RooWalk goes “Down under”
At the end of January 2024, we had the incredible opportunity to travel to Australia with RooWalk, thanks to an invitation from Remarkable and Toyota. For us – Benjamin and Maria – it was a great privilege. Toyota is more than just the world’s largest automobile manufacturer; their vision, “Creating Mobility for All,” aligns perfectly with RooWalk’s mission. In fact, we casually mentioned Toyota as our dream strategic partner in our very first grant application.
Finally, the time had come: a two-day workshop awaited us on January 29th and 30th at Toyota in Melbourne. This event marked the kickoff of a partnership between Toyota and Remarkable, the startup arm of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF).
Six projects from Australia were invited to join the workshop. As the only overseas startup flown in, we couldn’t help but feel a little taller with pride.
A fruitful workshop in an inspiring atmosphere
The workshop was an unforgettable experience. Alongside a tour of Toyota’s core facilities and test drives featuring highlights from their fleet, we participated in constructive brainstorming sessions. The workshop openly addressed potential “struggle points” for each of the six showcased projects, offering valuable insights. When creative minds with diverse perspectives and expertise come together, fresh ideas emerge. The discussions continued well into the evening over a shared dinner.
The event also included insights into Toyota’s production system and focused on a crucial topic for startups: Design Thinking. We walked away with invaluable takeaways from this segment as well.
But most importantly, everyone involved was genuinely impressed by RooWalk. Who knows? The design of our walking aid might just feature a touch of Toyota or a hint of kangaroo inspiration. Unsurprisingly, the name “RooWalk” was a hit in Australia, as “Roo” is the beloved abbreviation Australians use for their national animal, the kangaroo.
The backstory: A rocky start to packing
So how did we receive this exciting invitation? Let’s backtrack: In October 2022, we participated in Remarkable’s “Launcher” program. This initiative targets early-stage startups working to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Toyota partnered with Remarkable, contributing engineering hours and technological expertise. It’s a fantastic initiative from the Japanese company, which is also the mobility partner for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
The invitation to travel to Australia arrived just before Christmas. Of course, we celebrated with a few kangaroo jumps around the Christmas tree, but we also had to start packing almost immediately.
The challenge: Transporting RooWalk
Getting our uncertified electric walking aid to Australia proved challenging before we even set foot under the Australian sun. The main hurdle was air transport. Ultimately, we managed it by packing RooWalk’s batteries in our carry-on luggage, as their lithium-ion capacity was just below the permissible limit for hand baggage. The walking aid itself was disassembled and transported in two large bike cases, each weighing exactly 30 kg.
It was a lot to carry, but it was absolutely worth it. We are deeply grateful for the invitation and the opportunities for collaboration that are now on the horizon. We’ll keep you updated on what comes next …
