NMU Alumnus Takes First Place at Small Towns, Big Ideas Event

NMU alumnus Jeff Nyquist '99 BS, creator of "Sam," an AI assistant for athletes, took home the first place prize at the Center on Rural Innovation's sixth annual Small Towns, Big Ideas Pitch Event.

On October 29, CORI hosted five entrepreneurs from rural areas on Dartmouth's campus to celebrate rural innovation and leadership in the technology industry. The founders pitched their startups to attendees live and online for a chance to win a $10,000 first place prize or a $1,500 audience choice award to continue developing their product.

Nyquist's app for coaches and their players, Journai, is an AI-powered sports technology platform that works to develop players' mental fitness and build communication and relationship building skills. The app helps coaches keep track of their individual players progress and needs, while players are able to talk to AI assistant, "Sam," to better communicate with and start conversations with their coach.

A neuroscientist and an avid entrepreneur, this is not Nyquist's first innovation endeavor. His previous project, Neurotrainer, also focused on developing athletes' mental fitness.

Already receiving positive feedback, an NCAA-funded study found that Journai helped 62% of athletes using the app bring a conversation started with Sam into their real-life relationships.

Recipient of the $10,000 grand prize, Nyquist focused his acceptance speech on the relationships he built at the event, saying "this is an incredible group of founders… entrepreneurs are a very important tribe and every time we can get together we help each other and support each other, and honestly, that's maybe the most important thing that's happened today."