About TEKXNE
About TEKXNE
"Where sport meets art."
TEKXNE is a modular, skill-based movement system built at the intersection of sport, skill toy, and creative outlet, designed for progression, freeform expression, and flow state. It's built as a way to express yourself, both in how you use it and how you customize it to make it your own!
THE STORY
First Sparks
Long before TEKXNE existed, I was a kid who loved to draw and paint, always making something. That same pull toward art showed up in skateboarding too, not for the tricks alone, but for the fascination that you could build your own board. Picking every part at the shop, taking it home, and putting it together yourself. This scratched the artistic itch I had for creativity. It wasn't just a skateboard, it was a piece of art you got to ride, and every trick you did on it became another form of expression.
One of my closest friends put it best: "Where sport meets art."
Around that same time, I had my first experience with a skill toy without even realizing it. I never played lacrosse, but a childhood friend showed me stick tricks, and I'd spend hours in my backyard experimenting, with little inspiration beyond curiosity, always wondering why no one built a stick designed purely for tricks. That wasn't where the idea for the TEKXNE Stick came from, just an idea that stuck with me, I guess.
Many years later, having long since put the lacrosse stick down after growing frustrated with its limitations and growing bored of it, one of my closest friends introduced me to kendama. I loved the concept, but the one-handed motion always felt awkward for me. I could never find the flow with it. That's where the real idea started: a longer version, made of wood, something I could use with my whole body. I had no plans to build a business out of it. Life had other things pulling at my attention.
The Detour
A few years passed. I was in a job I hated, depressed, with little hope for the future, and I remembered the dream I'd had as a kid: to be an inventor. That dream had gotten buried under addiction, through my young adult years, clouded by trauma and depression. It's part of why a portion of every sale goes to Fresh Start Card, a cause close very to my heart.
Finding My Way Back
Once I found my drive again, I started chasing that childhood dream. My first idea was a power tool for the job I was working at the time, but the scope of it was daunting: complex CAD design work and electrical engineering. So I decided to learn CAD on something smaller first, the long kendama idea I'd shelved years earlier.
My original plan was to design it and license the concept to a big company, to escape the job that had made me depressed. But the more I pictured what it could become, and pictured a big corporation turning it into a cheap, disposable fad instead of the loving, inclusive community I could see it building, the clearer the decision got. I'd build it myself, without outside investors. It's been the hardest thing I've ever done, and worth every bit of it. I'm building this for the people, not out of greed. I still want this to succeed, and yes, I want to make a living from it, but never at the cost of becoming the kind of company people can't trust.
With the direction set, I started actually designing it. Learning CAD from scratch meant a lot of trial and error just to get comfortable enough to model what I had in my head, let alone refine it. The very first version of the TEKXNE Stick wasn't modular at all, it was one solid piece, top to bottom. Keeping it as a single piece was the simplest way to get from an idea in my head to something I could actually hold and test.
It was a good starting point, but once I had it modeled, I just didn't like it. It needed something more, I couldn't quite say what yet, but I knew this wasn't the final answer. That feeling is what pushed the design forward instead of settling for the first thing that technically worked.
The First Prototype
I thought back to being a kid in my backyard, hours disappearing into stick tricks on my old lacrosse stick. There was a rhythm to it, a flow, one motion rolling into the next without ever really stopping. It wasn't just the side stalls, the grabs and the flips. It was everything the net let me do in between, the little recoveries when a trick almost fell apart and somehow didn't. That in-between space was where a lot of the flow actually lived.
That's when it hit me. The net. It was so obvious once I saw it, the piece I'd been missing was the piece that had been there the whole time.
At this point, I had no idea how I was even going to manufacture it, but I knew I had to build it. After much thought and multiple design iterations, it was time to bring this idea from the computer to real life. My father, the very person who inspired many of my creations and helped me invent things as a kid, played a major role in building the first prototype. Together, we turned my CAD drawings into the very first TEKXNE Stick, built out of old fir flooring and a fishing net.
As you can imagine, that first prototype didn't function quite the way I'd imagined, but it laid the foundation for everything that followed. It proved the idea could work, and that it could be fun and enjoyable, just as I'd pictured it. At that point, I still had no idea how I'd actually manufacture it. That was a problem for later.
The First Functional Prototype
After everything I learned from the first prototype and its functional shortcomings, a new design was born. This is also the point where I really started researching how I was actually going to manufacture this thing, and that's when I stumbled onto SLS 3D printing. With that direction in mind, and with much consideration and many sleepless nights drafting in CAD, the TEKXNE Stick truly began to take shape.
This is also where the modular component design was born, originally out of pure manufacturing necessity, before becoming pivotal to the product's entire form and function.
It was first made out of HDPE, hand carved from massive chunks of plastic, the first real, usable version of the design. After many changes to the cups, their dimensions, and their angles, a fully functional and addicting device finally breathed its first breath.
Patent Pending, and the First Real Doubts
After this, I received patent pending status and was able to discuss manufacturing more in depth with manufacturers. When the pricing came back, I was devastated. This was the first real moment I questioned if this was going to work.
Around the same time, I started posting videos. I never wanted to be famous, I just wanted to share something I think is super cool. Something that has brought so much joy into my life. But the hateful comments I received, and continue to receive, have weighed heavy on my heart. However, the thought of even changing one person's life with this has pushed me forward, giving me relentless drive, and a "Make this happen no matter what!" mentality.
Rebuilding: Resin Casting and the Workshop
After that roadblock, and once the brief feeling of defeat subsided, I put all my energy into researching a new way to manufacture, one that didn't require taking on investors. That's when I discovered urethane resin casting.
I spent months setting up a workshop, gathering supplies and researching the process and materials that I would use.
Through a lot of trial and error, I came up with a way of making the silicone molds. Many people said it couldn't be done given the way my parts were designed, but with this being my only real option, I persisted and invented my own way of making these complex, multi-piece molds.
Once I finally had a production flow and had worked out the flaws in the parts, I ran into a new wave of challenges: weak points, sloppy joints, and parts melting in my car. It became clear that this wasn't going to work either.
Choosing the Community
This took me completely by surprise. I was devastated again, another massive roadblock. Out of pure desperation, I considered taking on an investor at this point. But the possibility of this turning into something no longer focused on the people who believed in it made me look for another solution. That's where we are today: funded by the very people I'm building this for, you.
It was a very difficult decision, but after much consideration, it was the only logical step forward.
Sincerely,
Luke, Founder & Inventor
Who's Behind TEKXNE
Luke, Founder & Inventor Luke is an artist and maker at heart, a man of 1000 hobbies. As the inventor behind the TEKXNE Stick; He taught himself auto CAD to bring a childhood dream of inventing to life. His restless creativity spills into everything he does. This includes painting, tattooing, and designing handmade clothing plus so much more. He's been a music producer and DJ for years. You can listen to some of his music here.
At the heart of it all is a simple belief: everything you do in life is art. That philosophy, paired with a deep love for the natural world, shapes everything he builds and creates.
"Be the best part of someone's day, not the worst." - Luke
Instagram @Lukroz_ofc
Emile - Photographer Emile Pellerin is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Victoria, BC. Inspired by the natural and lush tones of Vancouver Island, and with over a decade of experience behind the camera, Emile captures an authentic and intimate view of the island’s landscapes and wildlife. Emile is also a DJ and music producer and you can hear his work here. One of Luke's closest friends who took an interest in the TEKXNE Stick early on and between his photography skills, and his good vibes, he's become integral to the TEKXNE story.
"Let all you do be done in love." - St. Paul
Instagram @emilepellerin
Gavin - Videographer Gavin is a social, creative, and adventurous person who enjoys spending time in nature, playing guitar, and connecting with the people. He's naturally curious, easygoing, and always open to new experiences. He values meaningful conversations, a fun lifestyle, and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. Gavin, a friend of Luke's younger brother, was the first person to really get behind the TEKXNE Stick, trying it once and getting hooked immediately. What started with him holding the camera while helping Luke film has grown into a huge leap in video quality, and a close friendship along the way.
"Hindsight gives life meaning, but the future still requires faith and action." - Unkown
Instagram @bodacious_boi
TEKXNE, Patent Pending
About TEKXNE
"Where sport meets art."
TEKXNE is a modular, skill-based movement system built at the intersection of sport, skill toy, and creative outlet, designed for progression, freeform expression, and flow state. It's built as a way to express yourself, both in how you use it and how you customize it to make it your own!
THE STORY
First Sparks
Long before TEKXNE existed, I was a kid who loved to draw and paint, always making something. That same pull toward art showed up in skateboarding too, not for the tricks alone, but for the fascination that you could build your own board. Picking every part at the shop, taking it home, and putting it together yourself. This scratched the artistic itch I had for creativity. It wasn't just a skateboard, it was a piece of art you got to ride, and every trick you did on it became another form of expression.
One of my closest friends put it best: "Where sport meets art."
Around that same time, I had my first experience with a skill toy without even realizing it. I never played lacrosse, but a childhood friend showed me stick tricks, and I'd spend hours in my backyard experimenting, with little inspiration beyond curiosity, always wondering why no one built a stick designed purely for tricks. That wasn't where the idea for the TEKXNE Stick came from, just an idea that stuck with me, I guess.
Many years later, having long since put the lacrosse stick down after growing frustrated with its limitations and growing bored of it, one of my closest friends introduced me to kendama. I loved the concept, but the one-handed motion always felt awkward for me. I could never find the flow with it. That's where the real idea started: a longer version, made of wood, something I could use with my whole body. I had no plans to build a business out of it. Life had other things pulling at my attention.
The Detour
A few years passed. I was in a job I hated, depressed, with little hope for the future, and I remembered the dream I'd had as a kid: to be an inventor. That dream had gotten buried under addiction, through my young adult years, clouded by trauma and depression. It's part of why a portion of every sale goes to Fresh Start Card, a cause close very to my heart.
Finding My Way Back
Once I found my drive again, I started chasing that childhood dream. My first idea was a power tool for the job I was working at the time, but the scope of it was daunting: complex CAD design work and electrical engineering. So I decided to learn CAD on something smaller first, the long kendama idea I'd shelved years earlier.
My original plan was to design it and license the concept to a big company, to escape the job that had made me depressed. But the more I pictured what it could become, and pictured a big corporation turning it into a cheap, disposable fad instead of the loving, inclusive community I could see it building, the clearer the decision got. I'd build it myself, without outside investors. It's been the hardest thing I've ever done, and worth every bit of it. I'm building this for the people, not out of greed. I still want this to succeed, and yes, I want to make a living from it, but never at the cost of becoming the kind of company people can't trust.
With the direction set, I started actually designing it. Learning CAD from scratch meant a lot of trial and error just to get comfortable enough to model what I had in my head, let alone refine it. The very first version of the TEKXNE Stick wasn't modular at all, it was one solid piece, top to bottom. Keeping it as a single piece was the simplest way to get from an idea in my head to something I could actually hold and test.
It was a good starting point, but once I had it modeled, I just didn't like it. It needed something more, I couldn't quite say what yet, but I knew this wasn't the final answer. That feeling is what pushed the design forward instead of settling for the first thing that technically worked.
The First Prototype
I thought back to being a kid in my backyard, hours disappearing into stick tricks on my old lacrosse stick. There was a rhythm to it, a flow, one motion rolling into the next without ever really stopping. It wasn't just the side stalls, the grabs and the flips. It was everything the net let me do in between, the little recoveries when a trick almost fell apart and somehow didn't. That in-between space was where a lot of the flow actually lived.
That's when it hit me. The net. It was so obvious once I saw it, the piece I'd been missing was the piece that had been there the whole time.
At this point, I had no idea how I was even going to manufacture it, but I knew I had to build it. After much thought and multiple design iterations, it was time to bring this idea from the computer to real life. My father, the very person who inspired many of my creations and helped me invent things as a kid, played a major role in building the first prototype. Together, we turned my CAD drawings into the very first TEKXNE Stick, built out of old fir flooring and a fishing net.
As you can imagine, that first prototype didn't function quite the way I'd imagined, but it laid the foundation for everything that followed. It proved the idea could work, and that it could be fun and enjoyable, just as I'd pictured it. At that point, I still had no idea how I'd actually manufacture it. That was a problem for later.
The First Functional Prototype
After everything I learned from the first prototype and its functional shortcomings, a new design was born. This is also the point where I really started researching how I was actually going to manufacture this thing, and that's when I stumbled onto SLS 3D printing. With that direction in mind, and with much consideration and many sleepless nights drafting in CAD, the TEKXNE Stick truly began to take shape.
This is also where the modular component design was born, originally out of pure manufacturing necessity, before becoming pivotal to the product's entire form and function.
It was first made out of HDPE, hand carved from massive chunks of plastic, the first real, usable version of the design. After many changes to the cups, their dimensions, and their angles, a fully functional and addicting device finally breathed its first breath.
Patent Pending, and the First Real Doubts
After this, I received patent pending status and was able to discuss manufacturing more in depth with manufacturers. When the pricing came back, I was devastated. This was the first real moment I questioned if this was going to work.
Around the same time, I started posting videos. I never wanted to be famous, I just wanted to share something I think is super cool. Something that has brought so much joy into my life. But the hateful comments I received, and continue to receive, have weighed heavy on my heart. However, the thought of even changing one person's life with this has pushed me forward, giving me relentless drive, and a "Make this happen no matter what!" mentality.
Rebuilding: Resin Casting and the Workshop
After that roadblock, and once the brief feeling of defeat subsided, I put all my energy into researching a new way to manufacture, one that didn't require taking on investors. That's when I discovered urethane resin casting.
I spent months setting up a workshop, gathering supplies and researching the process and materials that I would use.
Through a lot of trial and error, I came up with a way of making the silicone molds. Many people said it couldn't be done given the way my parts were designed, but with this being my only real option, I persisted and invented my own way of making these complex, multi-piece molds.
Once I finally had a production flow and had worked out the flaws in the parts, I ran into a new wave of challenges: weak points, sloppy joints, and parts melting in my car. It became clear that this wasn't going to work either.
Choosing the Community
This took me completely by surprise. I was devastated again, another massive roadblock. Out of pure desperation, I considered taking on an investor at this point. But the possibility of this turning into something no longer focused on the people who believed in it made me look for another solution. That's where we are today: funded by the very people I'm building this for, you.
It was a very difficult decision, but after much consideration, it was the only logical step forward.
Sincerely,
Luke, Founder & Inventor
Who's Behind TEKXNE
Luke, Founder & Inventor Luke is an artist and maker at heart, a man of 1000 hobbies. As the inventor behind the TEKXNE Stick; He taught himself auto CAD to bring a childhood dream of inventing to life. His restless creativity spills into everything he does. This includes painting, tattooing, and designing handmade clothing plus so much more. He's been a music producer and DJ for years. You can listen to some of his music here.
At the heart of it all is a simple belief: everything you do in life is art. That philosophy, paired with a deep love for the natural world, shapes everything he builds and creates.
"Be the best part of someone's day, not the worst." - Luke
Instagram @Lukroz_ofc
Emile - Photographer Emile Pellerin is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Victoria, BC. Inspired by the natural and lush tones of Vancouver Island, and with over a decade of experience behind the camera, Emile captures an authentic and intimate view of the island’s landscapes and wildlife. Emile is also a DJ and music producer and you can hear his work here. One of Luke's closest friends who took an interest in the TEKXNE Stick early on and between his photography skills, and his good vibes, he's become integral to the TEKXNE story.
"Let all you do be done in love." - St. Paul
Instagram @emilepellerin
Gavin - Videographer Gavin is a social, creative, and adventurous person who enjoys spending time in nature, playing guitar, and connecting with the people. He's naturally curious, easygoing, and always open to new experiences. He values meaningful conversations, a fun lifestyle, and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. Gavin, a friend of Luke's younger brother, was the first person to really get behind the TEKXNE Stick, trying it once and getting hooked immediately. What started with him holding the camera while helping Luke film has grown into a huge leap in video quality, and a close friendship along the way.
"Hindsight gives life meaning, but the future still requires faith and action." - Unkown
Instagram @bodacious_boi
TEKXNE, Patent Pending