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TravelAbility’s pre-conference LaunchPad, a pitchfest featuring 15 companies (a mix of start-ups and established businesses), showcased emerging assistive technology and products to the travel and disability community. The voting outcome revealed that the judges favored practical products engineered for everyday use. Each winner provides a practical solution to make an aspect of travel accessible for people with a disability. Note: In the first-place category for Established Business, winners were tied.

WHILL provides a worldwide Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) model to improve the current travel landscape for mobility device users by improving their freedom and independence. Currently in beta testing at Winnepeg and Minneapolis airports, WHILL offers cutting-edge Model Ci and Model A Intelligent Personal Electric Vehicles (EVs). “WHILL has won several design and innovation awards including a TIMES Best Invention of 2018,” said Jeff Yoshioka, national sales manager. “It’s great to be further recognized as a product that can create a unique and more positive experience for people with a disability as they travel.”  See the brief explainer video here. Note: WHILL recently merged with Scootaround, a leading wheelchair and scooter rentals solutions company.

Many of us take the experience of showering for granted—there’s not much for us to worry about. But for people with disabilities, it’s a lot different. Shower Buddy offers independence and freedom from anxiety or worry about slips and falls or needing someone to help you bathe. The six different models range from pediatric to adult. Having one in a hotel would easily convert a regular bathtub or step over shower into an Accessible shower. “I had no idea there would be so much interest in Shower Buddy from the hotel industry until we were invited present at TravelAbility’s LaunchPad Pitchfest,” commented Israel Gamburd, president of  Shower Buddy. “ We’re now looking into the possibility of exhibiting at hotel procurement shows. TravelAbility has opened the possibility of an entirely new channel of distribution for us.”   See a video here. 

By combining the benefits of toilet safety products used in the home (a raised toilet seat on toilet safe frame) along with a compact rolling walker ‘rollator’ the award-winning Free2GoRollator allows anyone to safely use a toilet in a restroom while traveling—whether you are off with family and friends, in a public restroom or at an airport, hotel or cruise line bathroom.)  “I am thrilled to have won TravelAbility’s award for Best start-up among the 15 finalists that presented during the LaunchPad pitchfest,” said Lesli Wang, founder and CEO of Free2Go Rollator. “ I invented this product because my mom needed assistance in using the restroom and we thought a rolling walker that could be adapted to any toilet was the right solution. This award validates all the hard work in developing and marketing this product.”See the video here. 

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Eight judges, divided into two-hour shifts, were asked to evaluate each of the finalists on a 1-5 scale using the following criteria:

• What is the problem and solution that you provide?  
• Does the product make travel easier for people with a disability? 
• Does the company have a viable business model?
• Is the value proposition convincing?