{"id":5429,"date":"2017-04-06T03:25:16","date_gmt":"2017-04-06T07:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/whoop-a-wearable-to-unlock-human-potential\/"},"modified":"2017-04-06T03:58:09","modified_gmt":"2017-04-06T07:58:09","slug":"whoop-a-wearable-to-unlock-human-potential","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/whoop-a-wearable-to-unlock-human-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"WHOOP: A wearable to unlock human potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABOUT<\/strong><\/p>\n

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WHOOP (yes, you have to capitalize it every single time) is a Boston-based start-up that produces wearables to track, record, and analyze one\u2019s heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductivity (touch), ambient temperature, and accelerometry (motion). The device straps around one\u2019s wrist, is water-proof, and perhaps best of all, while charged, is always on and continuously tracking. Thus, you never need to worry about missing data because you did not press the start button on your smartphone via an app or on a different device.<\/p>\n

Founder and CEO Will Ahmed started the company out of the 性视界 Innovation Lab in 2012 while a student at 性视界 College. Captain of 性视界\u2019s squash team, Will often found himself overtrained. He became curious about how he could better prepare his body to reach his optimal performance and eventually found himself diving deep into medical papers and research studies on HRV along with other \u201csecrets\u201d about the human body.<\/p>\n

Today, WHOOP has been worn by 20 Olympic athletes, among them including Michael Phelps and LeBron James. In addition, it is worn by collegiate teams, professional sports teams, and other organizations such as the Navy SEALS.<\/p>\n

Click here to see a 3-min CNN video about WHOOP\u2019s Successes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

VALUE CREATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

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WHOOP\u2019s mission is to \u201cunlock human potential\u201d. More concretely, the company creates value for athletes by providing them with technology to prevent over \/ under training, injury, and underperformance. However, more important than \u201cwhat\u201d value WHOOP creates for individuals is \u201chow\u201d it is able to do so \u2013 therein lies the company\u2019s magic.<\/p>\n

Proprietary technology.<\/strong> WHOOP\u2019s device, called the Strap, continuously tracks five key measurements \u2013 heart rate, heart rate variability, capacitive touch, ambient temperature, and accelerometry \u2013 a hundred times a second. And it\u2019s done all from the wrist<\/strong>. This is one large way WHOOP\u2019s device differs from other HRV devices, many of which involve placing a cumbersome strap around the chest. In addition, the Strap was one of the first HRV devices that is always on. That is, once on the wrist, the device continuously tracks data 24\/7<\/strong> which can be reviewed on one\u2019s phone or computer. Also, the waterproof strap<\/strong> means that one can wear the device all day in all conditions. The Strap\u2019s battery life is 44 hours, however unlike other wearables on the market, the device comes with an external battery pack<\/strong>, which conveniently slides onto the device.<\/p>\n

Personalized analytics.<\/strong> Of course, WHOOP also creates value for customers through complex algorithms, providing individuals with data that is comprehensive, accurate, and actionable.<\/p>\n