and restore dignity to millions who face mobility challenges. We are Revolutionizing Caregiving.Prosperous Robotics is not just a company. It’s a calling—shaped by over hours of hands-on caregiving, a service-connected disability, and an unwavering belief that no one should lose their independence simply because there aren’t enough caregivers.Our flagship innovation is ROSE—the Robotic Operating System for Empowerment. ROSE is a patented, AI-powered caregiver robot designed to help the global aging population, veterans, and people with disabilities reclaim their independence and quality of life.We are now preparing for global scale, with satellite offices in Boston and Switzerland and academic partnerships with MIT, Harvard, and Yale. We’re actively pursuing major public and private funding opportunities—including through ARPA-H.This is one of the most urgent innovations of our time. With over 1 billion people facing mobility limitations—and a care workforce in collapse—ROSE isn’t just hope. It’s a solution.This is personal. This is purpose.This is Prosperous Robotics.

Education

• University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business

  Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Business/Managerial Economics

  2001 — 2005

Skills

• Customer Service
• Rehabilitation
• Series 7
• Long Term Acute Care
• Management
• Team Building
• Veterans
• Financial Planning
• Elder Care
• Healthcare
• Strategic Financial Planning
• Leadership
• Home Care
• Finance
• 401k Rollovers
• Banking
• Long-Term Care
• Home Health Agencies
• Insurance
• Retirement Planning
• Healthcare Management
• Strategic Planning