Intake Health, a innovative health technology company backed by research funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), has been making significant strides in the world of sports in North America. Since the official launch of its InFlow hydration testing solution in August 2022, the company has garnered attention across professional and collegiate football teams, with a recent viral moment on NFL Network at the Jacksonville Jaguars' cutting-edge training facility.
During the summer of 2023, as pre-season camps kicked off, the InFlow solution gained widespread recognition after being featured on NFL Network. The exposure quickly went viral on social media platforms, amassing millions of views and catching the attention of major sports outlets like Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, and SportsCenter.
Michael Bender, CEO of Intake Health, expressed enthusiasm about the NFL Network exposure, stating, "It has helped propel us into nearly half of all NFL locker rooms within our first year of selling. I've heard that rate of new technology adoption isn't common in this market, which I believe speaks to the strong value we're adding for staff and athletes."
The InFlow technology revolutionizes hydration testing by incorporating an innovative design that automates the process and seamlessly integrates it into an athlete's daily routine. Offering instant, objective feedback and guidance directly to the athlete, InFlow aligns with Intake Health's core mission of improving health spans and enhancing the overall well-being of individuals.
Supported by research grants from the NIH and NSF, Intake Health aims to expand its technology, including a toilet version. Bender sees potential applications beyond professional sports, noting, "While we have seen similar InFlow adoption rates in the NBA, MLB, MLS, and NHL in a short time, university athletics has been where staff report some of the biggest positive impacts."
The University of Colorado Men's Basketball team, among the early adopters of InFlow, integrated daily testing during challenging off-season training stretches. Dana Bielinski, MS, RD, Performance Technology and Research Dietitian at the University of Colorado, highlighted InFlow's impact on hydration awareness and recovery education. "Even one session has an impact on hydration status. Athletes hear from us all the time, but for them to actually see it firsthand for themselves—that reinforcement was huge," said Bielinkski..
As NCAA and NBA basketball seasons commence, Bender anticipates continued engagement with sports teams. "We speak to teams across all sports using our InFlow solution on a daily basis. Hearing their story and experiences has been, and will continue to be, a guiding light and our top priority in this marketplace."
Internationally, InFlow has made inroads, with several top professional soccer clubs in the UK and Europe adopting the technology for their stadiums and training grounds. Beyond sports, InFlow is utilised in facilities supporting military, first responders, and industrial health and safety settings globally. Intake Health's global presence is set to expand further as the company is poised to feature prominently at the Sports Tech Summit in November at Citi Field in New York among a select group of international sports tech and software innovators.