Mark began to notice that tremors were significantly impacting his grandmother’s quality of life. She was struggling with routine tasks, like pouring coffee without spilling. Mark’s concern for his grandmother motivated him to find a solution for her tremors. Applying concepts he learned as a civil engineering student, he began creating a lightweight glove that adaptively stabilizes the wrist to reduce the impact of tremors. This was how Steadiwear came into being.
Although, the idea was innovative and had the capacity to significantly improve quality of life, Steadiwear needed additional capital and business direction. Through support received from the Impact Centre and OBI’s ONtrepreneurs program Mark was able turn idea into reality.
OBI provided Steadiwear with money, mentorship, and access to a network of entrepreneurs, researchers, and venture capitalists. They also received training to improve business acumen to help place Steadiwear on the neurotechnology map. OBI saw potential in Steadiwear that would improve the lives of those with tremors and Parkinson’s disease, enabling these individuals to successfully execute everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee or buttoning a shirt. By supporting talented ONtrepreneurs early on, OBI is growing entrepreneurial talents and offering doctors and patients the tools they need to improve quality of life and care for people with brain disorders.
Today Steadiwear has won numerous awards, including the Ontario Brain Institute’s ONtrepreneurs Pitch Challenge, Life Science Nation RESI (Redefining Early Stage Investments) Innovation Challenge, Jumpstarter Wearables semi-pitch most innovative award, AGE-WELL’s National Ideathon Competition, finalist in the Aging 2.0 Global Startup Search, and was recently featured in the Invictus Games in Toronto as part of Ontario’s Accessibility Innovation Showcase. The success of Steadiwear is synonymous to improving the lives of patients with brain disorders and offering ease of everyday functionality.
