20 Sep 2021
Prosus SICA grant receiver NeoMotion drives change in India (VIDEO)
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. With rapid ageing of the global population and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, this number is set to increase.
Prosus SICA grant receiver NeoMotion drives change in India (VIDEO)
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. With rapid ageing of the global population and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, this number is set to increase. According to WHO, by 2030, at least two billion people worldwide will need some form of assistive technology.
Assistive technologies can go a long way in empowering people with disabilities and enabling them to contribute to society. A good example is a humble eyeglass. Today, six in ten people use spectacles or contact lenses to counteract poor vision – a condition that used to be considered a serious disability up until a few hundred years ago.
In India, there are over 70 million people living with some form of disability. However, due to low literacy levels, social stigma, and lack of opportunities, they remain one of the most excluded members of Indian society. As a result, a large number of children with disabilities stay out of school, disabled adults are likely to be unemployed, and families with a disabled member tend to be economically weaker. Coupled with a geriatric population of over 140 million people, a system that is under tremendous financial stress at both the household and national levels.
To support entrepreneurs and technologies that help people with disabilities lead an empowered life, Prosus launched the Social Impact Challenge for Accessibility (SICA) in partnership with Startup India and Social Alpha (Tata Trusts) in 2020.
NeoMotion
Prosus SICA 2020 grant receiver NeoMotion makes bespoke wheelchairs, designed to ensure accurate posture, energy conservation, and compactness to enhance accessibility and mobility. Their wheelchairs have a motor-powered clip-on which converts into a safe, roadworthy vehicle, eliminating the need for the user to transfer into other vehicles.
NeoMotion is based in Chennai, India and was founded by Swostik Sourav Dash. Hear what his ambitions are with the company and how Prosus SICA helped to drive NeoMotion forward.
Apply now
Do you have a startup that does great things for people with disabilities? Then we welcome you to apply now. The application period ends on 19 October 2021. For more information on the programme, please visit our Prosus SICA page.
About Prosus
Prosus is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world.
Operating and investing globally in markets with long-term growth potential, Prosus builds leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities.
The group is focused on building meaningful businesses in the online classifieds, food delivery, payments and fintech, and education technology sectors.
Through the Prosus Ventures team, the group invests in new technology growth opportunities within logistics, fintech, health, blockchain, social and ecommerce platforms, agriculture and more.
The team actively backs exceptional entrepreneurs using technology to improve people's everyday lives.
Each month, over two billion customers across the globe use the products and services of companies that Prosus has invested in, acquired or built.