During her studies, Sofie was given the opportunity to attend a research course at NASA in Houston. There she had the task to create something, which would make life easier when we are going to Mars.
She developed a device, which looks like a glove for the hands, to give astronauts resistance in everything they do. Moreover, it can give them artificial support when needed. This should prevent astronauts from losing muscle activity and fine motor skills during their time in space. After finishing it, she had the idea to use it also for people on earth. Getting to know diverse insights from patient organizations and people with disabilities she brought the technology together and started Tendo.
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What is Tendo all about?
At Tendo, we’re developing robotic assistive devices for people who are disabled or have limited abilities. We developed a robotic glove that assists people who don’t have hand function. It’s a so-called exoskeleton, which you wear almost like a glove. It has a control unit that’s placed on the arm and it helps you to move your fingers and to get the strength you need. It has a biometric sensor that can detect what you want to do. So, when the sensor detects that you’re trying to grip and your hand doesn’t respond to it itself, it picks up the signals and sends the signal to the control unit. And from the control unit on the arm, we have wires that go to the glove. There are wires on the inside and outside of the glove and if you pull them the hand opens or closes. You can imagine it like a puppeteer, pulling strings, making your fingers move.
For whom are you developing the product?
In the first part of the company journey, we focused on people with rheumatic diseases and strokes. But then we actually met a man who is paralyzed. He tried the product and within 10 seconds, he could eat and drink by himself. We realized that it was such a big difference for him to be able to do these kinds of activities by himself. It was a clearer problem and value compared to other target groups. Therefore we decided to start there and flipped the target group. Now we are mainly addressing people who are paralyzed due to a high spinal cord injury. Those people are paralyzed in most parts of their bodies, except for that one or two arms, but without hand function.
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Nevertheless, our long-term goal is to include more target groups. Our product has also big potential for people who suffered a stroke. It’s a big target group and there is a huge need as well. If you had a stroke, you can have just as many problems opening the hand as you have to close it. That’s a big benefit with our technology compared to many others on the market, as it both opens and closes the hand.
Where do you see Tendo in five years?
In five years, we definitely would like to have grown as a company, as a team, and in (market) size. Our plan is to keep the Scandinavian market to ourselves but to license the technology globally. Within five years, we want to have licensees at least in the US. Moreover, we already received interest from users, clinics, and potential partners from all over the world. The product should start getting out there. Besides that, I definitely see us broadening our product portfolio and launching new products.
Until now, what was your best moment as a founder?
I think the best moment was the first user workshop, where we had this user who was able to drink and eat for the first time in 20 years. He was the first user we properly introduced the technology to and he was so happy. He lifted up his glass, proudly, to cheer with us many times! This was such a great day. We got proof that all the hard work was worth it and we can make a difference. That was 1.5 years ago and I still smile when I think about it.
What would you say was your biggest challenge?
I think everything has been quite challenging in a way. In the beginning, the most difficult thing was to figure out what it means to be an entrepreneur. I think the biggest challenge throughout time has been that medical devices bring a lot of rules and regulations. That’s of course there for a reason, but sometimes as a startup, you get a bit frustrated. So, developing a medical device is extremely expensive and time-consuming due to all the regulations that exist.
Do you think that people look at you differently because you’re a female founder?
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It’s a difficult question, as I only know my perspective. I think it’s sometimes good, sometimes bad to be a female founder. Statistically, I have a disadvantage of finding investments and people believing that I can do it. On the other hand, the benefit is that people recognize or remember the company more easily because I’m basically always the only woman in the room. I think as a female CEO, I still stand out and that can also be beneficial. But there have been inappropriate situations too. There were investors that say that they have fewer beliefs in female founders and I should never go to a meeting without a man because alone, as a woman, I am less credible. I have no idea if that’s true though. It’s definitely a difficult question to answer.
Do you have any advice for other (impact tech) founders?
Be out there and talk about it as much as you possibly can.
I think many people aren’t talking (enough) about their idea, as they’re scared that people will steal it. But you don’t need to be afraid of that because you just say what you’re doing not how you’re doing it. Honestly, a big part of us being quite successful in the beginning was because we were always out there talking about it. I even called up newspapers saying “I have a super cool story you want to write about it?” instead of waiting for them to contact me. And they did, we got a good attraction and then more things followed.
Get different perspectives and always aim for easy-understandable storytelling.
If you love your technology/work, it’s easy to get stuck on it. So you need to start looking at it from all the perspectives that are out there – from an investor, your customers, etc. Put yourself in their shoes, because if you can’t tell the story in a way that they like it, it’s not going to be successful. Then go out and talk to them and if you don’t get a positive response, ask yourself why. Do you tell the story in a wrong way or did you just meet the wrong people? Generally, I think it’s common that people try to impress by saying difficult words, but you don’t impress anyone, you just exclude them from the conversation.
Build a strong team.
I’m always the person outside talking, but I have a super-strong team behind me that works really hard to get the technology in place, and it would not be possible to do it without them. We’ve been really lucky to have great people from the beginning with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. It can be very challenging as well, as it can take a bit of time for us to agree on something but when we do it’s a great outcome.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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