Written By Horace Arnold, Published June 22, 2023
Dariia Hordiiuk is the co-founder and CTO of AiSport, a San Francisco-based company that develops software to help people avoid injuries, increase workout effectiveness, and save money on personal coaching. In this article, she shares her entrepreneurial journey as a Ukrainian-born Machine Learning engineer passionate about technology.
Please tell us a bit about your background.
With over 8 years of experience in Machine Learning and Software Development, I have combined my passions for technology and sports to embark on a founding journey with Anna Stepura. Together we decided to start a company, driven by our love for business and our eagerness to tackle complex tasks.
Please tell us more about this new technology that helps people improve their workout technique – how did you come up with this idea and why did you choose to develop a technology in the sports & health area?
The idea came to me during the COVID-19 pandemic when I was doing crossfit at home and I struggled to keep track of repetitions, while I also lacked guidance for some exercises. As a Machine Learning engineer, I explored the potential applications of computer vision to solve this problem. Later, I met Anna Stepura, a professional fitness coach who shared a similar idea from a coach’s perspective. Together, we founded AiSport to develop technology in the sports and health areas. Our technology uses real-time motion tracking to detect mistakes in workout techniques and provide feedback to improve performance.
How does your project work, what is unique about it?
We’re building a real-time AI fitness coach that tracks workout techniques, equipment motion, and provides post-training analytics. The technology uses real-time data processing to recognize and analyze 2D and 3D skeletons, extract motion patterns and track equipment with a high level of accuracy. The models can detect mistakes, match patterns, count repetitions and provide instant feedback and insights with Generative AI. The technology is applicable to improving sports and fitness performance, reducing the risk of injury, saving time and increasing the efficiency of coaches and athletes, by providing individual clients, clubs, and enterprises with a personal AI coach.
What are your personal goals related to this project? Do you want to continue developing it or would you see yourself selling it and trying something new?
My personal goal is to get this technology into the hands of people who want to improve their technique, prevent injuries and have a healthy lifestyle. I truly believe that having good technique improves productivity, well-being and the way you are perceived by others. I feel like the project is just starting, and I want to be there to make sure it reaches its full potential. While bigger companies will try to find financial value in the project, I want to create actual value that can help improve people’s lives and health. I want to give people the opportunity to have their own personal fitness coach, something that was previously available only to those who could afford it. Additionally, I want to expand this technology to any sport. I see myself continuing to develop this project and making it accessible to as many people as possible.
How do you see technology evolving in your industry in the next few years?
In the next few years, we anticipate that the technology will be further developed to be even more accessible, scalable and applicable to a wider range of sports and fitness activities. We expect that this will drive innovation and improve the quality of products available to people.
