Sydney startup secures grant to develop adorable robot helping sick kids at home

Sydney medtech startup Ikkiworks has secured a $25,000 Minimum Viable Product grant from the New South Wales government, to develop and refine its robot companion for seriously ill children.

The ikki robot monitors vital signs and medication for kids while they’re at home, rather than in the hospital. It can alert families when medication is due, if the child’s temperature rises too much, or if anything else is amiss.

At the same time, it allows the child’s clinical team to monitor the data online.

Founded by Clive McFarland, Seaton Mckeon and Colin Stahel, ikki is also intended to act as a soothing presence for a child.

“Parents can record songs and stories and ikki plays them back on cue. If a child talks to ikki it will talk back in its own ikki language,” McFarland said in a statement.

“Also, if a child is feeling anxious ikki can help soothe them. ikki’s head lights up and the child can blow it out like a candle which helps with breath calming,” he added.

“But most importantly, ikki empowers the child by giving them a key role in their own treatment.” Read more

Stephanie Palmer-Derrien - Startup Smart - 15 Feb 2019