Entrepreneurship is often born from adversity, and for Julien Bourgeois, a knee injury was the catalyst for an idea that would ultimately transform the way athletes track and analyze their performance. While many might have seen a setback, Julien saw an opportunity—one that combined his passion for sports with his knack for technology.

Julien’s journey began in the world of basketball. A standout player in high school, he scored over 1,000 points and set a school record. His love for the game was matched by his relentless drive to improve, often spending hours shooting hoops in his driveway. But when a knee injury derailed his playing career, it sparked a pivot in his path. Rather than letting the injury define him, he turned to his other passion: technology. Specifically, he dove into computer programming, a field that would eventually lead to a groundbreaking concept: monitoring basketball shots via the Apple Watch.

Alongside co-founder Andrew Bradford, who brought his own impressive athletic background in baseball and years of experience in competitive sports, Julien dedicated the summer of 2022 to developing their idea. It wasn’t just about building a product—it was about building a business. The two tapped into their combined sports knowledge and tech expertise to develop Automatic, a revolutionary app designed to help athletes track and improve their performance.

This entrepreneurial duo approached their project with the kind of business acumen that’s vital in today’s competitive market. Julien, who had already achieved significant milestones in tech (including becoming certified in iOS development), passed up a full-time software developer position at a VR company while still in high school. Instead, he chose to pour his energy into creating something that merged his passion for sports with the skills he was honing in the tech world. His decision was a testament to the entrepreneurial mindset: seeing opportunities where others might see obstacles, and making strategic decisions that align with long-term goals.

The summer of 2022 was a whirlwind of activity, with the duo working tirelessly on product development, business strategy, and refining their initial prototypes. They weren’t just building an app—they were laying the foundation for a business. They knew that creating a product was only part of the equation; understanding the market, developing a clear business model, and positioning the product for success were all integral parts of their entrepreneurial journey.

By November 2022, their hard work paid off. With a fully functioning prototype in hand, Julien and Andrew were ready to present Automatic to the world. Their journey from idea to execution was a testament to the power of combining passion, expertise, and business acumen. They didn’t just create an app; they created a tool that could change the way athletes train and improve.

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