Every year, more than 20 million people around the world report some form of mobility impairment. Individuals with minor, moderate, or substantial difficulty were aged between 59 to 67. This issue, however, is not unusual among young people. People with mobility disabilities have numerous transportation difficulties, which prevent them from participating in a variety of activities. A stairwell, in particular, is an insurmountable obstacle for wheelchair users.
The stair-climbing power wheelchair Scewo BRO has emerged as a rescuer for many, utilizing hitherto undiscovered technology to great effect. It has earned several important design prizes for its efficiency. It has already attracted a large number of users from countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Scewo’s founders have demonstrated their exceptional talent by bringing this extremely sophisticated product to market in just three years.
Scewo, a Swiss firm, raised a total of CHF 11.5 million in a Series A fundraising round from July to November 2021 to help it grow and expand. The startup plans to use the funds to accelerate its growth as well as worldwide expansion. The funding round included Verve Ventures, Rajat Khare‘s European investment business Boundary Holding, and three more private investors.
BRO is the only motorised wheelchair in the world that combines driving on two wheels with ascending stairs. Mr. Khare, founder of European deep tech investment firm Boundary Holding, visited with the founders, Bernhard and Pascal, in Switzerland, after being impressed by the product’s adaptability. He learnt that the founders had the kind of vision and enthusiasm that he admires and quickly finalized the deal.
BRO is distinguished not just by its unique technology, but also by its striking design. The device delivers individual seating comfort to the consumers. It also keeps getting smarter, offering more options, and creating a world that people with limited mobility may explore autonomously and flexibly thanks to regular software updates.
Talking about the development, Bernhard Winter, co-founder of Scewo said, “The interest from customers is huge! We are now evaluating strategically located and qualified distribution partners to offer local test drives and a good service.”
Scewo, which was founded in 2014, just received the Swiss Medtech Award 2021 for its innovation and rapid growth. After establishing itself as a one-of-a-kind electric wheelchair, BRO has received several important design honours on its own. The device has sensors that detect the end of a staircase and measure the environment.
The motorized wheelchair can be controlled using a smartphone app or a control panel that can be mounted to either side. The hand joystick can also be used to control the direction and speed, making it versatile and adaptable to a variety of needs. BRO has a top speed of 10 km/h and a battery life of over 1000 recharge cycles. Users can also customize the smartphone with an ever-expanding choice of accessories.