Davide Vigano of Sensoria
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Davide Vigano, the co-founder and CEO of Sensoria, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of Sensoria – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
In 2011, when Sensoria was first incorporated, the wearable marketplace was still nascent. One of the most underserved parts of the body in terms of sensing and monitoring technology were the human feet. We wanted to let people know not only how far and fast they run, but also, and more importantly, how well they run to reduce risk of injury. We were able to accomplish this goal by embedding textile pressure sensing technology into the plantar area of the foot coupled with microelectronics and a mobile application, including our artificial intelligence coach, Mara. The system can provide real time audio feedback to the runner through its earbuds and data on the Sensoria Run 2.0 mobile app and a dedicated cloud dashboard sharable with a coach or personal trainer.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
Finding reliable textile sensors in the marketplace that met our criteria for durability, washability, comfort, etc. We ended up having to create our own proprietary textile pressure sensors. This development and then the integration and manufacturability aspects took more time than we had originally envisioned, as well as engineering resources.
What does the future hold for Sensoria?
The future is extremely bright for Sensoria. We have created a full cloud + mobile + smart garment technology platform. As an example, Sensoria Core is a microelectronic device that can be leveraged in multiple IoMe (IoT hub for humans) scenarios, both in fitness and in healthcare. In 2018, we also created a company dedicated to healthcare (Sensoria Health) in an effort to address the remote monitoring needs of the aging population. You can learn more about our current solutions and find additional information at www.sensoriahealth.com.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Redmond?
I believe our tech scene is incredibly robust by now. Redmond has access to an incredible talent pool both through academia, medical device companies in the area, and of course, technology giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Google and FB. I also believe that the rent affordability and walkability of Redmond is far superior to some of the other options in the local area.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
It will take more time, more energy, more resources than you ever thought imaginable, but nothing pays like persistence. The top three criteria that investors look for: the team, the team, and the team. Surround yourself with people that complement your skill set, offer unique perspectives, and are willing to work as diligently as you are to bring your idea to fruition. Be always pragmatic, honest, respectful, and stay 200% focused on your vision. That’s the only way to make it happen. Maybe!