2nd Skull, a company that creates protective skull caps for tough contact sports such as football and rugby, has received $100,000 in funding from the NFL as part of HeadHealthTECH Challenge II, it was announced Wednesday.
The competition, conducted by the NFL and Football Research Institute and managed by Duke University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, asks companies and individuals to submit their ideas for protective equipment across a range of football applications. The design and innovation challenge began in November 2016.
The ideas that are considered to have the most potential — as judged by an expert panel chosen by the Duke institute and FRI — are awarded funding up to $1 million total between the winners, as well as support, according to the announcement. HeadHealthTECH Challenge II attracted 85 proposals.
“The TECH Challenge series is designed to identify promising innovations that improve sports safety,” Jeff Miller, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Health and Safety Initiatives, said in a statement. “This effort not only provides finalists with needed funding to advance these technologies, but all of those who submit proposals also receive invaluable mentorship and feedback from our partners at Duke CTSI.”
2nd Skull, with an impact-absorbing skull cap designed to fit under football helmets, is one of three companies that won the competition. The others are Baytech Products, which was awarded $178,000 to develop a helmet prototype, and Windpact, which was given $148,000 to prototype and test an air-restricting foam helmet liner.
“The NFL and FRI have shown tremendous vision and concern for the health and safety of its players. 2nd Skull is honored to have been chosen to be a recipient of the NFL HeadHealth TECH Challenge II award,” 2nd Skull CEO Vaughan Blaxter said in a statement. “Our goal has always been to provide the greatest protection to all athletes, and become the ultimate safeguard for the NFL and any athlete playing sports.”
“We are looking at the safety needs of every athlete, and testing the skull cap to provide the greatest customized protection,” Michael Oh, M.D., a Drexel University neurosurgery professor and medical advisor to 2nd Skull, said in a statement. “With this funding from the NFL, we will be able to gather additional impact data and optimize 2nd Skull cap materials.”
2nd Skull was recently adopted by the American 7s Football League, a tackle football league in which players don’t wear helmets or pads. With the funding from this competition, the company can improve the product’s materials and composition, and perhaps create something NFL players will flock to for use in practice and during games.