NeoMotion: Redefining Mobility with Innovation and Inclusion

“How often do we see a wheelchair user in our daily life?” This simple yet striking question became the genesis of NeoMotion, a mobility startup born at IIT Madras in 2016. For founders Swostik Sourav Dash, Ashish Mohan Sharma, Siddarth Daga, and their mentor Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan, the goal was clear: make wheelchair users visible, empowered, and mobile.

Their early exposure to assistive technology and extensive fieldwork, interacting with over 250 wheelchair users across India, revealed a troubling truth. Most wheelchairs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are one-size-fits-all, ill-suited for long-term use, and confining. NeoMotion emerged as a direct response to this design and dignity gap.

Designed for Dignity, Built for Independence

NeoMotion’s two flagship products—NeoFly and NeoBolt—are innovations engineered to transform lives.

NeoFly is a fully customised wheelchair tailored to each user’s needs with 18 personalisation options. Unlike generic wheelchairs, NeoFly supports better posture, has a rigid frame, ergonomic pushrims, and offers a smaller footprint to navigate narrow Indian environments. It improves user health, boosts mobility range, and enhances accessibility without compromising aesthetics.

NeoBolt is a patented, motorised clip-on that converts the NeoFly into a roadworthy electric vehicle. It eliminates the need for wheelchair users to transfer into other vehicles, enabling them to commute independently. With speeds of up to 25 kmph and a 25 km range per charge, NeoBolt is a low-cost, green mobility alternative, ideal for daily commutes, employment, or recreation.

Market, Model, and Mission

NeoMotion operates at the intersection of product innovation and social impact. Its core customers include persons with locomotor disabilities, CSR departments, and government bodies. With over 6500 users across India, including 1000 who have started their own livelihoods, NeoMotion proves that assistive devices can drive economic participation.

Its business model is centered on direct sales, with support from CSR funding and easy financing options. A rising trend: corporate CSR arms prefer personalized, outcome-driven assistive tech over mass-distributed, generic devices.

Recognition and Real-World Change

The startup has garnered high-profile endorsements and partnerships. Zomato, for instance, works with NeoMotion as a livelihood partner—500+ wheelchair users now deliver food, earning sustainable incomes. Tamil Nadu’s Department of Differently Abled has funded 600 users over three years.

NeoMotion’s products are featured in initiatives by MHRD, ICMR, and the National Innovation Foundation. Awards include the Design Impact Awards by Tata Trusts, Lexus Design Awards India, and DBS Foundation Social Impact Challenge. They were also spotlighted on Shark Tank India to strong acclaim.

From Concept to Movement

The journey hasn’t been without obstacles. One key challenge is shifting the perception of wheelchairs from “donation” items to life-enhancing tools worth investing in. As Swostik Sourav Dash emphasises, “It’s about user-centric design. Always build for the user.”

To aspiring founders, the message is pragmatic yet powerful: “Stick with it for three years, set tangible goals, and measure everything. Progress takes persistence.”

In a world still navigating accessibility, NeoMotion is not just designing mobility devices, it’s designing freedom.

Impact, Expansion, and the Road Ahead

NeoMotion has remained profitable for four consecutive years. But its impact goes beyond balance sheets. Products like NeoBolt have made last-mile delivery inclusive and sustainable, reducing diesel use and carbon emissions.

By FY 2025-26, NeoMotion aims to launch five new products and expand into Southeast Asia and Africa, regions where high-quality, affordable assistive tech remains scarce.