WHILL is a technology company.
WHILL has raised $46.0M across 2 funding rounds.
WHILL has raised $46.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
WHILL has raised $46.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
WHILL's investors include 15th Rock Ventures, CapitalG, Felicis Ventures, Locus Ventures, Practical Venture Capital, QED Investors, SV Angel.
WHILL is a technology company specializing in personal mobility solutions, designing and selling advanced electric power chairs, mobility scooters, and autonomous transportation services.[1][3][4] It serves individuals with mobility limitations, healthcare facilities, airports, tourist destinations, and businesses seeking inclusive mobility, solving problems of accessibility and independence through stylish, high-performance devices like the portable Model C2, folding Model F, and stable Model R scooters.[3][4][5] With over 350 employees and operations in more than 20 countries, WHILL has raised $90.8M in funding and completed 700,000 autonomous rides worldwide, demonstrating strong growth via product launches, acquisitions, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) expansions.[2][3][4]
WHILL was founded in May 2012 in Silicon Valley, California, by co-founders Satoshi Sugie (CEO) and Muneaki Fukuoka (CTO), inspired by the founder's friend who had given up simple tasks like grocery shopping due to mobility issues.[2][3][5] The company emerged from a vision to redefine wheelchairs and scooters using smart design and technology, launching its first power chair, Model A, in 2014, followed by portable Model C in 2017.[5] Key pivots include the 2018 acquisition of Scootaround (North America's largest mobility rental provider), 2019 MaaS and autonomous driving announcements with China expansion, and commercial autonomous service at Haneda Airport in 2020, building early traction through Japanese engineering expertise for global aging populations.[3][5]
WHILL rides the wave of inclusive mobility and aging population trends, addressing a global demographic shift—exemplified by Japan's super-aged society—through tech-driven solutions that blend consumer hardware with autonomous services.[3] Timing aligns with rising demand for accessible public spaces post-pandemic, favorable market forces like AI advancements in navigation, and regulatory pushes for disability-inclusive transport.[1][4] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering MaaS in airports/hospitals, acquiring rental networks for scalability, and setting design standards that normalize stylish mobility aids, competing with firms like Nino Robotics and Cocoa Motors while expanding pre-IPO liquidity via platforms like EquityZen.[1][2]
WHILL is poised for expansion with recent Model R launches (2024-2025) and ongoing patents signaling iterative innovations in autonomous tech and portability.[2][4] Trends like AI-enhanced personalization, global aging (projected to intensify), and MaaS adoption in smart cities will propel growth, potentially through further acquisitions or IPO paths given $90.8M funding.[2][3] Its influence may evolve from niche leader to mainstream mobility integrator, fully transforming wheelchairs from medical tools to desirable tech, empowering users' independence as powerfully as its founders first envisioned.[5]
WHILL has raised $46.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $45.0M Series C in September 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2018 | $45.0M Series C | 15th Rock Ventures | |
| Jun 1, 2013 | $1.0M Seed | CapitalG, Felicis Ventures, Locus Ventures, Practical Venture Capital, QED Investors, SV Angel |