Two months after the launch of the proof-of-concept fund UNIIQ, the first two investments have been made. WOLK Company (airbag against hip fractures) and Adjuvo Motion (smart glove for hand-wrist rehabilitation) each get 300.000 euro in funding.
UNIIQ in June launched as a 22 million euro fund for at entrepreneurs and academics in their proof-of-concept phase of new technologies. It is aimed at the South Holland province/region (Rotterdam, Delft, Den Haag, Leiden).
As is stated in their criteria, the fund invests 300.000 euro per startup (tranched investment, convertible loan).
Adjuvo Motion
Gijs den Butter and Johannes Luijten – two former TU Delft students – founded Adjuvo Motion in 2014. The startup is located at YES!Delft. The ‘S-sense’ – a smart sensor glove for hand-wrist rehabilitation – is Adjuvo Motion’s first product. The smart glove encourages patients to use the injured hand in daily activities, and ensures that the patient at home can follow the same quality treatment as given in a clinical setting. With the aid of a digital platform, the healthcare professional is able to monitor the progress of the patient through an online portal.
With the funding, Adjuvo Motion is able to continue develop its online portal and to pilot test the S-sense glove, Den Butter said in a press release.
WOLK Company
WOLK Company is a The Hague-based startup, which was founded by Filippo van Hellenberg Hubar and Mendes Hogestyn (also two former TU Delft students) and Leiden developer Hans Schröder in 2013. Their product – the ‘WOLK’ airbag – help prevent hip injuries for the elderly. WOLK Company has developed an easy-to-wear airbag belt that protects the elderly from possible hip injuries in case of a fall.
“UNIIQ’s investment makes it possible to further develop and test the WOLK in a pilot project focused on 100 vulnerable seniors, in five health care institutions,” stated Van Hellenberg Hubar and Hogestyn. The prototype will be ready by November. The pilot phase will take place in the first quarter of next year, and it is expected that WOLK will be introduced on the market in the second half of 2017.
Image: Adjuvo Motion