"Paralyzation is what you see and not what you're going through” says LeToi Adams, Army Veteran and wheelchair games athlete. In 2011 LeToi was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer originating in the lymphatic system. The tumor wrapped around her spinal cord, resulting in a T-10 spinal cord injury and paralysis from the waist down. After her year-long recovery, LeToi found adaptive sports, a form of competitive or recreational sports for people with disabilities. She soon fell in love with wheelchair basketball and has used it as an outlet throughout her journey. Wheelchair sports played an important role in LeToi’s mental health: being able to stay active and play the games she loved gave her the encouragement to push forward after her treatment. “When I found out about adaptive sports, it gave me a lot of motivation and courage to get out there and play with other competitive, disabled people,” says LeToi. “It was definitely an eye opener to see people that I look up to play adaptive sports like me.” Her Kalogon Orbiter cushion helps keep her on the court: “It makes being confined to my chair during the game okay because I don’t need to do as many pressure reliefs.” Whether playing on the court or in her chair at home, you can find LeToi using her Kalogon Orbiter smart cushion to help relieve pain and prevent pressure injuries. The relief brought by the Orbiter cushion has helped LeToi stay focused on her game. “The Kalogon cushion makes going out easier and more comfortable.” Hear more about LeToi’s experience with the Kalogon Orbiter Smart cushion in her own words in this video:

Written by Marco Santana September 23, 2022 It has been a whirlwind 24 hours for former SpaceX engineer Tim Balz, who now leads Melbourne-based Kalogon. Not only did the company punch a ticket to be a presenter at Synapse Florida next month by impressing a distinguished panel of judges during an event in downtown Orlando Thursday night. But the company also shared news Friday morning that it had raised $1.9 million for its medical-tech company. SeedFundersOrlando led the round, with Sawmill Angel Network, venVelo and DeepWork Capital also joining. Kalogon uses a combination of machine learning and “air cell technology,” which uses air pockets similarly to shock absorbers, in its smart wheelchair cushion design. The technology aims to increase comfort and blood flow for those using wheelchairs by adjusting the cushion and giving control to users through a mobile app. “We are on a mission to redesign wheelchair technology to help prevent these injuries and give wheelchair users the freedom to do what they love,” Balz said in a release announcing the investment. “This is the first step in our journey to revolutionize seating for everyone.” Balz worked for SpaceX’s Dragon, Starship and Falcon 9 projects during a nearly 4-year stint with the space giant previously. Through federal grants, Kalogon pushed its recent investment total to $3.3 million. Last year, Kalogon landed a much smaller round of $200,000, which was also led by SeedFundersOrlando. “They have demonstrated the ability to innovate and rapidly execute and have exceeded expectations,” SeedFundersOrlando CEO Dennis Pape said in the release. But first, an event win for the team On Thursday, the Kalogon team participated at the Orlando Economic Partnership’s TenX Tech event downtown. As part of the event, eight startups met the community and presented to judges who would select a winner. Kalogon, because of its win, will now have a stage to present at next month’s Synapse Orlando, a fast-growing tech event that returns this year. Orlando startup Overhead Intelligence won a crowd-based vote to also present there. “Being able to be part of this community has been awesome,” Balz said in an interview with Orlando Tech News. “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate with people who have helped us get here.” At Thursday’s event, hosted jointly by Orlando Economic Partnership and Orlando Tech Council, Orlando Tech Council chair and Blue Wave Resource Partners CEO and Founder Charlie Lewis said the Synapse tie-in was important to continue pushing the ecosystem forward. “If your goal is to get funding, find talent and clients then you need to be as connected in this ecosystem as you can be,” he said. “Everyone in the ecosystem will be at Synapse.” That’s why Christina Drake, CEO of the presenting startup Kismet Technologies, put her business up for consideration at the event. The company has developed a safe material that provides long-term virus and bactria protections for surfaces, something that became increasingly important during the COVID pandemic. Drake said the event was more general interest than others she has presented at but that this offered unique opportunities. “It’s definitely different from a typical show we’d be at because you have a wider range of people here,” she said. “The types of questions you get are different. It makes you think more about your business. It gives you a much different perspective.” For companies like Kalogon, it also sets up what could be a crucial appearance at Synapse. “Kalogon’s technology has created an entirely new market in smart seating, with applications in wheelchair mobility and beyond,” said Ben Patz, DeepWork Capital managing partner. “We are thrilled to help get their groundbreaking technology to everyone who needs it.” > Read the full article here <

Alex Soderstrom, OrlandoInno SeedFundersOrlando has made its eighth Florida startup investment, which will boost a Space Coast company’s efforts to prevent pressure sores that kill tens of thousands of people every year. Early-stage investment group SeedFundersOrlando invested $195,000 in Melbourne-based Kalogon, SeedFundersOrlando announced Aug. 30. Read Full Article on Seedfundersorlando.com

Brittany Mulligan for Hometown News BREVARD COUNTY — An innovative idea is making a difference in the lives of wheelchair users by creating a smart wheelchair cushion. The company responsible is taking a further step forward by partnering with one of Brevard County’s largest employers for people with disabilities. Earlier in February, Kalogon announced the launch of the world’s first smart wheelchair cushion. It’s designed by a team of former SpaceX, NASA and Northrop Grumman employees to improve the comfort for extended wheelchair use. Kalogon has partnered with Brevard Achievement Center to manufacture the cushions, and this exciting opportunity will provide jobs to individuals with disabilities. READ FULL ARTICLE ON HOME TOWN NEWS BREVARD

Alex Soderstrom, Staff Writer for OrlandoInno This CEO built a wheelchair endorsed by Stephen Hawking before launching his new startup Tim Balz has worked on a long list of successful wheelchair innovations, landing his name on a patent and leading a project endorsed by renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. Balz’s latest efforts won’t revolutionize the wheelchair, but rather, the quality of life of the people who use them. Melbourne-based Kalogon, founded by Balz last year, developed a “smart cushion” meant to prevent pressure sores in people who sit too long, especially those in wheelchairs. The product is in use by some rehabilitation centers, assisted-living centers and hospitals across the Sunshine State. Read Full Article on simulationinformation.com

When Erin Field was just 21 years old, a chimney fell on top of her while hammocking on a roof. The accident caused damage to her C-5 and C-6 vertebrae, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down with no function in her fingers and very limited arm function. Like many wheelchair users, sitting for long periods of time can be difficult. In Erin’s case, she has autonomic dysreflexia, which causes her even more trouble when seated. Autonomic dysreflexia is an issue with the autonomic nervous system, the part of your nervous system that manages functions of the body that happen “automatically”: body temperature control, sweating, pain control, blood pressure regulation, etc. Autonomic dysreflexia occurs when there is damage to the nervous system, often making messages sent throughout the body absent, or misinterpreted. This can cause complications such as dangerously high blood pressure, difficulty maintaining heart and breathing rates, seizures, and fluid in your lungs, among many others. For Erin, Autonomic Dysreflexia causes uncomfortable sweating when seated for longer periods of time. “Prior to using the Kalogon Smart Cushion, I would start sweating after just 4 hours, even with a pressure relief. I could just tell my body needed to get out of my chair. With the Kalogon Cushion that just doesn’t happen.” Throughout her journey, Erin has strived to keep a positive outlook. Spending time with friends and family has played an important role in this attitude. Before using Kalogon, Erin had to worry about pressure sores when seated for longer periods of time. The Kalogon Orbiter Cushion senses how Erin is sitting and automatically adjusts itself in real time, allowing Erin to focus on what matters most. “Kalogon has helped me keep a positive outlook. I no longer stress in social situations where previously I had to step away to do a pressure relief. Now, I feel like I can be in the moment with friends and family without that constant worry.” Autonomic dysreflexia affects up to 90% of people with upper thoracic and cervical spinal cord injuries just like Erin. “Now I can do all of the activities I love without having to worry about doing a pressure relief,” says Erin. “I am beyond thankful.” Hear more about Erin’s Experience with the Kalogon Orbiter Smart Cushion in her own words in this video:

Steven Aquino Forbes Contributor Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steven covers accessibility and assistive technology. Mobility Tech Startup Kalogon Introduces Its All-New Connected Smart Cushion For Wheelchair Users In a press release published on Tuesday, Florida-based mobility startup Kalogon announced what it calls the “world’s first smart wheelchair cushion.” Developed by ex-SpaceX engineers—the aerospace company started by Elon Musk—Kalogon describes the cushion as being designed to “assist in the healing and prevention of pressure ulcers or bedsores.” The company notes these injuries are the leading cause of preventable death for the more than 3 million Americans who use a wheelchair. Kalogon’s claim to fame is the company’s engineers have developed wheelchair technologies that were endorsed by esteemed late physicist Stephen Hawking. “For me, if Kalogon can solve major challenges that people in wheelchairs face in partnership with people of all abilities, then we are doing our job right from ideation to manufacturing and distribution,” said Kalogon founder and CEO Tim Balz in a recent interview with me conducted over email... Read Full Article on Forbes