Students pitch Empowerment Hub app and Silver Glide mobility add-on at Fairfax Shark Tank

Two finalist teams at the Fairfax Area High School Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge presented assistive-technology prototypes aimed at older adults and people with disabilities.

Sahas Rajeshirke, a student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, demonstrated Empowerment Hub, a working Android prototype that combines a large-icon home screen linking to services (Eldercare Locator, AARP Game Center, National Alliance for Caregiving, Facebook), a personal health-notes section, an AI chat feature (integrated with Google Gemini), and a medication reminder system with text-to-speech. Sahas showed sample entries — an aspirin 100 mg once daily and metformin 500 mg twice daily — and said the app automatically flags missed doses and can list medication name, dosage, frequency and time.

Judges asked whether the team would concentrate solely on the medication-reminder feature or keep the broader hub concept; Sahas said the medication functionality would be prioritized but the hub would remain. Accessibility and legal compliance were raised: a judge recommended reviewing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and noted color-contrast concerns tied to ADA standards. The team said the prototype is server-connected, currently Android-only, and that monetization could include small in-app ads or sponsorships for listed services; Sahas estimated a current valuation of about $500–$600 for the prototype but said the goal is to keep the app free for users.

The Silver Glide team (students from Acellus Academy and South Lakes High School) presented a modular mobility add-on that attaches to a hoverboard base and clamps to a chair. The students described iterating from cardboard to wood to 3D-printed parts, noted the prototype’s adjustability for different chair legs, and said prototype parts cost roughly $70 for the extension and an inexpensive hoverboard in prototype testing. A video segment featured Mr. Brown, a 43-year-old activity facilitator at the Reston Teen Center (YMCA), riding the prototype and saying, "I like it... I would buy this if I broke my leg," and recommending it to those with temporary mobility needs.

Judges probed manufacturing and safety details: whether the product would be a DIY kit or a finished unit, battery life and charging time (answers: dependent on hoverboard model; estimates ranged from about 30 minutes to several hours), weight limits (largely governed by the chair and hoverboard model), and suggestions for seatbelts, larger wheels, and attachments to secure feet. The students said future versions would include a full adjustable plate, more robust materials, and attachments for stability.

Both teams received positive feedback for tackling real-world problems; judges emphasized accessibility testing with seniors and recommended features such as push notifications for missed medications, camera-based medicine-label scanning, calendar integration for prescriptions, and stronger color-contrast choices to meet accessibility guidelines. The event concluded with thanks to partners and an announcement that winners were recognized by the Board of Supervisors at the May 19 meeting.