Several years ago Lesli Wang was searching for a portable toilet safety product for her mom, who suffers from a muscle-wasting disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. She uses a commode over her toilet to reduce muscle strain when sitting and lifting, as well as to prevent falls. While there were many raised toilet seats and toilet safety frames on the market, they were designed for in-home use and did not offer the portability we needed for visiting family and friends, in public restrooms, and when traveling. Wang conceived of a product her mom could carry and use easily to fill the gap in the market. Her savvy helped her to win a Launchpad Emerging Entrepreneur Award this November at TravelAbility Summit in San Francisco. “Launchpad helped me to make a personal connection with a future customer,” said Wang. “Putting faces to names and networking was invaluable for our company.” TravelAbility Insider caught up with Wang after the event for a Q&A:
Q: Why do you think no one else had created a similar product already?
It does seem simple—if one needs toilet safety at home, they would certainly need it outside the home. But there’s this misconception that ADA-compliant toilets address the concerns of everyone faced with challenged mobility. That’s incorrect. We saw a gap in the market and our research showed that the vast population using walking aids needs support close to the body to assist with lifting upright from a seated position.
Q: What’s unique about the Free2Go Rollator design?
It is designed to incorporate the benefits of a raised toilet seat and toilet safety frame into the walking aid already being used those with challenged mobility. These benefits, along with being compact, making it ideal for travel. Essentially, someone with limited mobility can safely walk/roll into any bathroom, position the frame over a fixed toilet of any height, lift the padded seat and go—without needing extra help.
Q: How is it being used in the travel industry?
The Free2Go Rollator has only recently been introduced to the travel industry. But I had realized the need a long time ago when traveling with Mom. We needed to be sure that she could safely use a toilet wherever we were. That meant lugging her cumbersome commode everywhere, including many hotel lobbies. But we did what was necessary at the time.
Today, I travel frequently aboard cruise ships for business. The number of rollators aboard ship, on the tour buses and in port is quite significant. The numbers are clearly a sign that people are determined to maintain their independence regardless of physical limitations.
Many of these travelers are using a raised toilet seat in their cabin; however, when out and about the ship, the distance from the ships’ food and entertainment venues to their cabin can be staggering; not a good situation for slow walkers. The Free2Go Rollator allows them to safely use a toilet in any restroom aboard ship and, most importantly, when in port. Risking a debilitating fall in a third world country shouldn’t be a worry.
Q: What use case scenarios do you envision for hotels, attractions, and museums?
A: I hear frequently from customers that they are finally able to resume activities independently outside their home. Before they had the product, they told me they thought restaurants with friends or going to theme parks with their grandchildren were all a thing of the past—simply because they could not perform the most basic act of daily living – using the toilet. With the Free2Go Rollator, they have exactly what they need to maintain their safety, independence and, most importantly, their dignity.
Q: What are your primary challenges for growth?
A: Being the sole owner and operator brings many challenges and it is hard to do it all. To move Free2Go Mobility Products and the Free2Go Rollator forward in 2020, we will be seeking investment capital, as well as partners that offer management, mentoring, marketing and sales expertise. We got a sense of how to prioritize and think strategically about the future of the product through the advice we got at Launchpad.
Q: What are your key learnings from the TravelAbility Summit?
A: The TravelAbility Summit solidified for me that the accessible travel industry ($17 billion in annual spending) is on the rise. It confirmed my thoughts that individuals, regardless of their limitations, are determined to engage in activities outside the home. Experiencing new things and socializing are key to barrier-free travel. For all of us participating in the Summit, it was evident that the opportunities for our products and services are very promising.
1st place winner, Emerging Business, TravelAbility Launchpad
Lesli Wang, Founder and CEO Free2GoMobility
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