PALM HARBOR, Fla. — For the past seven months, three Palm Harbor High School seniors have been working on developing an app using artificial intelligence.
Ajitesh Bushireddy, Leonard Seth Jr., and Ryan Koo, along with 122 other students, did this work in a program called Connect-IT 360.
After being encouraged by their mentors to do something related to artificial intelligence, the three friends decided they wanted to create something related to fitness.
The truth is, they were all beginners, even though they were interested in working out.
“Lenny actually didn't know what he was doing,” Bisiledi said. “And actually, he did it too much and got hurt once. He lifted too much once and hurt his lower back. Ryan tore something and was trying to recover from that. Right. And sprained it. I ended up taking a break from the gym for about two weeks.”
They created a fitness app called New2Fit. Features include personalized workout plans, AI-powered form correction, gym finder, community chat, and more.
The New2Fit app tracks your body movements and allows you to adjust your form during your workout. (Spectrum News)
Through Connect-IT 360, the trio competed against other students in the Next Gen Tech 360 competition and won.
They received a $10,000 check to further develop the app and a 30-minute Zoom session with business guru Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank fame.
Harrington usually only gives feedback to winning teams, but this time he offered a strategy session. It was my first time.
“We do a strategy session with the whole team,” Harrington said in a YouTube video posted by Connect-IT 360. Congratulations. “
For Robyn Mussler, founder and CEO of Connect-IT 360, ideas and suggestions like this have always been a hope.
“This was actually my strategy and vision for the program,” Mussler said. “Once you see that these kids are really capable and you show them what you’re working on, you can really make a living and become very respectable in your field.”
She believes the New2Fit app is worth millions of dollars.
“It's definitely going to be in the millions of dollars,” Masler said.
For the three 17-year-olds, that amount is immeasurable.
“Well, I won $10,000, so I was going crazy,” Bisiledi laughed. “I like Taco Bell. I'll be fine next year. I'll be fine with Taco Bell for the next year.”
Taco Bell is definitely in the boys' future, and it will take a lot of effort to fully develop the app and bring it to market.
