Prague, 7 July 2022 – The prototyping workshop of 3D printer manufacturer Josef Průša has launched the second year of its acceleration programme focused on the development of innovative products. From 75 applicants, an expert jury selected three start-ups, which received financial backing worth hundreds of thousands of crowns and have been working closely with technology experts on the development of their solutions since May 2022.
“The programme's unusual focus on physical products has once again proved to be a major draw for innovative companies. The success of the pilot year, which resulted in a fifteen-million-crown investment from Prusa Research, confirmed the accelerator's ability to take an idea from a sketch to a working prototype. This year's call also emphasised sustainability, and I am very pleased that each of the selected projects reflects this in its solution,” says PrusaLab manager Ondřej Kašpárek.
Student startup FlockLock is promising a revolution in pasture cattle farming thanks to smart ear tags. According to co-founder Daniel Rychlý, the solution should monitor the location, activity and health status of the animals, and alert farmers to potential risks such as theft, reduced activity or straying. The product will also include a mobile application for remote herd monitoring. “We already tested the concept in practice as part of a bachelor's thesis. Our goal for the acceleration programme is therefore to develop a prototype suitable for large-scale testing on several herds,” adds Rychlý.
The Last Miles roller skates won over the jury with their focus on micromobility. They slip directly onto the shoe and, when folded, fit into a regular backpack, so they can serve as an alternative for getting around the city quickly or when travelling. The creators have already confirmed there is interest in such a solution: the project raised almost double its original target in a successful crowdfunding campaign. “The aim of our time in the accelerator is now to finish developing the final product and make 100 units, which we will deliver to our first customers,” says co-founder Tibor Kučera.
Rounding off the trio of winners is the Goboline project with its new light projection technology. The innovation lies in converting the standard circular light of projectors into linear light. This can bring huge energy and financial savings, especially in industrial spaces that use light projection for floor marking. “What's more, the whole system is connected. For example, the floor markings can interactively show forklift drivers where to take a load,” explains co-founder Matyáš Kavan. At PrusaLab, Goboline will focus on developing a working prototype.
Photos:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A-SheEKz5wZwMedKQBx2xi7xJw3kvBJr?usp=sharing
Media contact:
Vojtěch Bartoš
+420 721 159 643
info@prusalab.cz
Further information about the programme, including links to individual projects, can be found at https://www.prusalab.cz/akcelerator.
About PrusaLab and the hardware accelerator:
PrusaLab is a prototyping workshop that has been operating under the wing of Josef Průša and Prusa Research since 2018. It focuses on 3D printing, prototyping, development and supporting innovative projects.
In 2021, the graduates of the first year of the PrusaLab hardware accelerator were the projects Vanilla Robotics and Posedla. Prusa Research subsequently invested 15 million crowns in the second of these start-ups.
