His interest in body movement led Von to a certification in pedorthics, the practice of making braces, orthotics and foot and ankle devices. He went on to earn his master’s degree in biomechanics and human movement, then finally a doctorate in computational neuroscience. The idea for the company itself emerged nearly a decade ago from the technology that Von developed based on the question of whether his algorithms could predict human movement to prevent injury.
“The technology can predict the accuracy of movement and predict when there’s something off, so we can help people move more efficiently,” Nicole says. “As years progressed and our data enlarged, the algorithm became more advanced.”
While the science advanced, so did the search for places they could apply it. After Nicole, who was in the midst of her studies for a master’s degree in business administration, suggested doing a study on how they could apply the technology to the marketplace, she discovered that there was a significant need in the sports industry to predict and prevent foot and ankle injuries. She realized that their technology could potentially be used to test footwear for movement and endurance characteristics.
With a grant from the National Science Foundation, Hx performed pilot studies with professional, college and high school athletics programs, perfecting the technology and reporting.
“We found a need there, and we started building a plan around it,” Nicole says.
Nicole made building that plan easier thanks to her experience in supply chain logistics during her eight years serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“I like to build things and organize structures and foundations, so I think with our combined skill set, Hx was bound to come about,” she says. “If we create something and determine we can go with it, we’re going to press the limits, use our resources and do what we need to do to get it done.”
The moment when the pair realized they genuinely had a viable business model was in June 2019, when they officially established Hx Innovations. Six months later, though, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the pair wondered how a business built on in-person movement testing would be able to survive with lockdowns and social distancing in place.
They survived by pivoting back to the science that birthed the idea for the company – footwear endurance testing. Doing so allowed for a pilot program using small groups of people as the Homers waited for society to open back up. Eventually, they landed their first big footwear testing client, which gave them the extra boost they needed.
“We were excited that the science could solve a real problem in the footwear space, but decided to stay within sports science to meet a bigger need,” Nicole says. “Our resolve was to establish ourselves in the Delaware ecosystem and grow from there.”
Hx Innovations Succeeds in Delaware
That decision informed their next: to locate their practice at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington. The site serves not just as the Philadelphia 76ers’ practice facility, but also the home of the Wilmington Bluecoats basketball team and a venue for youth sports games.
While attending their son’s soccer game at the fieldhouse, they noted the number of athletes on site. They also noticed the businesses located there specifically to serve the sports-centric customer base, including Nemours Sports Medicine for physical therapy and Titus Sports Academy for athletic training.
“We said, ‘They have sports medicine, they have sports performance, they have sports, but where is their injury prevention?’” Nicole recalls. They contacted the facility’s managing group and pitched themselves as a company that could add additional value to the operation. “Von showed them Hx technology, testing and reporting, and they loved it. The relationship has been growing ever since.”
