LED Rabbit tech enhances training for track athletes
May 16, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
A new Lenexa-based tech firm aims to make training for track and field athletes more precise.
Founded in 2015, LED Rabbit is an electronic pacing system that can attach to or overlay any track. The product uses LED lighting to move a marker around a track, offering runners an indicator of what their pace needs to be.
“Coaches typically go through lot of pain developing specific work outs and they use a stopwatch to make sure athletes are on the correct pace,” said Barry Vonada, founder of LED Rabbit. “With LED Rabbit, a coach could be in his office before practice starts, program a complete workout within our mobile application, and then launch the workout. The system takes care of the rest.”
With expertise in LED lighting, sales and engineering, Vonada said the idea came after talks with his daughter, who is a collegiate track and field athlete.
“One of her coaches came to her and was telling her about all the problems they have with training,” Vonada said. “I thought to would be nice to add some LED technology. Any technology in general would be better than a stopwatch and yelling ‘start and stop.’”
After previously trying to secure a patent, Vonada discovered that a similar technology was already being used by Italy-based Indico Technologies. On Friday, LED Rabbit announced that it gained exclusive license to use the technology.
Vonada said that he is relieved to have reached an agreement with Indico Technologies.
“By securing the patent and technology rights, we can now focus our energy on launching The LED Rabbit into the North American market,” Vonada said. “The expertise that our two companies share in LED Lighting Systems coupled with our passion for sports will spawn many new developments in the future.”
The tech will hit the market this fall, targeting high school and collegiate teams. Vonada said he’s focused on securing funding to hire a team and manufacturing the product.
He is confident that, with the help of the Kansas City community, LED Rabbit has a bright future.
“I’ve started to get in a lot of exciting conversations and getting to know people in Kansas City’s startup community,” Vonada said. “It has been really cool for me because I’ve lived in the area forever and I love that the community is really embracing tech startups.”
Watch a video of the LED Rabbit in action below.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Vote now: KCMO competing for spot in accelerator focusing on gender, racial inclusion
KCMO already is a five-star city, Mayor Sly James says, but a new accelerator program could make it even better. “Kansas City’s startup community is growing and innovating, but women and people of color are being left behind,” James says in a pitch video for Living Cities City Accelerator program. A coalition of local organizations,…
Go print yourself! Overland Park doob shop turns selfie concept into 3D replicas
A new shop in Overland Park is supplanting the selfie with the mini me. After first opening shops in Los Angeles and New York City, the Germany-based 3D printing firm doob has arrived in the Kansas City area to 3D print people, groups and pets. The technology, process and results capture moments in time customers…
KCultivator Q&A: Reggie Gray finds magic in connecting entrepreneurs with Black Privilege, no excuses
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space. He’s left his “Magic Man” persona behind, but Reggie Gray can’t quite shake the performer inside him, he said. “Whenever I…
KCSF pivoting away from Village Square coworking, eyes bigger community impact
Village Square developed a waiting list soon after opening in 2015, said Adam Arredondo. But as larger coworking spaces with more amenities and resources debuted, interest waned in the 3,000-square-foot operation at 45th Street and State Line Road. “What’s our most valuable contribution to the community right now?” said Arredondo, CEO of the nonprofit Kansas…