My idea began with an interest in the health risks athletes face, particularly heat-related illness. As climate change leads to hotter training and racing conditions, heat stress has become an ongoing challenge rather than an occasional risk. This is particularly true for runners, who rely heavily on sweating to cool down (something that’s easily compromised by humidity) and often have a drive to push through discomfort. I found that most runners follow generic acclimatisation protocols, highlighting a clear gap in the market for personalised monitoring. 

This led to the concept for Acclivate: a system that measures physiological strain through heart rate and core body temperature estimation, translating complex data into clear, actionable feedback. Rather than simply tracking performance, it helps runners understand whether they are underprepared, adapting well, or at risk – supporting smarter, safer training and competition in increasingly challenging conditions.