Former Synapse leaders form mental health venture for athletes

Serial entrepreneurs Brian Kornfeld, former CEO of Tampa-based tech organization and network Synapse, and Dan Greco, a previous board member, are launching a mental performance platform designed for athletes. 

“We have a passion for sports. My kids played Little League, and I played ice hockey growing up. I’ve always been around sports and realized the majority of players will not become professional athletes, but they gain tools and life lessons in teamwork and overcoming adversity,” Kornfeld said.

“Mental health training and conditioning are often ignored – that’s why we created MaxU. The other platforms in the marketplace today either don’t provide a full analysis or aren’t tailored to different individual athletes.” 

Greco, who also shares a passion and background in sports, pitched the concept Kornfeld during their time at Synapse. 

The MaxU platform measures a player’s mental state and offers solutions. 

For example, an athlete struggling with managing anger or self-doubt may become easily flustered during competitions. 

An example of how the MaxU platform analyzes an athlete’s mental state and how it impacts performance on the field.

The platform includes scientifically validated techniques delivered through a web-based interface. 

Teams, fellow athletes, parents and coaches can collaborate and share those insights to foster a culture of continuous improvement and peak performance. 

“Our mission is to equip athletes with the tools and techniques required to elevate their capabilities and attain unparalleled levels of mental performance,” Greco said in a prepared statement. 

An example of a player’s insights via MaxU.

The partners did a self-mode launch in May. Kornfeld said they did an initial friends and family funding round. 

“Down the road, we don’t want to focus so much on raising. We want to have boots on the ground and focus on scaling,” Kornfeld said. 

Greco and Kornfeld have secured five major partnerships, including one with the Positive Coaches Alliance and Athletx, a national organization that supports baseball and softball tournaments for young athletes. 

“This platform offers tactical and healthy strategies to aid in the development of a strong mindset starting at an early age. The MaxU platform is tailored to help athletes facing challenges or looking to improve on the playing field and in life. This partnership aligns with our mission,” Christine Herring, VP of strategy and business development at Athletx, said in a prepared statement. 

Kornfeld said the next step is to continue to secure partnerships, both domestic and international. In the future, MaxU may be available as a downloadable mobile app.