Two local businesspeople who run a specialist body rehabilitation centre have scooped a £15k funding package to develop wearable technology that helps people with neurological conditions.
Dave Powney and Jude Simms, who both live in Darnaway, got the highest amount for their startup Mygo4ward from the Wild Card sector of the Scottish EDGE awards, the UK’s biggest funding competition for potential high growth businesses.
Their start-up company was one of 33 businesses with high growth potential from across Scotland that have benefited to the tune of just over £1 million from the awards.
Dave and Jude run Move4ward in Elgin, a body rehabilitation centre that specialises in neurological conditions and help clients recover from conditions such as stroke, traumatic Brain Injuries and functional neurological disorders as well as post-hip and knee operations and sporting injuries.
The Wild Card EDGE assessment panel noted that it was impressed with the proposal put forward by Mygo4ward and chose the business as the top £15k prize winner in the category, with six other businesses each receiving £10k.
Stimulating muscles
Mygo4ward was founded by neuro-physiotherapist Jude and human movement specialist David to develop wearable leggings aimed at stimulating a combination of muscles to help enable those living with neurological conditions and spinal cord injury to stand, step and walk again.
This year, Scottish EDGE received a record-breaking 327 applications. The finalists pitched to judges on 29 and 30 September in front of a virtual audience.
Jude Simms, neuro-physiotherapist at Mygo4ward said: “We believe that our product can potentially help tens of thousands of people worldwide, and we look forward to bringing it to market shortly.”
Sir Tom Hunter said: “Early stage, high growth businesses will play a vital role in rebuilding our economy and driving employment opportunities. As such, Scottish EDGE offers pivotal help to them and it’s not just about the money, the support and peer-to-peer engagement is fundamental in contributing to business success. Given we had significant increases in high quality applicants I’m delighted Scottish Enterprise stepped up with an additional £0.5m of loan support enabling us to support far more businesses.
“To be clear if Scotland is to rebuild, SMEs are fundamental to our chances of succeeding and as such I think business and Government must come together to extend and accelerate support for them through the likes of Scottish EDGE and the Logan Review.”