Name: Ken Krebs

Program: Movement science

Graduation year: 2014

Job title: Founder & CEO, Yogger

Q: What have you been doing since graduation?

A: I was in the second graduating class of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) students. After school, I worked in IONM in Boston for 5 years then went to graduate school to get a master's degree in computer engineering. Most of my projects combined my experience in health care and background in kinesiology and technology.

Following my master's program, I founded a software company that utilizes AI for motion capture capabilities with only phones, tablets, and webcams. Our technology gives physical therapists, coaches, and trainers the ability to gather movement data virtually to assess injury risk, monitor progress, and provide feedback. We're 2 years in and have more than 1,000 customers from more than 20 different countries and growing fast! It's an exciting time in health and sports tech, and I'm proud to be a part of it as a U-M Kines alum.

Q: What was your experience in the U-M School of Kinesiology like?

A: My time as a student in the School of Kinesiology as an undergraduate was a really positive experience. I was not sure what I wanted to do for a career, but SoK offered a really unique and interesting degree with so many different applications and fields to work in. It was a great place to start. Through every stage of my career, my time in the Kinesiology program has played an important role. I love that I still am using my degree to this day.

Q: In your opinion, what's the best part of SoK?

A: In a school as large as U-M, it's easy to get lost in the sea of students and professors. Kinesiology was phenomenal in helping establish actual relationships with faculty and staff and not be just another student. I felt cared about and could approach the staff confidently with questions or concerns.

Q: How has your Kinesiology degree contributed to your success?

A: My movement science degree played a pivotal role in the inception of our company. The initial inspiration for our product was a biomechanics laboratory experience from my time as an undergraduate, and then pursuing a master's degree in computer engineering further exposed me to the cutting-edge advancements in technology. But my foundation in Kinesiology, specifically movement science, granted me a unique perspective, enabling me to recognize opportunities for applications of new technology within the health and fitness space — opportunities that were unknown to most of my peers.

Q: What would you like prospective students to know about the School of Kinesiology?

A: The Kinesiology program can be the start of many great opportunities during and after college. There are so many other cool opportunities for work and ways to be successful aside from being a health care provider (and having a scientific foundation and background knowledge is always important, even if you don't become a health care provider). Health and sports technology is a massive market and will continue to grow.