PALM HARBOR, Fla. — For the last seven months, three Palm Harbor University High School juniors have been working on an app involving artificial intelligence.
Ajitesh Busireddy, Leonard Seto Jr. and Ryan Qu did the work, alongside 122 other students, in a program called Connect-IT 360.
After being encouraged by mentors to do something involving artificial intelligence, the three friends decided they wanted to create something about fitness.
The truth was, they all were interested in working out, but were beginners.
“Lenny actually didn’t know what he was doing,” said Busireddy. “And he actually injured himself one time by doing too much. He hurt his back one time by lifting too much. Ryan tore something, and he was trying to recover from that. Right. And then I gave myself a sprain that gave me, like, two weeks out of the gym.”
They created a fitness app called New2Fit. It features personalized workout plans, AI-driven form correction, a gym locator and community chat.
Through Connect-IT 360, the trio competed against other students in the Next Gen Tech 360 competition and won.
They received a check for $10,000 to further develop the app, and a 30 minute zoom session with Kevin Harrington, a business guru well-known for his time on Shark Tank.
Normally Harrington only gives feedback to the winning team, but this time he offered a strategy session. It was a first.
“I am going to give you a strategy session with my whole team,” said Harrington, in a YouTube video posted by Connect-IT 360. “You did a great job getting to where you are right now. Congratulations.”
For the Connect-IT 360 Founder and CEO Robyn Mussler, an idea and offer like this was always the hope.
“This is actually what my strategy and vision has always been for the program,” said Mussler. “Knowing that these kids are really that capable and showing them hey, what you are working on it can really make you a living and a very handsome on at that.”
She believes the New2Fit app could be worth millions.
“Definitely multi-million dollars for sure,” said Mussler.
For the three 17-year-olds, that amount of money is unfathomable.
“Well, we won $10k, and I was going crazy,” laughed Busireddy. “I like Taco Bell. For the next year, we’re fine. The Taco Bell for the next one year, we’re fine.”
The boys definitely have Taco Bell in their future, along with a lot of work to get the app fully developed and hopefully to market.