“CRAASH Barcelona helped us to mature the project in a very short time”
ABLE Human Motion is a Barcelona-based start-up developing robotic exoskeletons to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. It develops the first lightweight, easy-to-use and affordable exoskeleton for people with lower-limb paralysis, that restores the ability to walk naturally and intuitively. It helps in palliating health issues caused by sedentary lifestyle while boosting self-confidence and independence.
ABLE was one of the European projects chosen to participate in the 1st edition of CRAASH Barcelona, the acceleration program Biocat organized in collaboration with CIMIT (Boston) which is part of the bootcamp programs run by EIT Health.
Biocat has just opened the call for applications to the 3rd edition of CRAASH Barcelona, a 12-week acceleration program that helps research teams from Catalonia and other European countries successfully launch innovation to market in the healthtech arena. The deadline for applications is 16 March. The program is looking for projects with cutting-edge technology (diagnostics, devices or e-/digital health) from research centers, research institutes or universities from all over Europe.
CRAASH Barcelona is open to research projects in the proof-of-concept or proof-of-feasibility phase. Established companies may also apply if they are looking for an application for their technology and/or searching for/validating a business model. The program is free of charge, equity free and offers teams up to €10,000 to cover travel expenses.
Alfons Carnicero, CEO & co-founder of ABLE Human Motion, tells us about his experience as a participant in CRAASH Barcelona.
Why did you decide to participate in CRAASH Barcelona?
Because it was a unique opportunity to connect with the Boston healthcare ecosystem, meeting with top clinical professionals, entrepreneurs, business experts and investors that helped us to validate our idea in a global scale. The outcome was a “go for it!”, which gave us the push to turn a university project into a company.
How did CRAASH Barcelona help you to evolve the project?
The program helped us to mature the project in a very short time. We did more than 100 interviews with all the stakeholders involved with our product (patients, medical doctors, physical therapists and orthopedists), understanding their needs to better develop the exoskeleton and build a compelling value proposition for each one.
In addition, throughout the program we were able to receive advice from mentors, people with experience in the sector who can help in various fields as regulatory, business models or finance.
With all this, and many hours of dedication, we managed to evolve the project both in the technology, business and clinical areas, so it was ready to get funding from private investors.
What did you like the most from the program?
The organization of the entire program and the high level of the mentors. They are very skilled people who have been entrepreneurs in the past, and therefore know from first-hand the problems you are facing and the best way of facing them. The program has an “American” mindset, where every minute of it is used and you have to work hard to get the results.
Would you recommend other entrepreneurs to participate in CRAASH Barcelona?
Absolutely, it is the best thing they can do to decide if they want to turn the project they are involved in their daily life during the following years. In the program, they will validate their solution with their customers and the other stakeholders involved, quantify the market and, most importantly, they will see if their solution covers an unmet clinical need for which someone is willing to pay. That will be the key to deciding whether the project is worth taking forward and creating a company. One tip: only apply if you are willing to work hard, the program requires a lot of dedication. No one will do the interviews for you!
How has your project evolved since you finished the program?
We have progressed a lot in a very short time! We closed a funding round after finishing the program, which allowed us to grow the team from 3 people to 11. This has allowed us to advance in all the areas (technology, business, clinical and regulatory). In addition, based on the feedback received during the program, we have evolved the technology of our ABLE exoskeleton for paraplegia. Currently, our device adapts to anyone between 1.50m and 1.95m and has been tested by 10 different patients. This year we will start a multicenter clinical validation in Heidelberg University Hospital and Institut Guttmann, in order to obtain the CE mark next year.
