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Healthcare Tech: This HEC Paris MBA Is Using Big Data Analytics To Improve Safety At Work

Matthew Hart's first product helps reduce the causes of muscular skeletal injuries in industry employees by 70%

Wed Oct 4 2017

BusinessBecause
Matthew Hart founded his own healthcare technology startup—Soter Analytics—after a full-time MBA at HEC Paris.

His main product, SoterSpine, combines wearable tech with big data analytics to help stop the causes of muscular skeletal injuries in the workplace—the most common and expensive injury category in industry.

Though still in development, SoterSpine has already won accolades from Australia’s National Energy Resource Association, as well as the Western Australian Innovation award. Matthew estimates that his wearable healthcare tech, styled after a rugby shirt, can help reduce the causes of muscular skeletal injuries by 70%.

Matthew was working in Australia for the biggest mining company in the world, BHP Billiton, when he decided to pursue his MBA. He had plenty of offers on the table for a higher position or a transfer somewhere else in the world, but he felt he’d learned all he could—an MBA seemed like a good move forward.

His idea stemmed from his experiences at BHP, but it was at the HEC Paris MBA that his business took shape.

Now, with an R&D office in St. Petersburg, Matthew is harnessing the science, technology and engineering talent in Eastern Europe. He’s looking to finalize his fundraising to bring his wearable device to the large pipeline of customers he’s built up.

How did the idea for Soter Analytics come about?

I was a reliability engineer at BHP where I collected data from machines and analyzed it to predict failures. When we could predict a failure, we were able to change out a component before it failed. This would save a lot of downtime and a loss of productivity.

Some of the machines would have 10,000 sensors and I realized that there was a whole lot of missing data when it comes to industry. We have all the data for the machines, but what about the people that are fixing them or operating them? We had no visibility and no data on them.

So, the idea was if we could put a sensor on a person, we could help them reduce their injuries, make the work slightly more productive and make it safer like we do with machines. The SoterSpine continuously captures human-movement data and notifies workers when they make an at-risk movement. We also analyze the data we collect and coach workers on how to improve their safety or productivity. 

How have you profited from your MBA experience?

In the world of startups you need to be a master of everything—that’s what the MBA teaches you. I had an idea for a product which I thought would make an impact, and the MBA gave me the skills to make it happen.

Before, I only had the engineering background. But if you’re just building a product that’s only half the story. You need to be solving customer problems and then understanding how to make money from that. Now, I have the business knowledge to run my startup and grow my business.

Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at HEC Paris?

I wanted to go to a well-established school with a high ranking to get a top quality education. Although I didn’t initially have plans to relocate to France or study in Paris, I knew that HEC Paris had a good ranking and a well-respected program.

It also had great diversity and a good alumni network. I’ve used the network since graduating and have been introduced to customers by people I studied with. The international exposure of the program also helped me develop the confidence to do business globally. We have customers in Australia, Belgium, UK, Lithuania, and hopefully soon in the USA.

What advice do you have for anyone considering an MBA?

Get exposure to all the different parts of business rather than specializing in one area. As the founder of a startup today, I’m talking to investors, journalists, my technical team, customers, and we’re building a new product and developing its strategy.

There are so many different things involved with all those tasks, so it’s important to have a strong grasp of all elements of business. They’re all important.

Also, network. For me, this has led to customer introductions, advice on how to do business in different regions and I’m planning for my next two hires at the company to be people I studied with during the MBA program.

Student Reviews

HEC Paris

Student

Verified

7/07/2022

On Campus

Cultural experience

I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.

Sarah

Verified

18/03/2022

On Campus

Internationality and diversity of opportunities

About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.

Student

Verified

29/10/2021

On Campus

Great selection of people

While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.

Veronique

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

Best in France for Grande ecole

A prestigious business school. Languages ​​are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments. The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.

Ghadi

Verified

11/06/2022

On Campus

Diversity and quality of fellow students

Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.

Student

Verified

27/03/2022

On Campus

The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs

The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.

Lb

Verified

26/03/2022

On Campus

HEC Paris awaits you

HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.

Rajarshi

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

A dream institute

Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions. The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!

Student

Verified

19/10/2021

On Campus

Good choice for a career boost

The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.

Student

Verified

7/07/2022

On Campus

Cultural experience

I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.

Sarah

Verified

18/03/2022

On Campus

Internationality and diversity of opportunities

About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.

Student

Verified

29/10/2021

On Campus

Great selection of people

While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.

Veronique

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

Best in France for Grande ecole

A prestigious business school. Languages ​​are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments. The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.

Ghadi

Verified

11/06/2022

On Campus

Diversity and quality of fellow students

Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.

Student

Verified

27/03/2022

On Campus

The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs

The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.

Lb

Verified

26/03/2022

On Campus

HEC Paris awaits you

HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.

Rajarshi

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

A dream institute

Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions. The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!

Student

Verified

19/10/2021

On Campus

Good choice for a career boost

The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.

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