Free To Move: Revolutionizing Mobility AT in Central & Eastern Europe

This initiative is a systemic disruption of the Assistive Technology (AT) market which will allow a leap forward in the quality of care available to children and adults. By leveraging the harmonized logistics of the European Single Market and the digital scalability of AI-driven clinical support, we are bridging the wide gap between cheap disposable AT, like pharmacy crutches, and shockingly high cost AT procured by wealthy governments. Participant, a Benefit Corporation, is a best-value-for-money competitor and fills this middle gap.

By combining smart logistics, digital innovation, and a focus on clinical excellence, this strategy aims to ensure that no child is denied the right to move simply because of where they live.

1. The Strategy: Skip Layers and Use a Wedge

The traditional AT model relies on national exclusive distributors who add significant markups (100-200%) while providing minimal clinical support and after sales service. Our strategy replaces this fragmented, high-cost model with a unified, lean infrastructure:

• The Hub-and-Gateway Approach: We will use a central logistical hub in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to serve the region. We bypass traditional distributors and their smaller warehouses by partnering with Licensed Medical Gateways (wholesalers) solely for regulatory compliance and government tendering. This allows control over brand, price, product support, and relationships with clinicians.

• Direct-to-Clinic Sales: We empower the Primary Care level, Physical Therapists (PTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) in private clinics. By selling directly to these providers, we turn clinicians into retail partners, ensuring that the wheelchairs and other AT are prescribed and fitted by an expert rather than a salesperson.

• From Wedge to Catalog: Our Cub wheelchair is loved in Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, and many other locations. It is the wedge that opens the door for a high-trust relationship with a clinic. From this specialized device, we expand to a broad catalog of high-volume essentials (toilet and shower aids, and durable, attractive crutches), creating a sustainable, high-frequency B2B business.

2. Business Plan: Disruption and Development

Our business logic is rooted in de-layering the value chain. By removing unnecessary intermediaries and utilizing technology for the last mile, we collapse the cost of a premium-tier pediatric wheelchair from $6,000 to under $1,000. The plan is all about making life-changing equipment affordable by cutting out the middle-man markups that usually double or triple the price. By shipping from one main hub and working directly with local therapists, we can get a high-quality wheelchair that normally costs $6,000 to a family for less than $1,000.

• Cost Reduction via Tech: Much product support will be handled by our MeerkatBot (WhatsApp-based AI), and the provision labor is supported by tele-rehabilitation

• P&L Protection: We prioritize markets based on government reimbursement thresholds to ensure sustainability. Our existing NGO partners help fill gaps.

• Upskilling Clinical Professionals: As our founders have done in dozens of other countries, we will deploy clinical training programs that upskill local PTs, creating a professionalized, loyal sales network.

  
  

Government Reimbursement Benchmarks for Pediatric Tilt Chairs:

Market	Estimated Gov. Reimbursement	Business Case / Strategy
Slovenia	$1,200 – $1,500	Primary Hub: Full cost covered by government.
Czech Republic	$1,000 – $1,300	High Volume: Strong alignment with retail price.
Slovakia	$900 – $1,200	Stable Growth: Minimal family co-pay needed.
Hungary / Croatia	$600 – $900	Micro-loan Target: $200–$400 Gap to be bridged by NGO or Impact funding partners.
Romania / Bulgaria	$250 – $450	NGO Top-Up: Requires blended funding models.

3. Appeal to Disability Oriented Impact Investors and UniCredit: A Triple-Win Investment

Our goal at Participant aligns perfectly with InvestEU and Social Impact Banking mandates, which focus on digitalization, sustainability, and social mobility.

• Digital Innovation: Our Meerkat Bot is a Digital Product Passport in action, providing 24/7 accountability and traceability that traditional hardware companies cannot offer.

• Risk Mitigation by Proven Expertise: Our background in international development allows us to build markets from the ground up. We don't just ship boxes; we build health system capacity and inspire governments to reach higher.

• Financial Integrity: We solve the Honesty Problem for lenders. Our digital tools will ensure that a loan or grant for a family in need, is only released when the Slovenian Hub verifies prescription and clinical fitting, the family’s income qualification, and verifies the local government’s resources are applied.

  
  

4. Intended Impact: Blended Funding for the Gap

In locations where the government pays less, our goal is to ensure that no child is denied mobility due to a reimbursement gap. We leverage our existing, high-trust relationships with international NGOs to create a Verified Co-Pay System:

1. Government: Provides the base voucher ($400).

2. NGO Backers: Provide a Top-Up Grant ($300) directly to the Hub.

3. Micro Loans: Alternative or in addition to iNGO funds. 

   
   

The Result:  By merging international development insights with modern European business strategy, our approach creates what we call an Inclusive Abundance model. It moves the CEE markets away from a miserable path of low-quality equipment and disparity, and toward a future where every child has access to world-class mobility. It isn't just about shipping boxes, it's about upskilling local therapists and building a professionalized network that stays in the community for years to come.

Call To Action: Participant is raising $2,000,000 in debt and equity and we are seeking values aligned investors. Please contact our CEO via LinkedIn or the ZeroCon app. 

Our CEO, Keoke King, will be at ZeroCon. You can reach him on LinkedIn, click here