Izzy Wheels - they're "re-inventing the wheel"
by Startacus Admin
People like to customise things - to put a personal touch on them. From flames or stripes down the side of your car (which make it go faster, obviously) to pink fuzzy dice hanging on the mirror; from plastering the underside of your skateboard with stickers and cutouts of Hulk to...whatever the hip young people do with hoverboards these days; from sticking a playing card through the spokes of your bike wheel to...tassles?
Around 2.2 million people in the US are wheelchair users, and around 800,000 people in the UK need a wheelchair on a permanent basis. That’s a lot more time spent in a wheelchair than anyone spends on their totally radical skateboard (we’re confident our groovy lingo is current), so why not give that set of wheels a personal touch?
Izzy Wheels is an Irish startup run by two sisters, Izzy and Ailbhe. In her final year of art college, Ailbhe began a project to ‘Empower the lives of people living with a long-term health condition’. In this project, she created arty, stylish wheel covers for her sister’s wheelchair. Born with Spina Bifida, Izzy is a permanent wheelchair user, and had always been frustrated by the lack of ways she could personalise her wheelchair, and so Ailbhe both solved this problem for her sister and birthed a business named after her in one.
The designs for the wheel covers are created by top artists and designers who can send in their 
portfolio to Izzy Wheels every few months. Customers can also arrange to have their own pictures on the covers, which are waterproof and scratch- and fade-resistant.
Back in April the sisters won this year’s Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow competition - a competition that aims to nurture and develop innovative ideas that could have a positive impact on society.
And just last month, Izzy Wheels took home the Audience Vote in the 2017 NDRC Investor Day, proving just how highly valued this young startup is by the people themselves.
We look forward to reporting back on this fab Irish startup as their business further develops. We like it a lot.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The InsurTech startup which covers the risk of non payment of invoices...
AO, the UK’s leading online-only household appliance and electrical retailer is looking discover and integrate startups with solutions that will help AO’s customers.
.jpeg)
Technology has transformed how people interact. We are on the cusp of an exciting new era in clinical communication, and a key shift in the empowerment of patients as a stakeholder in healthcare.
Exercise made fun thanks to this location-based strategy game for runners and walkers
The innovative Social Community App that's been created for those living & working with Dyslexia and ADHD...
Shuttout - The community-driven marketplace startup that's adding social value to photographs...
Dent Reality launches it's new AR wayfinding technology for shopping malls, airports, retailers and other venues, using virtual paths and arrows to help users find their way.
Aberdeen based startups and entrepreneurs take note - here's the lowdown on key startup support and help available where you are...
Here are seven kinds of educational courses that can take your abilities as an entrepreneur to the next level.
Here we’ll take a look at six ways you can get the most from your online advertising budget.
Published on: 14th November 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- AO launches Innovation Lab to integrate online retail solutions 17th Apr 2019 AO, the UK’s leading online-only household appliance and electrical retailer is looking discover and integrate startups with solutions that will help AO’s customers.
- EDP searching for startups to join the Starter Acceleration Program 8th Apr 2019 EDP, one of Europe's major electricity operators is currently looking for startups for their new EDP Starter Acceleration Program.
- United Utilities launches Innovation Lab 2.0 21st Mar 2019 Leading UK water and wastewater company United Utilities has launched its second accelerator programme to help innovative businesses grow and develop their solutions through a collaborative approach.
- Northern Ireland startups sought for upSTART 2019 21st Mar 2019 Entries are now open for upSTART, Northern Ireland’s most exciting startup pitch competition which features an all-expenses paid trip to explore the New York tech scene for the winner.
