Two Ticino startups reshaping disability mobility convincing juries

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide face significant forms of disability. Emerging technologies have opened new possibilities to enhance their quality of life and reimagine what is achievable. In this rapidly evolving landscape two startups in the thriving Ticino ecosystem, recently ranked among the top ten innovative regions in Europe by the European Commission, have garnered recognition in distinct competitions: Lighthouse Tech has won the first ated Project Innovation Speed Date, while Genny Zero has been awarded the prestigious Grand Prix Möbius Suisse. What these companies share is their mission to improve mobility for individuals with disabilities and their commitment to blending technology with fashion and design, challenging the stigmas often associated with medical devices.

Lighthouse Tech has recently reached milestones within Switzerland and on a global scale. Their latest success was winning the first Project Innovation Speed Date by ated (Ticino Digital Evolution Association), securing the prize of 10’000 CHF. At the heart of their innovation is a smart eyewear frame designed to empower the blind and visually impaired, enhancing their safety. By leveraging Time Of Flight technology for environment scanning, it efficiently alerts users of potential hazards and obstacles between the pelvis and the head, serving as a complement to traditional aids such as the white cane. The startup is actively engaged in fundraising efforts, with the goal of concluding a seed financing round by the end of 2023, paving the way for a market debut in 2024.

On the other hand, Genny Zero recently secured the 2023 edition of the Grand Prix Möbius Suisse "Digital and Disability" with its innovative wheelchair, which convinced the jury as it “interprets the functional need of disabled people by expanding and translating it to a new generalized urban mobility for the whole society, also including a strong aesthetic component”. With its vehicle featuring self-balancing technology, advanced connectivity, ergonomic features, and lightweight construction, Genny Zero is poised to transform the concept of mobility for individuals with disabilities while also presenting itself as a viable solution to the micro mobility challenges faced by modern cities.

(Luca Calderara)
Picture: Paolo Badano, CEO and Founder Genny Zero (Ti-Press Pablo Gianinazzi)