The first Toyota Startup Awards have attracted almost 200 entries from 45 countries. The submissions, focusing on socially inclusive mobility, accessibility and disruptive mobility, have been assessed by an expert jury to produce a shortlist of eight to take part in a pitch competition in Barcelona this week.
On the shortlist for the Toyota Startup Awards are from businesses in the UK, Russia, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, USA, Israel and France. They have been selected by a judging panel of representatives from Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and the ISDI business school (through the ISDI Accelerator). They have been invited to present their proposals to an audience of investors, media representatives and Toyota executives at the Aticco Tarradellas in Barcelona today and tomorrow (24/25 February).
A maximum of three winners from the Toyota Startup Awards pitch competition will be selected by a jury comprising experts from Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and ISDI Accelerator. They will each receive a ticket to join the Toyota Accelerator Program powered by ISDI, which will offer training, mentoring, funding, as well as potential future collaboration with TME.
SociAbility (UK)
Empowers disabled people to explore their communities with confidence, ease and peace of mind by collecting and sharing detailed, reliable and accurate accessibility information for hospitality and retail venues.
4blind (Russia)
Researches, develops, creates and produces innovative engineering solutions to support blind and deaf-blind people. It seeks to meet the needs of disabled people by expanding their opportunities and eliminating the barriers they face in communication, education, employment, transportation and independent living.
ABLE Human Motion (Spain)
Is enhancing the mobility and independence of people with physical impairments through lightweight, easy-to-use and affordable technology.
Loro (USA)
Is a social assistance robot that gives people with mobility and communication challenges the ability to control, communicate and connect with the world.
MotorSkins (Germany)
Is providing people with powered mobility in the form of a soft, self-powered exosuit that enhances independence and does not require an external power source.
ProsFit (Bulgaria)
Is delivering community-based rehabilitation in remote areas of low and middle-income countries, providing accessible, affordable and comfortable prosthetics to millions of people who would otherwise find mobility extremely challenging.
Seamless Vision (Israel)
Is developing the Eyeguide, an innovative robotic guidance device that uses artificial intelligence, to help visually impaired people safely navigate their way to any destination, at any time
Wheeliz (France)
Is the first website dedicated to the rental of peer-to-peer rental of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). It enables wheelchair users to rent a car directly from any WAV owner.
A livestream from the Toyota Startup Awards pitch event on 25 February can be viewed here:
