What if part of an athlete's gear could warn of a possible head injury?

That's the idea behind the FitGuard, a new wearable created by Anthony Gonzales and Bob Merriman.  This is a "smart" mouth guard that lights up when a player has taken a head impact.  And the FitGuard could make a huge difference in youth sports.

Anthony is the CEO, and Bob the COO, of new startup Force Impact Technologies.   The FitGuard is Force Impact Technologies' first product.

Anthony and Bob have MBAs in business administration and business management, as well as extensive sports careers.  Bob's youth-sports background includes football and golf, and he has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.  Meanwhile, Anthony's background includes wrestling, rugby, and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.  He is also the president and founder of  Live Jiu-Jitsu, a nonprofit created to help underprivileged athletes reach their potential.

After completing a four-month mentorship program at new Los Angeles hardware accelerator MakeInLA, Bob and Anthony showcased their innovation at the program's first Hardware Demo Day.  Here, they discuss the origins of the FitGuard, the steps they've taken as entrepreneurs, what worked for them, and the ways they hope to improve the safety of athletics.
On this episode of Over Coffee® you'll hear:


How Anthony and Bob first became involved in sports;


Some scary current statistics on the head-injury risks athletes face on the field;


How Anthony and Bob founded Force Impact Technologies;


Anthony's own playing-field experience that would ultimately lead to the creation of the FitGuard;


The steps involved in making the new innovation a practical wearable;


How the FitGuard works;


The main challenges involved in making their innovation a reality;


How investors can get involved;


Their goals in partnering with sports leagues and associations;


Their next steps in developing the FitGuard;


The difference in the way male and female athletes react to a head impact;


What resources served both Bob and Anthony best, in their journey as makers;


Their future vision for Force Impact Technologies;


Their favorite experiences since creating the FitGuard.