By Nick Thompson
Based in Yerevan, Armenia, QaylTech is the first Armenian company to specialise in the production of innovative devices that employ virtual reality headsets to aid in the rehabilitation process of people with disabilities. The aim is to improve their quality of life and, where possible, restore mobility.
With support from the EBRD’s Women in Business programme and Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), QaylTech sought to develop a comprehensive business development plan and roadmap for growth, unlocking new markets and enabling it to build on its innovations.
Founders in motion
Officially founded in 2020, QaylTech is run by business – and real-life – partners and pioneers, CEO Lilit Guroghlyan and her husband, Dr. Davit Arsenyan. The couple are leaders of innovation in the next frontier of healthcare, specialising in the creation and production of rehabilitation devices, equipment and assistive technologies for children and adults with temporary or life-long disabilities.
In Armenian, ‘Qayl’ translates to ‘walk’ or ‘move’, and the name QaylTech blends this with the company’s novel use of emerging technology to help its patients.
Driven by humanitarian and social concerns, “The aim of the company is to help solve global problems with technological solutions,” says Lilit.
EBRD support
When QaylTech was still at the start-up stage, its founders realised it needed new investment to grow, which was impossible without a financial evaluation and plan.
“After learning that the EBRD would support us and provide co-financing, we decided to apply,” Lilit explains. “It was then possible to present an assessment of the company to investors and obtain seed financing. Thanks to this opportunity, we have added new members to the team, developed new products, and acquired new partners in foreign markets.”
Since the EBRD project, the company has recorded growth of around 300 per cent and QaylTech was valued at about $8.5 million last year: “We have seen a leap in growth, resulting from new licenses and entering international markets. Now we are moving on to the next stage – investment,” she says.
Virtual innovations
Rehabilitation can be a long and onerous journey, often leading to frustration and disengagement.
QaylTech’s latest innovation, the MetaGait device, seeks to address this through its unique mobility rehabilitation process. It comprises a special mechanism which activates the leg and arm muscles – as well as other parts of the body – and is complemented by an immersive virtual reality (VR) headset, which allows patients to explore other worlds in the metaverse and even ski in the mountains while they undergo therapy.
This simulated environment provides some practical escapism for the patient while they use the MetaGait device and establish new neural connections in the brain, activating their muscle memory accordingly. The device provides the flexibility to allow therapies to be tailored to individual needs.
With this complementary technology, QaylTech is demonstrating that VR is no longer confined to the realms of gaming and entertainment and that these cutting-edge technologies can also make remarkable breakthroughs in healthcare, particularly in the field of rehabilitation.
Creating a new reality
Virtual reality has the potential to change the face of rehabilitation for individuals with mobility issues and disabilities around the world.
By enhancing engagement, personalising therapy, promoting neuroplasticity, and improving accessibility, these technologies are revolutionising the approach to the rehabilitation process. As they continue to evolve and become more widely available, we can expect even more breakthroughs in the field, offering newfound hope and independence to those on their journey to recovery.
Looking to the future, QaylTech’s goal is to build on its success: expanding further into international markets and continuing to offer large-scale, high-quality and innovative approaches to rehabilitative medical equipment.
“Every idea is led by a team who appreciate the importance of the work being done despite the challenges. At QaylTech we have fostered a dream team, with a unity that allow us to develop and make our ideas a reality,” says Lilit. “We are all motivated by being in a position to give a boost to production in Armenia: creating new employment opportunities, solving health problems, and contributing to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities,” she concludes.
A very noble goal from a CEO who is clearly committed to nurturing a more inclusive society for her patients and more broadly in Armenia and beyond.