Each month as part of StartHub Startups to Watch Program we connect with the winning company to learn more about them. Our June Startup to Watch is Pong Robotics, a Concord-based healthcare robotics company. Recently we had the pleasure of interviewing Will Pong, CEO of Pong Robotics. Here’s what we learned:
Tell us about your company. What is Pong Robotics?
We’re working on consumer mobile robotic applications that can improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs for an aging population. Our target customers don’t want to be slowed by common age related complaints like fatigue, arthritis, and lower back pain.
What is your background?
My first autonomous mobile robot was developed at MIT and Philips Research Labs for an eldercare application. I worked with Joe Engelberger’s team to help create the first commercial autonomous hospital delivery robot (Helpmate). Ed Fredkin (my thesis supervisor at MIT) and I started a company that initiated a project with Shell Oil to develop a robotic service station (Shell SmartPump). My father was a longtime volunteer fireman; while Director of Robotics at Segway, I worked to introduce a firefighting and emergency response robot into their annual training exercises.
How did you come up with the idea for Pong Robotics? Who is your target customer?
We have an aging population, and I saw an opportunity to apply robotics to address mobility issues created by common complaints like fatigue, arthritis and lower back pain. I thought it was a pragmatic approach to introduce an extensible household robotic platform to the consumer market.
How do you think Pong Robotics is going to disrupt the market? What are the main differentiators between you and your competitors?
I believe broad use of robotic health and fitness products can have a disruptive effect on healthcare costs while also improving quality of life. For example, we have a user that came to us because he was injuring himself just getting in and out of his tricycle scooter. His doctor advised him to cut back on activities, or face the prospect of debilitating permanent neuromuscular injury within 6 months (with a spike in healthcare costs for homebound disability care). Instead, he has been using our downhill skiing inspired solution for over a year now, and reports he is enjoying his retirement years with frequent trips to museums, church activities, and shopping malls. His only “complaint” has been that he is meeting too many new people who stop him with questions about his robot.
Why did you decide to start your business in Boston? How long has your company been around?
World class universities and medical research facilities, new venture resources, and supportive local government agencies. It’s also a walking city with mass transit that could benefit from new “last mile” transportation options to help reduce traffic congestion.
What resources in the startup community have contributed to the success of Pong Robotics?
Venture Cafe, CIC, RIC, District Hall, StartHub, Mass TLC, Mass Robotics, Mass Innovation, MS NERD, Spaulding Rehab, MIT – Venture Mentoring Service, MIT Enterprise Forum Cambridge, and Flatley Innovation Center are some of the resources that have helped. I’m also looking at the next Mass Challenge Pulse cohort.
How do you use StartHub professionally?
It’s an excellent resource for identifying opportunities and resources that can help our venture in an increasingly complex entrepreneurial landscape.
What are the next steps for Pong Robotics?
Marketing and team building. We need to get more functional prototypes into service for continued market validation, and to facilitate the recruitment of resources to help us grow the company.
What is the most important thing our readers should know about Pong Robotics?
We’re exploring the use of robotics for urban transportation, health and fitness, eldercare, and pain management. I’d like to hear from people that think our technology could help them, and also companies that might be interested in collaborating.
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