Amsterdam-based Madglove, a company revolutionising the field of hand rehabilitation, announced on Thursday, April 27, that it has raised new investment from Amsterdam Academic Angel Fund.
Backed by Vrije Universiteit and the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Academic Angel Fund invests in early-stage startups emerging from academia.
Madglove is creating an accessible and innovative home-based rehabilitation solution to improve hand dexterity in individuals suffering from spasticity.
What is Spasticity?
Spasticity is a common symptom of neurological disorders such as stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury.
This condition causes muscle stiffness, which can lock the wrist and fingers in a “fist-like” position, making simple daily activities such as making a cup of coffee or putting on a jacket extremely challenging, if not impossible.
These limitations can have a significant impact on a person’s confidence, participation in society, and overall quality of life.
Madglove: Dream of five young founders
Madalina Rîurean, the founder of Madglove Amsterdam, began her journey with a 3D printer, glue, and a lot of creativity.
She created the first prototypes of the glove in Romania and tested them on 20 patients. The results were promising. But more importantly, Madalina had the opportunity to sit with the patients and gather their feedback on the glove.
This allowed her to understand the needs of the patients and the shortcomings of the current state of rehabilitation technology, especially in a country like Romania.
Madalina’s desire to explore this path further and turn her ideas into action led her to Amsterdam, where she met her co-founders Cara Knott, Jeremiah Makinde, David Gotti, and Sitah Heijnen, while studying at the VU Amsterdam.
Together, they founded Madglove with a shared passion for taking science out of the lab and applying it to improve lives.
The five young founders encompass experiences in physiotherapy, rehabilitation sciences, sports sciences, biological science, business, engineering, and marketing.
Madglove’s solution is a simple, easy-to-use glove that stabilises the wrist, extends the fingers, and improves hand function during daily activities. By using this glove, individuals can regain their independence and improve their quality of life.
“We are very excited to have received this fund from the Amsterdam Academic Angel Fund. A massive thank you for your support and belief in us! This will surely help us in our journey to bringing a home-based helping hand to have a grasp on hand spasticity,” the company shares in a post on LinkedIn.
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