Revolutionizing wheelchair transportation, Kalgon’s innovative technology simulates standing benefits and offers unparalleled comfort for users like John Miller, who regained 16 hours of mobility after a spinal cord injury.
Revolutionizing Wheelchair Technology: Kalgon’s Innovative Approach
The Power of Adaptive Technology
Kalogon’s technology adapts in real-time to the user’s body shape and movement, automatically shifting pressure points to simulate the health benefits of standing.
Wheelchair technology has undergone significant improvements over the years, enhancing mobility and independence for individuals with physical disabilities.
Modern wheelchairs feature lightweight materials, adjustable seating, and advanced propulsion systems.
Power wheelchairs, also known as electric wheelchairs, use rechargeable batteries and motors to facilitate movement.
Some wheelchairs are equipped with sensors and navigation systems, allowing users to navigate complex environments with ease.
As a former build engineer for SpaceX’s Starship thermal protection system, Timothy Balz‘s commitment to mobility innovation dates back to his high school years. In 2019, he launched “Kalogon” to develop smart seating systems designed to make wheelchair use more comfortable, reduce pressure injuries, and even assist seated professionals like pilots.
Kalogon’s technology is powered by AI, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and traditional air pumps. Its core offerings—the Orbiter Med and “Orbiter for Aviation”—are already being used in both clinical and commercial contexts. A connected app allows clinicians to fine-tune settings based on medical needs the device can’t automatically detect, such as amputations or pelvic imbalances.
For John Miller, an early user who suffered a debilitating pressure injury after a spinal cord injury, “Kalogon’s technology” has been a game-changer. Previously confined to his chair for just a few hours each day, the system extended his comfort window to 16 hours, allowing him to reconnect with his community and engage in activities he thought were lost forever.
Shifting Investor Mindsets
Despite the technology’s promise, “Kalogon initially struggled” to get traction with investors. However, Balz is hopeful that his company will help shift investor mindsets. “When I can go back to them and say, ‘You lost out on a 10–20x return because of your biases,’ that feels pretty good,” he said.
Diego Mariscal, CEO and co-founder of 2Gether-International (2GI), a startup accelerator for disabled entrepreneurs, agrees. “There’s a mantra that really runs through the disability rights movement, which is ‘nothing about us without us,’ which implies that if you’re making things for the disability community, we really should be thinking about the disability community at all levels,” he said.
Mariscal believes Kalogon’s innovation-first model must work in tandem with long-term advocacy. His nonprofit accelerator currently supports 700 disabled entrepreneurs and is in the process of developing a first-of-its-kind venture capital fund focused on founders with disabilities.
