Centaur Robotics secures £500k funding for its self-balancing electric wheelchair
Midlands-based wheelchair design company Centaur Robotics has secured £500,000 funding to enable the self-balancing electric wheelchair it developed to begin production.
The funding was secured from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF I) through the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Midven, part of the Future Planet Capital Group. This comes in addition to additional funding from Seedrs and angel investors.
This investment will enable the company to finish development of its innovative wheelchair, the Centaur, and begin production.
The Centaur self-balances on two wheels, which allows increased mobility compared to traditional four-wheel models. The product has been developed by automotive engineers under the direction of Paul Campbell, a former designer at Ford Motor Company.
Recent research shows that there are around 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK. The Centaur prioritises the dignity and experience of the user, and places aesthetics at the core of the design.
Wheelchairs help improve the lives of disabled individuals, children, families and caregivers as they are essential tools that promote independent living and foster social inclusion. But just nine per cent of UK homes are accessible to wheelchair users and research estimates around 400,000 people in England are living in homes that are not adapted for their needs.
Centaur Robotics’ design helps alleviate some of the pressure on wheelchair users by improving mobility around the home. The Centaur can fit through standard door frames and the seat can be elevated to the height of a standard bar stool.
Midven has supported Centaur Robotics beyond the funding process, introducing the company to industry leaders in the mobility space.
Tony Stott, Investment Director at Midven said: “Centaur Robotics is at the forefront of revolutionising mobility solutions for wheelchair users. This investment marks a significant milestone in their journey, allowing them to bring their innovative self-balancing electric wheelchair to production.”
Eric Kihlstrom, CEO of Centaur Robotics added: “This investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund marks a pivotal moment in our journey, enabling us to improve accessibility around the home. We are not just building a chair; we are crafting a future where mobility solutions enhance independence and contribute to a more inclusive society.”
Centaur Robotics also hopes the Centaur will feature regularly in hotels, offering improved mobility for guests who have difficulty getting around, allowing users to order at the bar and access all parts of a hotel where a lift is fitted.
