New technology from startup ventures is transforming the global sports industry. This Startup Series has introduced over 200 startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience by allowing Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story and pitch their idea. Feel free to submit your startup’s answers to the below questions or contact us if you know of a startup that should be considered for inclusion in this series.
Company name: Nix
Founder(s): Meridith Unger
Headquarters: Boston, MA
1. What is your elevator pitch?
Millions of athletes are guessing their hydration needs and getting it wrong, with significant consequences to performance and safety. With proprietary technology developed at the Harvard School of Engineering, and with the world’s leading hydration experts and physiologists, Nix is developing a single use hydration sensor that informs athletes’ hydration strategy: when to drink, what to drink, and how much to drink.
2. Problem & Solution
Today, there is no better gauge for hydration status in real-time than thirst and estimated sweat rate, which are notoriously poor and delayed indicators of fluid needs. Even mild levels of dehydration can initiate a cascade of physiological changes that impose cardio-respiratory stress, compromise thermoregulation, and significantly impair physical and cognitive performance.
The Nix hydration sensor reversibly detects changes in sweat composition in real-time, enabling athletes to optimize their hydration during a workout, race, or game. The thin, conformal patch sends visual cues to the user to take action with any change in hydration status. It also tracks the composition of sweat that an athlete is losing, and recommends water or an electrolyte drink for replenishing. Individual fluid needs vary, and the Nix biometric hydration sensor enables athletes over time to better understand their bodies and optimize their personalized hydration strategy.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Our initial product is for endurance athletes including runners and cyclists. Our digital connected sensor is in development for team sports, the military, and laborers.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
Our patented sensor technology is low-cost to manufacture, and we will make money from the sale of sensors through retail channel partners and online sales.
5. Management Team – with titles
Meridith Unger – Founder & CEO
Ida Pavlichenko – Lead Materials Scientist
Jamie Nichol – Lead Engineer
6. Anything else you want the audience to know about your venture?
If you’re an investor, startup founder or influencer, we recommend you check out ProInfluence, a platform that is uniting sports entrepreneurs and leaders to form mutually beneficial business partnerships.