{"690221":{"#nid":"690221","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Classroom Concept to Sports Technology Startup: How VETTEX Grew Through Georgia Tech\u2019s Commercialization Ecosystem ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idea behind\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.vettexsports.com \u0022\u003E VETTEX\u003C\/a\u003E began with a problem Mike Pullen remembered from his own days playing football: Arm sleeves protected players from turf burns, but they could also make the ball harder to secure. As a high school receiver, Pullen saw firsthand how athletes were often forced to choose between protection and performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears later, while studying biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech, that problem resurfaced in an unexpected place: a classroom.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPullen was enrolled in Materials Science and Engineering of Sports, a course taught by materials researcher Jud Ready, that explored how engineering principles and materials influence athletic performance. For the course Capstone project, students were challenged to design a novel, rules-compliant piece of sports equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPullen immediately returned to the problem he had experienced on the field.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking with his co-founder, Mat Quon, another Georgia Tech biomedical engineering student, he began developing a grip-enhancing arm sleeve designed to help football players maintain ball security while still protecting their arms from turf abrasion.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the time, starting a company wasn\u2019t on his radar.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI had absolutely no desire to ever be an entrepreneur,\u201d said Pullen, founder of VETTEX and a 2020 Georgia Tech graduate. \u201cI kind of just fell backwards into it.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEncouraged by Ready to continue developing the concept beyond the classroom, Pullen and Quon began exploring whether the idea could extend beyond a class project. That encouragement led them to CREATE-X, a Georgia Tech program that helps students launch startups through its accelerator, Startup Launch.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding the Company Through CREATE-X\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Pullen, CREATE-X became the entry point to build a company and learn how to operate as a founder. \u201cCREATE-X opened the door to just being an entrepreneur in general,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gave us the foundation and support to actually figure out how to build something real.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the program, Pullen and Quon received hands-on support in business strategy, customer discovery, fundraising, and pitch development. CREATE-X also connected them with mentors, coaches, and investors who helped them begin transforming their class project into a viable business.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not like they give you a couple of PowerPoint presentations and send you on your way,\u201d Pullen said. \u201cIt\u2019s true hands-on coaching and assistance, which is immensely valuable.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the years after CREATE-X, the team focused on refining the product, securing manufacturing partners, and getting the equipment into athletes\u2019 hands for feedback.\u0026nbsp;In 2021, the company raised its first round of funding, supported largely through connections within the Georgia Tech ecosystem, including an investment from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ventures.commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGTF Ventures\u003C\/a\u003E and various alumni funding.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScaling Through ATDC\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the company entered this next phase of growth, Pullen was introduced to the Advanced Technology Development Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/\u0022\u003EATDC\u003C\/a\u003E), Georgia Tech\u2019s statewide startup accelerator.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPullen said ATDC became a natural continuation of the support system he first experienced through CREATE-X. \u201cATDC has been a really valuable support system for us as we\u2019ve continued to grow. They\u2019ve helped us refine our approach, strengthen how we present the business, and connect with the right partners.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough ATDC, VETTEX has received support to refine investor materials, review company financials, and build connections with industry partners and potential investors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding the Vision\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOriginally launched as LZRD Tech, the company began with a football-specific product. Over time, however, Pullen and his team saw an opportunity to expand beyond a single sport.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company recently rebranded as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.vettexsports.com \u0022\u003EVETTEX,\u003C\/a\u003E reflecting a broader pivot into sports and technology applications, including a partnership with Markwort Sporting Goods, a company with Georgia Tech alumni ties.\u0026nbsp;Today, VETTEX is expanding into baseball and basketball while continuing to explore how advanced materials and product design can improve performance, protection, and recovery for athletes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most valuable aspects of Georgia Tech\u2019s commercialization ecosystem for Pullen has been the long-term support it provides founders. Years after first entering CREATE-X, he still sees both CREATE-X and ATDC as active parts of the company\u2019s journey.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCREATE-X doesn\u2019t just spit you out into the world,\u201d Pullen said. \u201cThey\u2019re always there to help you. Same thing with ATDC.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough Georgia Tech\u2019s broader entrepreneurship ecosystem, startups like VETTEX demonstrate how ideas that begin in the classroom can grow through mentorship, funding, and community support as they move toward commercialization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe experience has reshaped how Pullen thinks about taking risks and building something of his own. \u201cI\u2019d always wonder what would have happened if I didn\u2019t try,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears later, that decision continues to shape the company\u2019s growth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFounded by Georgia Tech biomedical engineering graduates Mike Pullen and Mat Quon, VETTEX grew from a classroom project into a sports technology startup through support from CREATE-X, ATDC, mentors, and alumni investors. The company now develops performance-focused athletic products for football, baseball, and basketball athletes.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"VETTEX showcases how Georgia Tech\u2019s commercialization ecosystem helps transform student ideas into growing startups."}],"uid":"36434","created_gmt":"2026-05-11 14:47:49","changed_gmt":"2026-05-11 14:54:29","author":"lcameron30","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680246":{"id":"680246","type":"image","title":"Vettex-Football-Sleeve-12.jpg","body":null,"created":"1778510879","gmt_created":"2026-05-11 14:47:59","changed":"1778510879","gmt_changed":"2026-05-11 14:47:59","alt":"Football player holding a football while wearing a white VETTEX performance arm sleeve on an outdoor field.","file":{"fid":"264490","name":"Vettex-Football-Sleeve-12.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/11\/Vettex-Football-Sleeve-12.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/11\/Vettex-Football-Sleeve-12.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7139609,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/11\/Vettex-Football-Sleeve-12.jpg?itok=YwW2z7FK"}},"680247":{"id":"680247","type":"image","title":"Mike Pullen.png","body":null,"created":"1778510990","gmt_created":"2026-05-11 14:49:50","changed":"1778510990","gmt_changed":"2026-05-11 14:49:50","alt":"Mike Pullen, founder of VETTEX and Georgia Tech biomedical engineering graduate.","file":{"fid":"264491","name":"Headshot.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/11\/Headshot.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/11\/Headshot.png","mime":"image\/png","size":10545203,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/11\/Headshot.png?itok=-foe4Y_z"}}},"media_ids":["680246","680247"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELacey Cameron\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Elcameron30@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}