A Game Changer

Armed with mountains of research and renderings, Rivell and Harris reached out to Kasey over Facebook to gauge his interest in testing their project.

Their prep work and concept immediately impressed Kasey, and he agreed to try out the prototypes made from EVA foam, polyurethane, and nylon. The students drove to Columbus, Ohio—where Kasey lived at the time—to watch their product in action for the first time. “I was so nervous,” Rivell admits.

The jitters quickly subsided when they saw Kasey sprint, stop, and cut in them, slipping significantly less compared to his old makeshift cleat.

To inform their work, the students took inspiration for crampons—used for ice climbing—and the back-and-forth movement of skateboard trucks. In addition, at Kasey’s request, they added spikes on the cleat’s side to help with hard cuts and improve his ability to plant the blade.

“I was always honest with them and shared my experience of being an amputee,” he says. “We tested a lot, and I couldn’t tell you how many prototypes I broke. I put a lot of force on them. I don’t think they realized how fast I would go on it.”

The attachment pieces scattered across the Ohio grass didn’t deter the students; but rather, it served as a motivator to refine their concept and create a better product.

“We were ecstatic driving back to Philly,” Rivell says. “We couldn’t wait to make more.”

They met with Kasey two additional times for further testing—in Georgetown, Ky., and in Philadelphia right before Jefferson’s 2018 Celebration of Innovation, which Kasey attended. Meeting the University community and personally modeling the design at the event became one of the early highpoints of their growing relationship.

“It was amazing to showcase the artistic abilities that create these innovations,” Kasey says. “Josiah and Weston came to me with this idea, and it blew my mind. They’re good friends now and amazing people.”

Following of their senior capstone, Harris and Rivell continue to work toward bringing the newly named Apta Project (Latin for adapt) to market.

The alumni pitched the concept at the Reshape Competition in fall 2018 in Barcelona. They didn’t win the international wearable technology and product design contest; however, the pair made valuable connections at Adidas, which in turn, allowed them to access the company’s development lab for additional ideation.

Now with a provisional patent in hand (and full one planned), Harris and Rivell regularly talk to potential investors, as well as to suppliers and manufacturers on the best ways to cost-effectively produce Apta. They both attribute Jefferson with giving them the valuable design skills—and importantly, the real-world experience and business acumen—to pursue their dream. Ideally, they’d like to sell Apta themselves at the same price of an average shoe (no health insurance or prosthetist required). They also may explore a licensing deal with a company like Adidas.

Either way, getting the device out to those in need remains paramount, says Harris, who walks with a permanent limp following a serious basketball injury that shattered his tibia. The two plan to reach out to veterans’ groups, special children’s camps and other segments with a high adaptive population to spread the word.

“We want to improve the well-being of this community,” Harris says. “They’re in the prime of their lives, and they still want to do a lot and get back on the field.”

Harris and Rivell hope to have the first run of Apta out by fall 2020. Kasey says its release will be a “game changer” for adaptive athletes.

“It empowers people to continue to play and fulfill their dreams,” he says.