Raleigh startup SPRTN Technologies revolves around an emerging athletic earbud line called SPRTN Swims. Equal parts sophisticated hardware and AI coach, the flagship product is a tool for performance tracking for swimmers, emphasizing a powerful mission to bring high-quality audio and real-time coaching directly into the water.
More specifically, SPRTN Swims function as a waterproof earbud that is built to overcome traditional underwater connectivity issues while ensuring that an athlete stays locked into their training rhythm.
Max McKee, Co-Founder of SPRTN Technologies, first conceived of the idea while attending Virginia Tech, driven by a personal desire to use earbuds while swimming. The idea eventually evolved into a mission to create highly specialized, athletic-grade audio tech, with a launch targeted for early 2027.
To validate the concept, Hinson Willson—McKee’s childhood best friend and now Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of SPRTN Technologies—hit the ground running in the Raleigh and Greensboro areas, conducting extensive customer discovery by interviewing around 200 local athletes.
The team’s research confirmed a stark reality: 98% of those interviewed experienced major frustration with existing waterproof technology, reporting frequent connectivity drops, poor water resistance, and earbuds constantly falling out during intense workouts.
Diving into the technical architecture
To combat the exact pain points discovered during their research, SPRTN Technologies built a device boasting a powerful one-mile Bluetooth range—a massive leap forward that originated from the team’s relentless effort to maintain a stable connection underwater.
In addition to offline listening capabilities, the earbuds are equipped with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to track biometric data and head movements.
SPRTN’s AI Coach is designed to analyze athlete performance and deliver real-time, personalized feedback, with the ability to incorporate in-ear biometric signals such as heart rate and SpO₂. The team has also devised a means of providing these features without running into significant battery drain—a common issue in existing earbuds running advanced technology.
While built on powerful tech, the team emphasizes that their motivation is rooted in creating impactful products “for athletes by athletes,” rather than focusing solely on profitability. They aim to train their models using data from high-level athletes to maximize tracking accuracy .
McKee and Gouttumukkala also stressed that data privacy is a core pillar of their build.
Premium hardware and predictive coaching
The startup plans to launch with a dual-tier hardware strategy alongside a recurring software model. The initial SPRTN Swims product is expected to cost $230, while a broader, more robust model called SPRTN 1 will be priced at approximately $300.
Access to the AI Coach will utilize a subscription model estimated at $10 to $20 per month (with potential for a usage-based fee structure, with the team referencing those we see with resources like Claude).
The startup is deploying a beachhead market strategy, focusing intensely on swimmers to build early momentum and brand loyalty. Once established, they plan to pivot into other water sports like surfing and paddleboarding before ultimately expanding into the massive, mainstream athletic audio market.
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Startup: SPRTN Technologies
Co-Founders: Max McKee (CTO), Hinson Willson (COO), Reeves Rowan (Head of Product Design),
Kiran Gouttumukkala (Head of Software Engineering)
Founded: 2025
Team size: 4
Location: Raleigh
Website: sprtnt.com
Funding: Bootstrapped
As SPRTN Technologies pushes toward its March product launch, the team is already thinking beyond the pool. They are currently looking into expanding their biometric capabilities to track deeper health metrics like blood pressure. Furthermore, because of the earbuds’ extreme durability and extended range, the team sees future applications in rugged, high-stakes communication sectors like the military and construction industries.
Currently, SPRTN is participating in the Andrews Launch Accelerator program for mentorship and community, though team members are spread across North Carolina and California.
Looking forward, the team’s immediate goal is to secure a dedicated, centralized office space to transition away from remote work and foster closer, in-person collaboration. In the meantime, SPRTN Technologies is encouraging interested swimmers and athletes to visit their website to join the waitlist and sign up for upcoming pilot testing opportunities.
