EXCLUSIVE: Toyota Startup Accelerator helps “world’s first” airline-compliant active wheelchair achieve new heights
Revolve Wheel by Revolve Air, “the world’s first” active wheelchair that fits the standards of universal cabin luggage or compact car’s trunk, has been supported by the Toyota Startup Accelerator to receive crucial feedback and open up possibilities for the future.
The Toyota Startup Accelerator, in partnership with ISDI Accelerator, is designed to help budding startups grow and thrive, offering expertise, €20,000 equity-free funding per startup, and opportunities for expansion.
On 24 June in Madrid, Toyota and ISDI Accelerator’s Demo Day will showcase the five winning startups innovating across three different areas¨ Mobility for All, Carbon Neutrality, and Circular Economy to investors and the press. Each startup will present the breakthrough technologies they have been developing in their area.
Revolve Wheel by Revolve Air is participating in the Mobility for All category.
This innovative assistive device was designed and invented by Andrea Mocellin, Founder and CEO of Revolve, with the aim to open new frontiers of foldable vehicles.
Revolve occupies up to 60 percent less space when folded (from 665mm to 260mm) and can be used in all conditions. When folded, it allows the user to easily store it at home, in a backpack, in a trolley, in a trunk or even in the overhead baggage hold on an aeroplane.
Discussing how the Toyota Startup Accelerator will support Revolve Air, Andrea told AT Today: “Toyota Startup Accelerator has helped us take more than one step forward on a clear path towards the most important goal, which is to achieve strategic partnerships, collaborations and PoCs with airlines, athlete organisations and Toyota.
“This created the opportunity to demonstrate the potential of Revolve wheelchair to early adopters, receive further feedback and make it a market-ready product. In effect, new possibilities open up in terms of business model and future strategy.
Revolve Wheel is compatible with most bicycles and wheelchair designs as well as every mode of transportation using large bicycle wheels.
Monica Perez Lobo, Head of Sustainability and ESG Management at Toyota Motor Europe, commented: “Innovation is part of Toyota’s DNA. In order to create happiness for All, we keep challenging ourselves to break down barriers of what is possible today for a better tomorrow.
“As a global mobility company, we are reducing the footprint of our products and services, and the winners of the Toyota Startup Accelerator are clearly contributing to this. We hope to see the five startups successfully complete this accelerator program and disrupt our mobility and sustainability solutions in the years to come.”
As part of the accelerator programme, Toyota has invested €100,000 in equity-free funding, opening its facilities as testbeds and matching experts to support the development of proof of concepts with the startups.
ISDI has provided training, mentoring, brokerage with corporations and investors to support the business development and investment needs of the startups.