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How did two Boston College undergrads go from struggling to track their cross-country training data to building a five-star app that boasts 1,400 users and more than 30 Division I college track and field programs? Meet Jack Sexton 鈥�18 and Emmett Scully 鈥�18, creators of Trackster, the first running app that captures team training data.

The idea for the app sprung from the source of most inspiration: a burning desire to solve a problem. Running coaches typically time runs with a stopwatch, note the times on paper, and save them in Excel spreadsheets. Sexton and Scully sought to integrate all that into a single app. The pair began developing the app as a group computer science project in 2016.

鈥淓mmett worked on iOS development, and we collected lots of data from runners and coaches to figure out a potential solution,鈥� said Sexton. 鈥淲e also met with many coaches to collect qualitative data.鈥�

Accelerating the process

In 2017, they took their fledgling idea to the Accelerate@Shea听program. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when we really started to gain momentum,鈥� Sexton said. The Shea Center helped them test the validity of the idea, offered advice on how to set up their business, and hosted workshops to connect them with fellow entrepreneurs. Then came the real kickstart: $1,500 in seed money.

鈥淚f it weren鈥檛 for that, it would have been difficult to bring on advisors and raise money,鈥� Sexton said.

The Shea Center was indispensable in another way鈥攑repping the budding entrepreneurs for the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference InVenture competition at Georgia Tech this past April. 鈥淭hey helped formulate the pitch and gave feedback on the deck,鈥� Sexton said. 鈥淲e felt very prepared in Georgia.鈥�

Next stop: Eugene, Oregon

Though they lost out to a crop-picking robot at InVenture, Sexton and Scully snagged second place and $7,500 in additional funding at the Shea Center鈥檚 annual Strakosch Venture Competition in May.

At Commencement a few weeks later, Sexton received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration (accounting and information systems) from the Carroll School of Management while Scully earned his bachelor鈥檚 in computer science from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Then they headed off to Eugene, Oregon, to work full time on Trackster and launch a marketing campaign with 鈥渕ultiple influential runners.鈥� They鈥檒l also get to work in person with their advisor, the head distance coach at the University of Oregon, Andy Powell.

For two guys who never thought of themselves as entrepreneurs, they are well on their way down that road.

鈥淭his whole process has been one of self-discovery,鈥� said Sexton. 鈥淲e have learned to surround ourselves with people also passionate about changing an existing process, and to enjoy the journey.鈥�

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