J58, winner of the 6th edition of the 4TU.Impact Challenge Jury Award has renewed media attention with articles in Quote and Het Financieele Dagblad highlighting the company and one of its founders, Gabriel Costa. J58 stood out during the 4TU.Impact Challenge because of its clear vision and technical innovation. The attention from Quote and the FD shows that innovation in healthcare is increasingly visible beyond specialist circles, and that impact-driven entrepreneurship is part of the broader economic conversation.
J58 develops advanced wheelchairs designed to improve accessibility and user independence. The company’s core ambition is clear: to give people back their freedom and autonomy by combining technology and user-centred design. Throughout the development process, the team worked closely with wheelchair users. Their feedback proved decisive.
That insight reshaped the design choices. Costa’s initial colour concepts, for instance, did not resonate with users, and the message was loud and clear: a wheelchair is part of someone’s identity and daily presence. The J58 wheelchair allows users to experience the world at eye level. Costa says: “Those who do not use a wheelchair take many things for granted. We can simply look everyone in the eye. Wheelchair users often cannot.” It’s an observation that captures the deeper purpose behind the technology and the practice of engineering ethics; mobility is one aspect, equality and dignity are just as important.
Curious about the price of a J58 wheelchair and the subtle nod behind the company’s name? Read the full article (Dutch) in Quote.