Maria Schneider
Co-Founder & CEO
Dynofit, Inc.
Dallas, TX USA
“If I don’t know exactly where I want to go, I go talk to people. Things happen and opportunities pop up, but they don’t happen if you sit around.”
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By Roadtrip NationMaria Schneider
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Attended New Mexico State University where she received bachelor’s degrees in physics and electrical engineering.
Worked at NASA and, later Bell Labs, while getting her master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
After graduation, she worked at various small businesses and a medical clinic, but couldn’t find a job in biomedical engineering.
Discovered a passion for construction after fixing up her own house—decided to start a construction company that hired ex-offenders to build and remodel “green” houses.
Her son was born 3 months early with cerebral palsy and had to spend 3 months in intensive care—stopped running her company and dedicated herself to caring for him.
Moved to Dallas—looking for an excuse to get out of the house, she got involved in the city’s efforts to alleviate poverty and racism, and decided to start a nonprofit that would revamp old houses.
Was getting increasingly frustrated by the lack of treatments for her son, so she invented Flexdot™, a wearable sensor that detects the electrical signal emitted by nerves during muscle activation.
Won a grant from the National Institutes of Health to further develop the technology and help kids like her son—started her company Dynofit, Inc. and launched the product with FDA approval.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Co-Founder & CEO
I invented a wearable sensor that detects signals emitted by nerves during muscle activation.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Engineering
Accomplishing Goals
Day to Day
On an average day, I answer e-mails and make digital connections in the morning. I typically demo our sensor in the afternoon for various sponsors, clients, patients, etc. I also check to see the patients' response to our device (product).
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Try to understand the industry by talking to people in it. Interview, ask questions, shadow, intern, etc.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"I won't pay for you to go away to college."
Challenges I Overcame
Disabled Child
Financial
Interviewed By
Room to Grow
Texas high schoolers choose their education focus
