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TOBEA

Ignatios Fotiou - Greece

$3,182 Total funding received
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Making waves for those with mobility issues

Going for a swim is often a struggle for those with mobility issues. The sandy or rocky beaches make walking unstable and almost impossible for wheelchairs. Toilets and changing rooms also don’t consider disabled users, making the entire experience more hassle than it’s worth.

At TOBEA, we want to change this reality.That’s why we have invented SEATRAC, a solution for people with mobility issues to access the sea and also alleviate the strain to their caregivers. Our system enables those with reduced mobility to get in and out of the water, safely and independently. The mechanism is simple; a specially-shaped chair moves along two fixed rails bringing it, and its occupant, in and out of water. SEATRAC uses solar energy as the only source to power it, making it self-sufficient and environmentally friendly.

SEATRAC makes the beach a place where people of all abilities can socialize and have fun together. In 2017, our device was used 13.000 times in 61 beaches in Greece, Italy and Cyprus.

Funding would allow us to...

Make a splash for many more disabled people, internationally. SEATRAC is currently free for disabled people to use on the beach. Funding will enable us to scale up and reduce the cost of each device, making it more affordable for municipalities and hotels to install on their beaches.

A proportion of funding will also help us educate businesses on mobility issues, not only the physical limitations but also the social ones to reinforce awareness and the necessity of the product.

Seeing the joy on faces makes it all worthwhile...

As an engineer, I live to solve problems, and I keep trying until I find solutions. My personal moto is "always be on the creative side of life"! When I saw people using SEATRAC including the elderly, pregnant women and people with multiple sclerosis, I knew that I wanted to bring this to as many people as I could. The joy on their faces and the instant community with their peers, taught me the beauty of things I had taken for granted.

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