Matt Mooney seeks to revolutionize basketball training

LUBBOCK, Texas – There's an element of irony in this with one of the most adored Texas Tech basketball players in program history who elicits real and passionate emotion for fans now working in the artificial intelligence space. Thinking back on Matt Mooney's season playing for the Red Raiders, fans are immediately transported to the 2018-19 team that won the 2019 Big 12 Championship and advanced to the program's first Final Four. They remember his 22 points in the regular-season win at Texas where he was 8-for-10 from the field and also the visions of him celebrating in the Iowa State locker room after clinching the 2019 Big 12 title. His performance in the 2019 Final Four win over Michigan State will never be forgotten with him making four 3-pointers and finishing with 22 points to lead the team to the national championship game.

Mooney is still succeeding in a professional basketball career overseas where he is currently playing for Dolomiti Energia Trentino in Italian Serie A, but he's also focused and excited about his role as the founder and chief vision officer of AthletIQ which aims to revolutionize basketball training. With artificial intelligence and robotics, Mooney and AthletIQ have created a training environment for players that closely mimics the intensity of game situations in which their technology is capable of contesting players' shots. At the same time, they use AI to analyze the shots from the players in real time, giving coaching to allow for instant adjustment and improvement. "I know this will change basketball because I've spent my whole life trying to perfect my shot," Mooney said. "This quest has led me to develop something players and coaches have never had access to but every player and coach needs." The stated mission of the company is to be in every gym across the country from beginners to the elite pros, from home gyms to training facilities and more.

With the game evolving to value shooting even more, and with the emergence of AI, Mooney says that AthletIQ provides game-like shot contesting, data-driven feedback, adaptive analysis of shooting form, a competition element with players around the world (similar to Peloton) and tracking progression over time.

TexasTech.com had the opportunity to talk with Mooney recently to discuss his vision that has taken him from a $50 prototype to harnessing AI and robotics into a thriving reality.

How did this idea develop into what it is today?
"The idea came about in 2016 while I was redshirting at the University of South Dakota. I was shooting close to a thousand shots a day when it dawned on me that all my shots in workouts were wide open yet in games roughly 90 percent of shots are contested. Since then, it has evolved to not only contest shots but assess players' shot and guide them in perfecting their unique shot mechanics."

How do you think AthletIQ can help players in their training?
"This will be unlike anything any player has ever experienced in training before. One, our AI and software is capable of picking up on common tendencies in players' made shots as well as players' missed shots. This allows us to help players understand what they're doing well so they can create good habits AND what they're not doing well so they can eliminate that tendency (i.e. not holding following through) or make adjustments. Two, we contest shots at game speed to help players get ready for game situations."

How does AthletIQ utilize artificial intelligence and grow its knowledge while the player is training?
"Our AI is constantly learning each players' shot and tracking which movements and tendencies in their shot are prevalent in their highest shooting percentages and their lowest shooting percentages. For example, our AI knows a players' shooting percentage when they step into their shot left foot first then right foot, or when they hop into their shot, or when they shoot with the ball on the seams or when they don't. These are just two simple examples but this benefits each player to know what leads to them making more shots so they can continue to perfect their unique shot."

How does this device compare to you as the defender Texas Tech fans remember watching?
"Compared to me, it is actually a better and more challenging defender. It can contest higher and faster than any human being which allows it to better prepare players for game situations so that nothing in games will throw them off."

What's the main difference between the prototype when you first started this and where you're at now with it?
"When I first started, there was no technology. It started with just caster wheels, PVC pipe, and cardboard hands at the top. I wanted something that allowed me to shoot with a shooting machine or coach so there had to be a big hole in the center so a pass could come from straight on. 4 years later I was with the Cleveland Cavaliers, then covid hits. I had some time on my hands so I went to an engineer friend and we decided to add technology to it so hands at the top triggered when a pass went through the middle, triggering the sensors to release the hands. After further reflection, I realized it needed to be more human-like and have the arm and vision of a human. We began testing to see if we could make a robotic arm move fast enough and have the vision capabilities to know where the basketball was and then relay that to the arm to contest. The difference is that the first prototype was very basic with no technology and today we are a robotic arm with AI capabilities to guide player improvement."

What about AthletIQ do you think can revolutionize basketball training?
"Every player wants to shoot the ball better but doesn't know how to. Similarly, coaches hesitate in changing their players' shots because they don't want to "get in their head." Our AI gives coaches and players insights into how they specifically can shoot the ball better. Also, our data shows that over 90% of game shots are contested at all levels. Our data also shows that there is a 6% difference in players' shooting percentages when shots are open versus when they're contested. The more we can get players practicing like actual games, the better they will be."

What has been the most challenging part of getting this to market?
"The most challenging part has been raising capital. With the technology we need to build out, it requires raising money. While we have raised a little over $500,000 we are still seeking more to bring our product to market. The upside for investors is our subscription model along with our IP and Patents that cover all sports. Yes, we are currently focused on basketball, but our technology perfectly transfers over to other sports (volleyball, football) both with contesting but also assessing mechanics and guiding athletes to improving their unique form."

What's the biggest adjustment a player goes through working with this device instead of a real person/training partner?
"The biggest adjustment players have told us is that it is making them have to shoot at game speed and be shot ready because otherwise their shot will be blocked or altered."

What has been the most rewarding part of being the founder of AthletIQ and seeing how it has developed?
"The most rewarding part so far is seeing an idea come to life. One of my favorite quotes is by author Mark Batterson, 'Go after a dream destined to fail without divine intervention.' It's rewarding to see the progress and appreciate it, while still knowing there is a long way to go."

How has your time at Texas Tech and playing career helped you in this business endeavor?
"My time at Texas Tech was the greatest year of my life but also was the catalyst for my career and business. Texas Tech and what our team did in 2019 has given me a chance to play in the NBA and at a high level overseas. That season gave me exposure on the biggest stage of basketball and allowed me opportunities I never would have had if I didn't go to Tech. In business, what we did on the court in 2019 has given me so much credibility to be the founder of a company focused on player improvement and has made my name recognizable by many people in the basketball world. My connections made at Texas Tech have played a huge role in the money we've raised so far. They've connected me to Taysha Williams (TTU Innovation Hub), who has helped us raise money, made connections for us, and provided valuable insights. They have also played a role in things behind the scenes like our marketing at the Womble Center with former Red Raider Zhaire Smith. Furthermore, they led me to landing my incredible co-founder and CTO, Aaron Phillips, another Texas Tech Alumni who I met through my financial advisor and another Texas Tech Alum, Preston Tharp. TTU has opened doors for me to make AthletIQ possible."

What is your ultimate vision for AthletIQ?
"My ultimate goal is to bring glory to God and make AthletIQ the premier company for player improvement in as many sports as possible. Starting with basketball, we will use our technology to revolutionize player improvement by helping every player practice with game conditions while guiding them to perfecting their unique shot mechanics. Shooting is at a premium. Every team and coach values players that can shoot the basketball. In 1979, NBA teams shot 2.8 threes per game. Today, teams are shooting 35 threes per game. With no competition in the market in terms of contesting shots and analyzing shot mechanics, with the emergence of AI, along with the value of the 3-point shot today, our timing is perfect to be the premier product every player and team needs to gain a competitive advantage."

Mooney and his company are still actively seeking investors. For information, contact him at matt@athletiq.io

Matt Mooney

Matt Mooney seeks to revolutionize basketball training

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