IntelliWheels is developing ultra-lightweight, multi-geared wheels (the i series) for manual wheelchairs that let users shift between high and low gears. The i series is designed to help users independently maneuver hills, uneven surfaces, and cover longer distances. The company emphasizes user feedback in its design process to create products that increase activity, independence, and well-being. IntelliWheels will use a $1.5 million Phase II SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance product development and research. The company is collaborating with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and TiLite on research and product development. IntelliWheels originated as a student startup at the University of Illinois and operates from the EnterpriseWorks incubator in Champaign, Illinois. IntelliWheels develops a patent-pending geared wheel for manual wheelchairs and is working on an automatic transmission for manually propelled chairs. The company is conducting R&D at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign, Ill. Funding announced will support finishing product development and moving to product launch to get geared wheels into the hands of wheelchair users. IntelliWheels received a Phase 1 SBIR award from the National Institutes of Health to fund R&D of the automatic transmission, supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. Venture capital and angel funding will supplement the SBIR award to accelerate commercialization. The company was founded by Scott Daigle and Marissa Siebel and previously won the $30,000 Lemelson‑MIT Award in 2011.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

Aug 2014