A person who needs to use a walker to get around shouldn’t have to be hunched over such a clunky, medical-looking device every day. That’s what inspired Jennifer Harris and Jeremy Knopow to leave their day jobs and start Motivo in pursuit of a more ergonomic and dignified walking assistance device.
Knopow’s late father had ALS and used a walker, and Harris’ mother had to use one after an ankle injury. The entrepreneurs were disappointed with how rudimentary and difficult to use the devices were, and found that their parents didn’t want to be seen using them.
Their walker, called the Tour, is designed for people to walk upright and inside of it, instead of hunched over behind it, thanks to a stow-away seat and tray. The upright design also allows people to get closer to counters, sinks, doors and everyday items without having to reach, they say.
It’s also got a solid exterior, and users can purchase graphic sets to customize the Tour. At first I was surprised to see a walking assistance device that was so eye-catching. But Harris and Knopow say they’ve spent three years talking to healthcare professionals and walker users to refine the design, and have spent more than 300 hours doing user testing.
Like more traditional walking assistance devices, the Tour weighs under 15 pounds and is foldable for transport, they say. But there’s quite a price difference from traditional walkers, which generally cost $50 to $100. The Tour will retail for $498, or $537 with a tray and graphics set, and include a lifetime warranty. The company says it doesn’t have a Medicare code but is still eligible for coverage through private insurance.
Early testers can pre-order it for $365 through the company’s Indiegogo campaign. After three years of researching, designing, prototyping and testing, Knopow and Harris are looking for $75,000 from the crowd to begin manufacturing. Initial investors have put more than $500K into the company so far, according to Milwaukee’s Journal Sentinel.
