Day two of 7 startups in 7 (working) days and today we bring you Gecko Traxx, a company with aspirations of being the global outdoor brand for all abilities. Gecko Traxx is the birth child of co-founders Ryan and Huy who brings both industrial design and lived experience to the team. They have secured $28,000 of online pre-sales across the world and can already be found in 16 retailers here in Australia. The team is showing no let-up in the midst of a global pandemic and has big plans to develop, launch and ship Gecko Traxx in a children’s size, all before Christmas this year.
In addition to sharing these pitches and to mark the conclusion of our accelerator program, our EIR Alan Jones has taken the time to reflect on the incredible work out #SYD20 startups have done to create such remarkable pitch videos like the one above. Check out what Alan had to say below.
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Gecko Traxx
Being one of the entrepreneurs-in-residence for the #SYD20 cohort of disability-tech startups has been weird and difficult this year. It’s been weird because my job is to develop a trusted relationship with founders in a time of pandemic lockdown when everybody’s nerves have been frayed, risks seem magnified and confidence in the future rarely joins the Zoom call. It’s been hard because video calls are a terrible way for them to get to know me, and for me to learn how to support them. But this is what I see in the founders of these seven remarkable startups and their brave, resourceful founders.
Ryan, you came into the program on a high, full of confidence, with an early prototype, a runner up in an international design award competition and a strong pre-sales campaign showing solid demand for a product that would make it easier for someone in a wheelchair to get across soft surfaces.
Then a new reality hit hard, with the dual challenges of making ends meet during lockdown, while ironing out all the many challenges involved in turning an initial prototype into a reliable, cost-effective manufacturing process (still, at least you weren’t trying to do it remotely in China!).
But I saw you take setback after setback right between the eyes over the past 16 weeks, and some of them really rocked you back on your heels. I’m proud to say I also saw you pick yourself up again. I saw you get out in the outdoors you love so much and work your heart and lungs, reconnect with what really matters, and come back into the ring with your gloves up and your focus sharp.
Gecko Traxx is one of those products that make everyone who sees it react the same way: “why doesn’t this already exist?” But it only seems obvious in retrospect that it should. You have my respect and admiration for having the original insight, and then having the initiative and tenacity to bring that idea to market.
Words by Alan Jones (the nice one).
To learn more about Gecko Traxx follow them on Instagram and head to their website.