020 | "Google Glasses Used to Drive Wheelchairs" (Claudiu at Munevo)

Oct 4

Today’s guest on the “Phil with Forbes 30” podcast is Claudiu Leverenz – CEO of Munevo

Forbes List: Europe
Year: 2017
Category: Health

People impaired by diseases like ALS, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy, or those that may have suffered spinal cord injuries, frequently have no ability to move their arms or legs.

Munevo is a German company that empowers people with disabilities by designing wheelchairs and other supports using new and innovative technologies. Munevo’s core product, Munevo DRIVE gives a person the ability to drive and steer their wheelchair by using head movements.

Claudiu Leverenz founded Munevo in 2018 after his studies at TU Munich. In 2018 he joined Global Shapers Munich, an initiative by the World Economic Forum to support social projects.

In 2017 Claudiu was named to the “Forbes 30 under 30 Europe” list - Science and Healthcare category.

In this episode, Phil goes in-depth with Claudiu on the innovative technology and product development story. Phil also learns about Claudiu’s journey to success before COVID-19 and hopes for future plans.

Claudiu explains how the wheelchair technology works - like a Google Glass with integrated sensors which becomes a gyroscope/accelerometer - a sensor that can detect movements. He gives full details on the concept of movement controlled by the user.

Claudiu speaks about his studies and travels and early exposure to Google Glass in a Master’s course and shared ideas with a classmate.

Claudiu explains the challenges to adopt his product over wheelchairs that have been on the market for 10 - 20 years; convincing healthcare reimbursement systems of his product’s better value.

Other challenges include the need for having a product being medically certified; how University and the University Hospital helped with medical and clinical evaluations.

Phil continues his discussion with Claudiu on revelations regarding the importance of mentors, design thinking approaches instead of academic research. He also gets thoughts about the importance of recognizing gratitude and showing appreciation to valuable coaches, mentors, and early investors.

Claudiu gives back through the World Economic Forum and by finding people who need support.

His ideal customer now would be partners working in the medical field, medical supply stores, insurance companies, and those who understand the US market.

Phil asks what was the “scrappy” idea to hustle the product along in the early stages. Claudiu shares his hilarious stories about hiding the prototype along with trademarking the company name.

Claudiu’s future goals include:

Fully integrating into more health care systems around the world
Upscaling and going to the US to launch; meeting FDA approvals
Looking for more US contacts to help expand
To help the World Economic Forum to upscale more than one-million refugees with digital skills and career help.

“Under 30 Seconds Round”

1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?

Holly Black’s three novels
21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari

2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?

Best - My company
Worst - Some ETF’s. I learned to use people with investing skill sets as I don’t have them.

3. Favorite Guilty Pleasure

In NYC - a great Falafel with tahini and hummus

4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of go to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?

Find a mentor

5. What’s something you never knew you needed?

A Frisbee. I didn’t bring things like a soccer ball when I moved to my new apartment.

In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…

The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Claudiu Leverenz’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!

GUEST INFO: Claudiu Leverenz – CEO of Munevo