Awake, the Catalan widget for people who have suffered a stroke

In Spain, there are 90,000 new cases of stroke each year, and more than 23,000 people die from this cerebrovascular disease. Thirty percent of those who survive end up dependent, making stroke the leading cause of disability in Spain, according to data from the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN). This was the case of the father of Iván Martínez, the executive director of the SEN. start-up Robopedics, who was left with half of his body paralyzed after suffering from the condition in 2015.

Martínez explains that the only option on the market he found for his father was a wheelchair. The CEO points out that there were exoskeletons designed for people with both legs paralyzed, for rehabilitation and hospital use, but not for people who were no longer caring and had to leave the hospital with half of their body paralyzed or weakened. It was then that Martínez began looking for alternatives for his father and in 2021, together with Dionís Guzmán and Marc Serra, founded Robopedics, establishing a new category: advanced bionic walking systems.

Awake is the company's first device and allows people who have suffered a stroke and are left with hemiplegia or hemiparesis to enjoy a better quality of life because it adapts specifically to the affected half of the body. The system features a quadruped cane, a mobile app, and a falls algorithm. The company's director explains that everything is connected: "The algorithm detects that the person has fallen and, through the mobile app, connects them to our assistance center, and we contact them." It also includes training, technical assistance, and customer service, among other support services.

The creation is expected to be as accessible as possible and is 80% cheaper than current exoskeletons on the market, which cost around €100,000. Awake will cost around €15,000 and will have the option of financing in different installments with quo. "We are very obsessed with making the device very light so that it can be used by someone other than a healthcare professional," notes the CEO, who mentions that the system weighs less than 6 kilograms and its materials are based on aluminum structures, 3D-printed plastics, and carbon fiber. Commercialization will begin towards the end of the year or early 2026. The company is currently working on a second version of the project called ReWake, "the R standing for Rehabilitation," the CEO emphasizes. This second device will be intended for people who have suffered a stroke with recovery options and may be commercially available around 2028.

Crowdfunding

The company is now immersed in a financing round, aiming to raise €1 million through the crowdfunding platform Capital Cell, which will remain active until May 12. They promise a 20% return for investors and expect the company to have sales of up to €500 million by 2031. Robopedics is made up of seven people, and it is expected that up to 18 more employees with technical and commercial profiles focused on the healthcare sector will join upon its market launch. They currently have the collaboration of the Mondragón Corporation, the Valencia Institute of Biomechanics, and the Colisée centers.

The Spanish Society of Neurology indicates that the main risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, advanced age is also a risk factor, and given the aging of the European population, the prevalence of the disease is expected to increase. Furthermore, the organization estimates that 50% of people are unable to recognize some of the main symptoms, such as sudden loss of strength or sensation, often in half of the body and especially in the face or extremities; sudden changes in speech, vision, or coordination; and severe headaches. The organization emphasizes that, if these signs appear, emergency services should be called, even if they disappear after a few minutes.