This founder uses 3D printing and robotics to turn disabilities into superpowers

Joel Gibbard, entrepreneur and engineer, uses his passion for robotics to build bionic arms, turning disabilities into superpowers. After learning about 3D printing and robotics in school, Gibbard co-founded OpenBionics in 2014 to marry the two technologies and disrupt outdated models of prosthetics. The company, based in Bristol, England, has created the first fully integrated 3D-printed bionic prosthesis with its Hero Arm, which fits below the elbow. Gibbard and his co-founder, Samantha Payne, a former journalist, are leading a step change in the way prostheses are perceived - by wearers and others.

Gibbard and his team recently provided prosthetic limbs to two injured Ukrainian soldiers after being contacted by a non-profit organization that believed the Hero Arms could play a role in helping their customers be treated like heroes.< /p>

Amy Guttman: How is the hero's arm different?

Joel Gibbard: We take the dimensions and measurements and 3D print something ready to fit the patient. Whereas traditionally a local prosthetist would order various components and then construct a prosthesis. The Hero Arms is the lightest bionic arm available. It is made of nylon. And ours is an integrated product. This means we can have built-in designs with interchangeable covers that have an empowering aesthetic that helps people feel confident.

Guttman: What about features?

Gibbard: The feature is a multi-grip bionic hand, so the fingers can move independently. You can have different grip modes to perform different tasks. This compares to some of the more traditional hands that simply open and close.

Guttman: How did you come up with the idea for covers and characters in different colors from Marvel, Disney and Star Wars?

Gibbard: When we began designing the Hero Arm, we took a user-centric approach; we interviewed hundreds of people with upper extremity differences and began to understand their needs. We have learned that people with upper extremity differences often have this challenge of feeling confident in themselves and how they perceive the difference in their extremities. We realized that if you design it in the right way, the prosthesis can help people see their limb difference in a really positive light. It can also help others see their member difference in a positive light.

Guttman: The biggest surprise?

Gibbard: There's a lot of innovation in this space. The problem is that not many of these innovations are coming to market because it's difficult to get through medical regulations and all the financial and reimbursement aspects. The other thing that surprised me was that it took a long time for 3D printing and design technologies to come into this industry. Our company was one of the first pioneers to really push 3D technology into this industry.

Guttman: How did you find your co-founder?

Gibbard: I had started a project to produce a 3D printed robotic hand. At this stage, it was very, very early. Samantha worked interviewing tech startups and she was passionate about doing things with a positive social benefit. She had worked on wearable technology. It was the perfect marriage with the technical expertise on my side and on his side, the will to do something that was going to have a positive social impact. We benefited from his communication skills - articulating clearly what we were trying to do, which helped raise investments, win competitions, grants and build a team.

None of us had a business background, but we had found this opportunity. No one else was doing it and no one else did for several years.

Guttman: How did you fundraise?

Gibbard: We first raised money by entering competitions. We entered Intel's Make It Wearable contest and won around $250,000. We also participated in Robotics for Good in the United Arab Emirates and won, which brought us a million dollars. So early on, we secured substantial, undiluted funding. In 2017/18, we began securing equity investments and raised over $10 million from a combination of sources and non-dilutive investors.

Guttman: Would you have liked to have a co-founder or an advisor with experience building a business?

Gibbard: I think that would have made a difference...