Mechanical engineering grad students to star on SEC Network pitch competition
Published: Jul 12, 2024 10:00 AM
By Jeremy Henderson
David Hollinger, a doctoral student in Auburn University's Biomechanical Engineering Lab (AUBE Lab), says he's been running with the idea for years. Now it's on the verge of truly hitting its stride.
Hollinger, along with mechanical engineering master's student David Edmondson and Auburn MBA student Allison Tanner, both former Auburn track and field athletes, recently showcased their groundbreaking startup, The Digital Athlete, on a new “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition featuring student-athlete entrepreneurs that will air Monday night on the SEC Network.
“Participating in the SEC Start Up was an incredible experience,” Hollinger said. “I was blessed to have the opportunity to pitch a product that has been in my mind since I was a freshman in high school running track and cross country in Virginia.”
Developed with guidance offered through Auburn University's New Venture Accelerator, The Digital Athlete is a smartphone app utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to provide quick, affordable and accessible human motion analysis. Though the technology is currently focused on running biomechanics, the team plans to expand the app to include personalized biomechanical recommendations applicable to the entire athletics spectrum.
“While not all athletes train specifically for running, most use running as part of their training regimen,” Hollinger said. “We want The Digital Athlete to include any sport or movement where precise biomechanics are crucial for success.”
If that's vision enough to sell the show's panel of judges, a $10,000 first-place prize awaits.
"If we win, we'd like to use the award money to test the viability of the app at a local running store, Love 2 Run," Hollinger said. "This would help offset the costs of setting up a treadmill and smartphone cameras to track the customer's biomechanics."
AUBE Lab director Michael Zabala, Auburn Alumni Engineering Council Associate Professor, likes the team's chances.
“I'm proud of David and the opportunity he and his team have to be in front of a national audience discussing the great work he’s done in the AUBE Lab translating research into a commercial product," he said. "The Digital Athlete is positioned to take full advantage of the latest in artificial intelligence to empower athletes at any level to enhance performance and reduce likelihood of injury."
SEC Startup airs Monday, July 15 at 6 p.m. CST.
Media Contact: , jdh0123@auburn.edu, 334-844-3591
Mechanical engineering doctoral student David Hollinger (left) and mechanical engineering master's student David Edmondson (right), co-founders of The Digital Athlete, along with co-founder and Auburn MBA student Allison Tanner, on the set of SEC Start Up.
