For roughly forty-one million Americans, getting out of bed is the hardest part of the day.
UpLyft changes that in two minutes. It’s created a unique patented seated patient lift that helps restore independence for wheelchair users, enabling transfers to and from bed without the need for caregiver assistance.
Created by engineers from MIT, this device can be used by in-home caregivers and nurses in healthcare facilities. It was named the Core77 Design Award winner in the Health and Wellness category in 2023.
UpLyft’s story began in 2016 when its Founder, Anton Simson, learned that his friend’s son had been paralyzed in an accident. The son’s wife became his primary caregiver and could not lift him out of bed. Upon learning that no adequate technologies existed for bedside transfer, Anton — a triple-degree aerospace engineer from MIT — made it his mission to develop a solution.
Anton passed away in 2023. But his team, which includes his son Todd, carries on the company.
UpLyft is both the company name and name of its device, a seated self-transfer system that enables people with limited mobility to easily transfer between their bed and wheelchair independently.
UpLyft hooks onto a hoist, which can be fixed for self-transfer use or portable for room-to-room use. Dual controls allow for the device to be operated by either the wheelchair user, caregiver, or healthcare worker. And the multi-patented curl panels securely wrap around a person’s thighs and torso at the touch of a button.
The U.S. market for household and healthcare institution-transfer solutions is valued at close to thirty billion dollars. UpLyft’s two main target markets include wheelchair users and caregivers at home (business-to-consumer), along with healthcare facilities (business-to-business).
The price of an UpLyft device ranges from $13,000 and $21,000. Leasing is available for $265 per month which provides the company with recurring revenue.
UpLyft has completed sales through major U.S. healthcare facilities including Seabrook Senior Living Facility, Piedmont Healthcare System, and Cottage Health’s Rehabilitation Hospital. The company maintains $787,000 in non-binding sales pipeline with U.S. healthcare institutions.
UpLyft is in the commercial stage with more than three million dollars in lifetime revenue. It’s been issued sixteen patents and has completed registration with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).