Haniff Brown likes to say that some years feel slow, and others feel like they happen in a week. This has been one of those weeks-that-feel-like-years phases for FIT:MATCH.ai. When sat down for an interview with Refresh Miami, Brown joked about fighting off a cold amidst the Art Week madness, but his energy gave away what was really going on: the company has stepped into a faster phase of growth.

That shift arrived with QuadraScan, a technology Brown described as a clear turning point. With nothing more than four standard photos taken on any device, FIT:MATCH can now generate a hyperrealistic digital twin in seconds. The magic happens inside a giant neural network running on high-powered NVIDIA chips. It’s the kind of leap that once required expensive hardware and controlled environments. Now it works from a kid’s Android phone or a patient’s living room.

It also meant rebuilding FIT:MATCH from the inside out. The team had to rework their full infrastructure so this process could run fast enough for real clients in healthcare, sports, and retail. But the payoff has been immediate. Through computer vision landmarks, the system instantly extracts more than 40 body data points, then layers in estimates on lean mass, fat mass, and bone metrics. 

The first time he explained it, Brown paused and summed it up in a single line: “Our goal is to generate what we call the ChatGPT of the human body.”

That idea helps explain why the company’s growth has jumped sharply. Brown said FIT:MATCH has expanded its client base by roughly 300% in the past year, driven almost entirely by this new model. Sports teams now use it to scout kids as young as 13. A baseball scout no longer has to guess whether a young pitcher will top out at five-nine or grow into a six-two frame. The tech gives them a projection backed by data. Major League Soccer is next in line, with Brown traveling to Atlanta and Arizona for upcoming work with youth development programs.

Retail buyers have also leaned in. Instead of asking whether someone should order a medium shirt online, FIT:MATCH helps designers understand what a medium should even be. Brands have long relied on rigid avatar libraries in their 3D design tools. FIT:MATCH now gives them flexible, population-level inputs in minutes, not weeks. Cost drops. Accuracy rises. And shoppers get clothing that actually fits.

Healthcare, though, might be where the biggest shift happens. FIT:MATCH is used by GLP-1 programs, bariatric groups, and plastic surgeons to monitor patients from home. One Miami surgeon, known for a large out-of-state clientele, now has a clear read on patients long after they’ve flown home. Brown pulled up before-and-after images of real cases. With four photos, the model measures changes with precision; every change in fat distribution or muscle tone is quantified.

The health side is also where Brown’s own vision seems to be headed. “I actually think this can help save lives,” he said. One hospital partner is using it to monitor certain neuro conditions from home, where early detection can change outcomes. What began as a tool aimed at improving shopping has turned into a platform with medical value.

All of this has pushed the team to around 30 employees, with a growing South Florida presence. FIT:MATCH also raised an extension to its Series A to support expansion into sports science and digital health. Brown expects another raise within the next year. To date, the company has secured $18 million.

“I like to tell people that the worst version of the model is the one being used today,” Brown asserted. If that’s true, the next versions could open a much bigger window into how our bodies work.

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I am a Miami-based technology researcher and writer with a passion for sharing stories about the South Florida tech ecosystem. I particularly enjoy learning about GovTech startups, cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence, and innovators that leverage technology to transform society for the better. Always open for pitches via Twitter @rileywk or www.RileyKaminer.com.

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Manchester United’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth might have captured global attention on Monday night, but just four miles away, a couple of hours before kick-off, one of the Old Trafford club’s famous old boys was a notable presence at a far less glamorous occasion.

United are often accused of not caring about their local community but that ignores the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

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Treble-winner and Class of ’92 member Nicky Butt was at the Manchester Academy in Moss Side, helping out at a youth training session run under the umbrella of Sir Bobby’s Street Reds, funded by Sir Bobby Charlton’s Foundation.

The rain that swept across the north-west all day didn’t dampen spirits for something Butt – who grew up in nearby Gorton – feels is an essential aspect of United’s DNA.

“Manchester United and charities like Sir Bobby’s Foundation have to look after local communities,” he said.

“We must be aware there are kids out there that need support.

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“It isn’t all rosy in the garden. Not everyone’s got a perfect life and a great family or parents that can afford to take them to training. Even one-on-one coaching is a big thing nowadays.

“It’s an important part and it’s good to see Street Reds getting involved.”

The City of Watsonville, in partnership with Santa Cruz METRO and MidPen Housing, has been awarded a $39 million state grant to help build a new affordable housing and transit-centered development in downtown Watsonville.

The funding, awarded through the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, will support the Watsonville Metro Project, which will redevelop the Watsonville Transit Center at 475 Rodriguez St. into a multi-story, mixed-use development that combines housing, transit and commercial space.

The project was one of just 21 selected statewide in this funding round, and the only one on the Central Coast.

Plans for the site call for 79 new affordable housing units, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, along with upgraded transit facilities, a new bike hub and bike lanes, ground-floor commercial space and an outdoor forecourt.

City officials said the redesigned site is intended to serve as a pedestrian-friendly, transit-connected hub that improves regional mobility while supporting nearby businesses.

“The AHSC award is a major investment in the future of our downtown and in the residents who rely on accessible, affordable housing and transportation,” said Assistant Community Development Director Justin Meek. “We are grateful for the collaboration with Santa Cruz METRO and MidPen Housing that made this competitive award possible.”

The project builds on the city’s 2023 Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan, which outlines a long-term vision for revitalizing the downtown core through new housing, mixed-use development and expanded commercial activity. 

City staff said the Watsonville Metro Project aligns with the plan’s goals of creating a walkable, inclusive and active downtown.

The AHSC Program, administered by the California Strategic Growth Council, funds developments that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by integrating affordable housing with public transit and active transportation infrastructure. Eligible projects are designed to reduce vehicle miles traveled while expanding access to transit, biking and walking.

Construction timelines and next steps for the project have not yet been announced.

Prior to Brøndby, Che played for FC Dallas in MLS from 2020 to 2023. Che joined FC Dallas in 2020 as a homegrown, and during that season he played with North Texas SC, Dallas’s USL League One affiliate. He made 16 appearances for North Texas, where he tallied one assist and earned USL League One All-League honors. The defender went on loan with Bayern Munich II in 2021, where he made eight appearances and returned to FC Dallas on June 15, 2021. He then made 15 appearances for FC Dallas, where he tallied three assists for the club. Che recorded his first career MLS assist in a 4-0 win over Los Angeles Galaxy on July 24, 2021. He then went on loan to TSG Hoffenheim in 2022, where he made two appearances for their first team and also featured for TSG Hoffenheim II, where he made 24 appearances and recorded one goal and one assist.

The Richardson, Texas native has represented the United States at the youth national team level, which includes appearances with the U-16’s and U-20’s. Che made 10 appearances for the U-20’s. He participated in the 2023 U-20 World Cup, where he helped the U.S. reach the quarterfinals and scored a goal in their Round of 16 win against New Zealand U-20’s.