Pine Crest students secure $5,000 in startup funding for head injury safety device at city pitch competition

Pine Crest, Florida – In a remarkable display of innovation, initiative, and social responsibility, four juniors from Pine Crest School have captured the attention of the entrepreneurship world with a groundbreaking invention aimed at protecting female athletes. Their project, a smart headband called DETECHT, recently earned them $5,000 in seed funding at the City of Hollywood Chamber of Commerce SPARK Pitch Competition—a prestigious event typically dominated by adult professionals and startup founders.

The student-led team, consisting of Rodney Henry ’26, Aubrey Goldberg ’26, Sydney Silverstein ’26, and Blake Van Tassel ’26, were not only the youngest presenters in the competition but also the only high school team among a group of seasoned adult entrepreneurs. Despite the odds, they stood out with their pitch, combining high-tech innovation and deep concern for an urgent public health issue.

“The team impressed and captured the attention of a panel of accomplished judges and industry leaders with their innovative solution,” said Mrs. Keri Kolettis, Pine Crest Vice President of Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Science Curriculum Academic Advisor. “It’s extraordinary to see high school students not just compete but excel at this level.”

DETECHT is more than just an invention—it’s a response to a silent crisis. Every year, 3.42 million female high school athletes are at risk for traumatic brain injuries and repeated subconcussive blows. Yet, safety technology for female athletes remains lacking, especially in non-helmeted sports. The Pine Crest team recognized this gap and chose to act.

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Their solution? A sleek, smart headband embedded with sensors that track g-force spikes and rotational movements. By doing so, DETECHT can detect early signs of concussions and microtrauma—especially those subtle impacts that often go unnoticed. The headband collects data through an integrated gyroscope and accelerometer, analyzing how an athlete moves and reacts over time.

What makes DETECHT especially powerful is its adaptive technology. During the first five hours of use, the device studies the wearer’s natural movement patterns and creates a personalized baseline. After that, it monitors the athlete in real-time and flags any force or motion that significantly deviates from the norm, signaling the possibility of an injury that may require medical attention.

Most head injury detection devices currently on the market are built for helmeted sports like football or hockey. DETECHT stands apart by catering specifically to female athletes in sports where helmets are rarely worn—such as soccer, gymnastics, field hockey, and basketball. The product’s customization and lightweight design make it accessible and easy to integrate into everyday training and gameplay.

The versatility of DETECHT speaks volumes about the team’s commitment to practical and inclusive safety solutions. Rather than retrofitting a one-size-fits-all device, they developed a solution that adapts to the athlete, not the other way around. This athlete-centric design is at the heart of why DETECHT continues to earn accolades.

The $5,000 SPARK Pitch Competition win is just the latest recognition for this impressive team. Their list of accomplishments is already long and continues to grow. Most notably, they were crowned Global Champions in the high school division of the MIT Entrepreneurship Club Global Competition, standing out among over 500 teams from 40 countries.

They also earned the title of second runner-up in both the North American and U.S. categories of that same competition and were selected as one of the top 13 finalists in the Diamond Challenge Southeast region, earning them a place at the Pitch Day at the Masters School in New York.

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These achievements speak not only to the strength of their innovation but also to their communication skills, research abilities, and entrepreneurial mindset—traits usually associated with startup founders far older and more experienced.

The $5,000 in seed funding from SPARK will help the team move DETECHT further along the development pipeline. Though still in its early stages, the students plan to use the funds for prototyping, user testing, and refining their algorithms, potentially even bringing the product to market in the near future.

The team is also considering patent applications and future investor pitches as they continue to push DETECHT toward commercial viability. In addition, they remain focused on educating coaches, trainers, and school athletic departments about the importance of personalized head injury monitoring.

While the accolades and funding are impressive, what truly sets this team apart is their genuine dedication to athlete safety. They’re not just trying to build a successful product—they’re trying to make a difference.

In doing so, they’ve redefined what’s possible for high school students in the world of entrepreneurship. They’ve also set a new standard for how young innovators can address real-world issues with intelligence, empathy, and technological skill.

With DETECHT, these four Pine Crest students aren’t just creating a new tool—they’re creating a new conversation about safety in sports and showing the world what’s possible when passion meets purpose.