Sara Falkson is an American design engineer, former Dartmouth field hockey captain and founder of Robyn Athletic. Her work focuses on a problem many female athletes recognize: sports bras and other equipment often fail to support different bodies, sports and stages of development.
Falkson combined her athletic experience with human-centered design, software development and product engineering. After graduating from Dartmouth College, she worked in IBM’s Data and AI organization before completing Harvard’s Master in Design Engineering program in 2025.
Her Harvard capstone later became Robyn Athletic, a company developing sports bras and body-confidence education for young athletes. In addition, she has created wearable sensors, artificial-intelligence tools and humanitarian design projects.
Rather than treating a sports bra as ordinary clothing, Falkson approaches it as performance equipment that can affect comfort, confidence and participation in sport.
Who Is Sara Falkson?
Sara Falkson is a designer, engineer, entrepreneur and former Division I field hockey player from Massachusetts.
She played defense for Dartmouth College and later became a two-time team captain. After college, she worked as a design engineer while coaching young field hockey players. Those experiences encouraged her to explore the connection between women’s athletic equipment, body confidence and continued participation in sport.
Today, her best-documented public role is founder and CEO of Robyn Athletic. The company combines sports-bra development with workshops intended to help girls discuss puberty, body changes, athletic clothing and confidence more openly.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sara Falkson |
| Hometown | Dedham/Boston area, Massachusetts |
| Profession | Design engineer and entrepreneur |
| Company | Robyn Athletic |
| Current role | Founder and CEO |
| Dartmouth sport | Field hockey |
| Playing position | Defense |
| Dartmouth graduation | 2022 |
| Harvard degree | Master in Design Engineering, 2025 |
| Previous employer | IBM Data and AI |
| Public Instagram | @sfalkson |
Her exact date of birth has not appeared in a dependable institutional biography. Therefore, profiles should avoid publishing a precise age without a direct or official source.
What Is Sara Falkson Known For?
Falkson is primarily known for founding Robyn Athletic and designing sports equipment around the needs of female athletes.
The concept grew from her own experience. While playing field hockey, she sometimes wore two sports bras at once because one did not provide enough support. Moreover, she saw teammates create their own solutions because standard team-issued products did not fit their different bodies.
That experience led Falkson to describe a “gear gap” in women’s sport. The phrase refers to differences in the research, design, availability and quality of equipment created for female athletes compared with male athletes.
Instead of asking athletes to tolerate discomfort or modify their bodies, her work asks designers and manufacturers to improve the equipment.
Sara Falkson’s Education
Falkson studied at Dartmouth College before pursuing graduate engineering and design work at Harvard University.
Dartmouth College
She graduated cum laude from Dartmouth in 2022. Her academic work combined human-centered design, cultural anthropology and digital arts, although the athletics roster lists anthropology as her formal major.
This interdisciplinary education supported her later work because product design involves more than technical construction. Designers also need to understand:
- How people use products
- Why customers develop workarounds
- How culture influences body image
- Which users conventional research overlooks
- How design decisions affect confidence and behavior
Consequently, Falkson’s anthropology and design background became relevant when she began researching sports-bra fit and young athletes’ experiences.
Harvard Master in Design Engineering
Falkson later entered the Master in Design Engineering program jointly operated by the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
She completed the program in 2025. While studying, she focused on sports, biomechanics, entrepreneurship and female-centered product design. Her capstone involved developing a sports-bra prototype that later evolved into Robyn Athletic.
The program also allowed her to take classes and use fabrication resources across Harvard and MIT. As a result, she gained practical experience with electronics, textiles, sensors, coding, prototyping and manufacturing.
Sara Falkson’s Dartmouth Field Hockey Career
Falkson played defense for Dartmouth’s varsity field hockey team from 2018 through 2021.
She appeared in all 17 games during her freshman season and started 16. Moreover, she recorded five defensive saves, which tied for the team lead and ranked third in the Ivy League that year.
During the 2019 season, she played 15 games, made nine starts, scored twice and added two assists. She also finished tied for second on the team in defensive saves.
Dartmouth selected Falkson as a captain before the 2020 season. Although COVID-19 prevented the team from playing that year, her teammates chose her again for a leadership role during the 2021 campaign.
Her Dartmouth honors
Falkson’s college recognition included:
- Two seasons as a team captain
- NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad honors
- Academic All-Ivy recognition
- The Dorothy H. Leavitt Award
- Dartmouth’s Teammate of the Year Award
The Dorothy H. Leavitt Award recognizes the player who contributes most significantly to the field hockey program on and off the field. Dartmouth presented Falkson with that award after her senior season.
Her Athletic Background Before Dartmouth
Before college, Falkson attended Noble and Greenough School in Massachusetts.
She earned four varsity letters in field hockey and three in tennis. During her senior field hockey season, she captained the team and helped it win the Independent School League championship.
Her honors included:
- Team MVP
- First-Team ISL All-Star
- Class A All-NEPSAC First Team
- Boston Herald All-Scholastic recognition
- Boston Globe All-Scholastic recognition
- National Futures Championship selections
Because she spent years competing at school and college levels, Falkson experienced athletic-product problems as a user rather than observing them only through academic research.
Falkson’s Work at IBM
After Dartmouth, Falkson worked in IBM’s Data and AI organization for approximately two years.
Her portfolio includes work on watsonx.data, IBM’s data-management platform for analytics and artificial intelligence. She has described contributing design work to interfaces and systems intended to help users manage data across different environments.
This software background influenced her approach to physical-product development. For example, digital teams can test and update interfaces quickly, while apparel prototypes may require several months of sampling, manufacturing and wear testing.
Harvard’s alumni profile noted that sports-apparel development can take 12 to 18 months. Therefore, moving from software into textiles required Falkson to adjust to longer production cycles.
What Is Robyn Athletic?
Robyn Athletic is a sportswear and body-confidence company founded by Sara Falkson.
The business aims to reduce barriers that make girls feel uncomfortable or unsupported in sport. Its first physical products focus on sports bras for middle-school and high-school athletes, particularly those purchasing or wearing one for the first time.
However, Robyn does not operate only as an apparel brand. Its work also includes:
- Body-confidence workshops
- Educational resources for athletes
- Guidance for parents and coaches
- Athlete feedback and wear testing
- Community programs
- Discussions about puberty and sports participation
The company describes its approach as confidence-first and biomechanics-informed. Moreover, it presents sports bras as performance equipment rather than optional fashion items.
Readers can learn more through the official Robyn Athletic website.
Why Is the Company Called Robyn?
The name Robyn has personal and symbolic meaning.
According to Harvard’s profile, Robyn connects with the middle name shared by Falkson and her mother. The name also references the robin, a bird known for its colorful breast feathers.
Therefore, the brand name links family identity with its focus on breast development, athletic confidence and movement.
When Will Robyn’s Sports Bras Launch?
Harvard reported in December 2025 that Falkson hoped to make the first products available by fall 2026. At that stage, she was developing two designs for middle-school and high-school athletes.
The Robyn Athletic website currently describes its gear as “coming soon.” Consequently, readers should check the company directly for updated release dates, pricing and availability rather than relying on an earlier target.
Product-development schedules may change because the company still needs to complete:
- Prototype revisions
- Athlete wear testing
- Fit adjustments
- Material selection
- Manufacturing
- Quality testing
- Inventory planning
A target launch period does not guarantee that every size or product will become available at the same time.
What Is the Bolt Bra?
The Bolt Bra was a wearable-technology project that Falkson created while taking MIT’s How to Make (Almost) Anything course.
She designed a three-part system consisting of:
- A wearable Bolt sensor
- An embroidered athletic top
- A digital data platform
The sensor collected movement and heart-rate information. Meanwhile, the software analyzed the data and presented insights for the athlete.
Falkson worked across several roles, including:
- Product management
- Mechanical engineering
- Software engineering
- Apparel design
- Sensor fabrication
- Data visualization
The project used components such as an accelerometer, microcontroller, pulse sensor, battery and storage card inside a custom 3D-printed enclosure. She also used Arduino and Python during development.
Readers can see the system on Sara Falkson’s Bolt Bra project page.
Is the Bolt Bra the same as Robyn’s sports bra?
Not exactly.
The Bolt Bra served as an academic wearable-technology project that explored sensors, motion data and female-centered design. Robyn Athletic grew from Falkson’s broader research and capstone work, with greater emphasis on fit, support, confidence and products for young athletes.
However, both projects reflect the same principle: engineers should develop athletic equipment around female athletes’ actual experiences.
Other Design and Engineering Projects
Falkson’s portfolio extends beyond sports apparel.
Aid Ally
Aid Ally is an augmented-reality project designed to support humanitarian work in low-resource environments. The team partnered with Field Ready, a nonprofit focused on disaster relief and preparedness.
The application provided visual instructions for creating useful objects from locally available materials. One use case involved hands-free crutches.
Sight Support
Sight Support combined elements of a walker and white cane. The project aimed to help people with both visual and physical impairments remain mobile as they age.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory work
Falkson has also described design-engineering work involving human-AI teaming for mission-critical applications. Her portfolio connects the project with the MIT Lincoln Laboratory AI Architecture and Algorithms Group.
Maternity Mosaic
Maternity Mosaic used large collections of shared maternal experiences to create an interactive data visualization. Users could explore common topics and emotions connected with maternity.
Together, these projects show a consistent interest in human-centered technology, accessibility and experiences that traditional product development may overlook.
Body-Confidence Workshops
Robyn Athletic runs workshops for teams, schools and athletic organizations.
The sessions address subjects that young athletes may find difficult to discuss, including:
- Choosing a first sports bra
- Understanding fit and support
- Changing bodies during puberty
- Feeling comfortable in uniforms
- Body image in competitive sport
- Asking coaches or parents for help
Harvard reported that Falkson had begun building relationships with youth teams in Boston and New York while refining the company’s products.
Robyn’s website also invites schools, coaches, athletes and organizations to request workshops or partnerships.
Sara Falkson’s Marathon Running
Falkson continued participating in endurance sport after completing her college field hockey career.
She ran the 2023 Boston Marathon with Massachusetts General Hospital’s pediatric cancer team. Later, she recorded a personal-best time of 3:32:41 at the 2024 New York City Marathon, according to her project portfolio.
Running gave her another perspective on sports-bra performance because distance runners need support that remains comfortable through repeated movement, sweat and long training sessions.
Recognition in 2026
The Boston Business Journal selected Falkson for its 2026 40 Under 40 class and identified her as CEO of Robyn Athletic.
She also appeared in Brown Brothers Harriman’s Women to Watch in 2026 feature, where she discussed building Robyn and supporting female athletes through better products and education.
These honors reflect growing public attention around both the company and the broader issue it addresses.
What Is Sara Falkson’s Instagram?
Sara Falkson’s publicly associated Instagram account is @sfalkson.
The profile identifies her with Dartmouth, Harvard and Robyn Athletic. Her posts include company milestones, engineering work, athletic activities and selected personal updates.
Readers can visit Sara Falkson on Instagram.
Robyn Athletic also maintains a separate social-media account for product development, workshops and athlete stories. Because account names may change, publishers should verify the active handle before embedding a post.
Is Sara Falkson Related to Ben Rice?
Recent public posts indicate that Falkson has a brother named Ben who has received coverage connected with the New York Yankees. However, the available sources reviewed here do not provide enough context to make family relationships a major part of her professional biography.
Her work and public profile primarily concern engineering, female athletes and Robyn Athletic. Therefore, articles should avoid shifting the focus toward relatives unless the relationship directly supports the subject.
Is Sara Falkson Married?
Falkson has not made her marital status a central part of her public professional biography.
No dependable institutional source reviewed for this profile identifies a husband or announces a marriage. Consequently, websites should not publish relationship claims based only on photographs or social-media assumptions.
Her work as an engineer, athlete and founder offers ample material without speculating about her private life.
What Is Sara Falkson’s Net Worth?
Sara Falkson’s net worth is not publicly known.
Robyn Athletic is a privately held startup, and the company has not published audited revenue, investment or valuation figures. In addition, her salary, ownership percentage, personal assets and liabilities remain private.
Exact online estimates would therefore rely on speculation rather than financial documentation.
A startup founder can own shares in a company without those shares having a fixed or liquid cash value. Product-development costs, manufacturing obligations and future fundraising can also affect the value of that ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sara Falkson do?
Sara Falkson is a design engineer and founder of Robyn Athletic. She develops female-centered sports products and body-confidence programs for young athletes.
Did Sara Falkson attend Harvard?
Yes. She completed Harvard’s Master in Design Engineering program in 2025. The program combines engineering, design and entrepreneurship.
Did Sara Falkson play field hockey?
Yes. Falkson played Division I field hockey at Dartmouth College as a defender and served as a team captain for two seasons.
What is Robyn Athletic?
Robyn Athletic is a sportswear and body-confidence company founded by Falkson. It develops sports bras and educational programs for female athletes.
Why did Sara Falkson redesign the sports bra?
Her own sports bras often felt restrictive or failed to provide enough support. She also saw Dartmouth teammates wear two bras or buy replacements because standard products did not fit properly.
Is Robyn Athletic selling sports bras yet?
The company’s website currently describes its gear as coming soon. Harvard previously reported a target of fall 2026, although launch schedules can change.
What is the Bolt Bra?
The Bolt Bra is Falkson’s wearable sensor project from an MIT fabrication course. It combined an athletic top, motion sensor and digital analysis platform.
Did Sara Falkson work at IBM?
Yes. She worked in IBM’s Data and AI organization after graduating from Dartmouth. Her portfolio includes design work connected with watsonx.data.
How old is Sara Falkson?
Her exact birth date has not appeared in a reliable institutional profile. Therefore, her precise age should remain unconfirmed.
What is Sara Falkson’s Instagram?
Her public Instagram handle is @sfalkson. The account identifies her as a Dartmouth and Harvard graduate and founder of Robyn Athletic.
Conclusion
Sara Falkson combines the perspectives of an athlete, engineer, designer and entrepreneur. Her Dartmouth field hockey experience exposed problems with sports-bra fit, while her work at IBM and Harvard gave her tools to develop new solutions.
Through Robyn Athletic, she now treats body confidence and equipment design as connected parts of athletic participation. The company plans to support young athletes through sports bras, education, workshops and community programs.
Her work remains in an early stage, and launch dates may change. Nevertheless, Falkson’s central idea is clear: athletes should not need to change their bodies or create uncomfortable workarounds because designers failed to build suitable gear.
