Movement Interactive, Inc. is a developer of wearable technology to address undiagnosed concussions and unreported falls. The Phoenix-based company’s patented Hiji®Band & Hiji®Sense are comfortable and versatile headbands and calf compression sleeves. The wearables include Bluetooth sensor technology that connects to a mobile app to provide real-time data directly to family members, coaches and staff about possible concussion-strength impacts and falls for athletes and senior citizens.
“After 14 years in senior leadership roles at the United States Department of Defense as a nuclear, biological and chemical specialist and a research scientist and engineer, I began my work in the design of person-centered healthcare technologies,” Eric Luster, Ph.D., explains. “In 2012, I leveraged my expertise and industry knowledge to invent the Hiji®Band, a wearable device created to detect and report traumatic brain injury in athletics.” And the following year, he founded Movement Interactive.
And continued to develop the wearables. “As we engaged with our customers and genuinely listened to their feedback — while conducting customer discovery for a grant awarded through NSF — an important realization dawned upon us,” he shares. The customer discovery process prompted efforts to design a versatile device for both helmeted (e.g., football, which had been the initial focus), and unhelmeted (e.g., soccer) sports. “This revelation was a humbling moment, as we recognized that we had been overlooking a significant portion of the market. We seized this opportunity for growth and transformation, taking the time to deeply understand our customers’ pain points and challenges across various sports. These invaluable insights guided our product development and enabled us to address the broader problem of concussions in sports.”
And its impact went deeper than that. “This shift in mindset and approach had a profound impact on our company,” Dr. Luster relates. “By embracing a person-centered approach and considering multiple sports, we were not only able to create a product that resonated with our target audience but also provide scalable solutions. Moreover, this advice influenced our company culture, fostering an environment that encouraged open dialogue, continuous learning, and adaptability.”
Biggest Challenges in Starting and Growing the Company
“As an African American Portfolio Entrepreneur in Arizona, I have encountered multiple obstacles, with one of the most prominent being the lack of access to capital,” says Dr. Luster. The company’s multi-faceted approach to overcoming that challenge included actively seeking out alternative funding sources beyond traditional venture capitalists such as grants, loans, small investor circles and partnerships with organizations that support veterans and entrepreneurs. “By tapping into these resources and building connections, we were able to secure a portion of the funds needed to achieve initial milestones.”
Another challenge was completing the validation process to prove the technology works so the company could move on to the commercialization process of its products. “We applied for and became a cohort member of the WearTech Applied Research Center in 2022, which has supported accelerating the development of the Hiji technology through public-private partnerships,” says Dr. Luster. This enabled the company to take advantage of matching funds and connect with university researchers to complete the technology validation process as well as make contacts who could help identify the resources needed to manufacture and commercialize our new products.
“We also embraced the power of storytelling to communicate our journey and market our business,” says Dr. Luster. “We found that by sharing our personal experiences and highlighting the unique perspectives we brought to the table, we captivated investors who were open-minded and understood the need for our newly developed technology.”
Did You Know: Movement Interactive recently partnered with Valor Health as part of the $1.03-billion contract Valor was awarded to provide remote patient monitoring services for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. This landmark contract represents the largest remote patient monitoring effort in the federal government. Movement Interactive’s software alongside existing telemedicine solutions at VA care facilities will help address major concerns for both veterans and staff.
Photos courtesy of Movement Interactive
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