Eagles Turn Innovative Tool-Tracking System Into Award-Winning Startup

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate Jadyn Fulcher knows the frustration of misplacing a tool in the middle of a project.

“I’ve worked on cars a lot,” said Fulcher, who recently earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

So when Fulcher and fellow engineering students Arjun Menon, Eva Miller and Logan Williams saw that Embry-Riddle’s Robotics Lab was bedeviled by lost tools, they decided to find a solution. “I suggested it as a senior design project, and they really ran with it,” said Dr. Monica Garcia, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

 The team created a bespoke toolbox inventory accountability system, which they called Tracker,  Featuring an intuitive interface that delivers real-time tool-use and status analytics, Tracker requires users to sign in with a unique code to unlock its drawers and borrow a tool. Each tool also has an individual sensor.

“Tracker automatically tracks tool usage and holds a person accountable when checking out a tool,” said Menon. 

Fulcher and Menon then took it a step further by turning Tracker into an award-winning business venture. 

“They came up with an amazing system and business opportunity beyond what I imagined,” Garcia said.

With support from the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), based in the David B. O'Maley College of Business, they created a startup. The center helps students transform ideas into ventures by providing mentorship, business development support, startup programming and connections to industry and investment resources. The center’s team provided Fulcher and Menon with a roadmap for building their business and connected them with local resources, such as the Volusia Innovation Hub. This year, Tracker landed $10,000 in funding through venture competitions.

“We are thrilled that Jadyn and Arjun capitalized on CIE’s resources, expertise and networking opportunities to develop the entrepreneurial skills needed to turn their tool-tracking system into a promising business venture,” said Joe Gibney, dean of the David B. O’Maley College of Business. “Their achievement exemplifies the type of innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization that the center is committed to cultivating.”

From Concept to Commercialization

Menon and Fulcher, both passionate about robotics, began software design on Tracker during the Spring 2025 semester. They then built a prototype using 3D printers and power tools, completing it in Fall 2025. They credited Garcia with mentoring them through the process.

“She was the customer and technical advisor,” said Menon.

After Tracker won first place in the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s senior design showcase, the students were encouraged to take the next step and commercialize their project.

There are similar products, said Menon, but Tracker was designed to be an extremely cost-effective solution. To keep costs down, they used advanced automation to manufacture tool cutouts for the various drawers, thereby reducing manufacturing and engineering time. They also strategically sourced electronic components, such as various sensors, in bulk from vetted suppliers to keep material costs low.

“Someone told us we had a great idea and should run with it,” said Fulcher. “So that really drove us to make that vision come to life.”

Menon and Fulcher pitched Tracker at the Volusia Innovation Challenge this spring, where they placed second and received $5,000. At Launch Your Venture, Embry-Riddle’s annual competition for student-led startups from Florida universities, the Tracker team placed third and received another $5,000.

“Professionally, I’ve learned a lot about pitching a business idea and translating that technological knowledge into easily understandable terms,” said Menon, who graduated in May.

Menon and Fulcher are continuing to work with Embry-Riddle’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Volusia Innovation Hub for further business development, funding opportunities and strategic scalability. They also plan to present Tracker at other venture competitions, such as the Florida Venture Forum, and submit the product to the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

Fulcher, who graduated in December, said the skills he learned working on Tracker helped him land his current job as a mechanical design engineer at Alleima, a manufacturer in Palm Coast.

“I design machines for different customers and applications, so. I’ve been applying all that I’ve learned,” he said. “And learning the business side of things has been very beneficial. I never thought I’d be interested in that area, but I’m loving every second of it.”