Just when you thought 3D printing couldn’t get any cooler, The Gauntlet Initiative and TEDxCoMo speaker Alex Madinger added prostheses to the equation.
Since his graduation from MU in May, Madinger has realized that his love for 3D printing and his interest in entrepreneurship are, indeed, compatible.
It all started when a five-year-old boy, Ethan, and his family approached the MU 3D Printing Club, of which Madinger was co-founder, and requested help for building a prosthetic hand because they couldn’t afford what was on the market. Derek Provance, the club’s co-founder current president, proposed the idea to Madinger and they decided to embark on the adventure into this emerging territory.
After finding an existing model they used to build a prototype hand, the team realized the design wouldn’t work because it was dependent on Ethan’s wrist flexibility. Ethan only has an inch of his hand past the wrist, no functioning fingers and he can only flex what he has down 30 degrees. All of this got Madinger thinking.
“I went and got a Reuben, and by the end of my dinner I had a new plan,” says Madinger.
Through this advancement, The Gauntlet Initiative was born. Madinger’s design includes many mechanical principles, such as gear ratios, suspension for grip and much more. Madinger officially debuted the start-up at Columbia’s weekly One Million Cups gathering.
The Gauntlet Initiative’s mission is to provide functional, affordable, custom prostheses. Right now, Madinger is improving the concept of the design. Two other participants, one who was found through an online survey, have committed to having a prosthesis made for them.
A few weeks ago, The Gauntlet Initiative was pitched at Columbia Startup Weekend and placed second out 19 teams. Madinger described the weekend as the “highest of highs and lowest of lows” for himself (he didn’t sleep for three days) and the company.
The startup also won first place Thursday night at the Missouri Tech Expo. Madinger says the winnings will be used to fund the immediate expenses involved with providing early adaptors with hands. After testing, custom made hands will be made available online.
“There is no reason anyone, with how much energy we put into so many trivial things in comparison, should go without a hand today,” says Madinger. “You should not have to settle for archaic technology. There are so many options today. That’s the least we can do for each other.”
For an update when the service goes live (or if you are in need of a prosthetic hand), please visit: gauntletinitiative.com
Connect with Alex
Twitter: @alexmadinger
Facebook: Alex Madinger
G+: Alex Madinger
Alex recommends…
Book: Makers: The New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson
App: Google Maps
TEDtalk: My 12 Pairs of Legs by Aimee Mullins
tedxcomo 