Marco Altini.

Health, technology and performance

Marco holds a PhD cum laude in applied machine learning, a M.Sc. cum laude in computer science engineering, and a M.Sc. cum laude in human movement sciences and high-performance coaching. He is a certified Ultrarunning Coach.

Marco has published more than 50 papers and patents at the intersection between physiology, health, technology, and human performance.

He is co-founder of HRV4Training, Endurance Coach at Destination Unknown, advisor at Oura, guest lecturer at VU Amsterdam, and editor for IEEE Pervasive Computing Magazine. He loves running.

Endurance coaching Read the blog
Marco Altini
Founder · HRV4Training Data Science Advisor · Oura, augo Guest Lecturer · VU Amsterdam Editor · IEEE Pervasive Computing

Things I have built

HRV4Training logoSince 2012
HRV4Training The first validated app to measure HRV with the phone camera. 200,000+ users, from recreational athletes to Olympic medalists.
HRV4Training logoWeb platform
HRV4Training Pro Long-term analysis of your physiology, and the coach panel for teams.
HRV4Biofeedback logoiOS · Android
HRV4Biofeedback Camera-based HRV biofeedback to improve self-regulation and cope with stress.
Oura logoOura · Sensors 2021
Sleep staging The next generation multi-sensor sleep staging algorithm I developed with Oura, published in Sensors.
Strava logoStrava · Engineering blog
Relative Effort The metric Strava uses to quantify training effort, combining intensity and duration.
Bloomlife logo2014 – 2019
Prenatal health Led data science at Bloomlife: contractions, fetal movement and labor detection.

Selected publications

Machine learning applied to health and sport, from validating measurements to bringing large-scale insights back to the individual.

All 50+ publications →
2026Heart Rate Variability book coverHeart Rate Variability: Science and Strategies for Peak Performance
Laborde, Altini, Mosley, Plews. Human Kinetics. Book.
2021The promise of sleep: a multi-sensor approach for accurate sleep stage detection using the Oura ring
Altini, Kinnunen. Sensors.
2021What is behind changes in resting heart rate and heart rate variability?
Altini, Plews. Sensors.
2017Comparison of HRV recording with smartphone PPG, Polar H7 chest strap and ECG
Plews, Scott, Altini, Wood, Kilding, Laursen. IJSPP.
2015Personalization of energy expenditure and cardiorespiratory fitness estimation using wearable sensors in supervised and unsupervised free-living conditions
PhD thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology.

Endurance coaching

I coach runners of all levels, planning training around each person's goals, life and environment.

My coaching philosophy Athlete intake form