By David Dunbar

Arav Tyagi and Antonio Marzoratti were “best friends” at Franklin High School several years ago, and both have been inclined toward careers in engineering. They worked together to make money by creating things to sell, like bracelets, glasses, and candy. And then one day in 2021, Marzoratti said, they decided to “create something bigger.” They came up with an idea of creating a way to electrify a wheelchair that did not have a motor.

“PAWE” – Portable Affordable Wheelchair Enhancer – was the result. It’s a 17-pound electric battery that can be attached to a standard wheelchair and enable users to find new freedom in their mobility.

Tyagi says, “All great companies seem to start in a garage or a basement.” Tyagi and Marzoratti build their PAWEs in a garage. And they sold their first one to Rebecca Loverude who lives in Bellingham with her daughter and husband, who uses a wheelchair.

“We met Antonio and Arav at the Franklin Senior Center one year ago,” recalls Loverude. “We test drove the unit then and told them we were interested. We saw them again at our Bellingham Senior Center and test drove it again with the upgrades. The wheelchair improvement cost $1,500. We love it.”

Tyagi and Marzoratti explain, “For the past four years, we’ve worked tirelessly to develop and refine PAWE, gathering insights from over 120 wheelchair users and working with industry experts, mentors, and medical professionals to ensure our solution truly meets their needs.” They continue, “We’ve built PAWE not in a lab, but in the real world, side-by-side with the people who will use it.”

Loverude says her husband, Jeff, “can use the wheelchair without having to worry about modifying our vehicle to transport it, which would be needed with other heavier, electric wheelchairs. He also can use it with one hand.  We are testing the current version, which is constantly being upgraded to meet the challenges we face with navigating it in our community.”

Marzoratti and Tyagi have named their company, Technotonin Industries which is a fusion of the words technology and serotonin (because it can play an important role in improving mood and overall well-being). On their website – www.technotonin.com – they write, “At Technotonin Industries, we believe that mobility should not be a limitation, and through smart, user-centric solutions like PAWE, we are redefining what’s possible in assistive technology.”

The lightweight, rechargeable battery can power a wheelchair for eight miles on a single charge. It’s removable, so the wheelchair can easily fit into a car.  The PAWE, which the inventors call a “recreational device,” can go six miles per hour and be driven over paved and unpaved surfaces. And its price tag of around $1,500 is significantly less than a conventional electric wheelchair that can cost between $5,000 and $10,000.

Marzoratti says, “Some people think we’re crazy, and others think what we’re doing is really cool. Our parents are 100% on board.” They’ve done presentations at the Bellingham and Franklin Senior Centers and are relying on word-of-mouth and social media to get their story out. They’ll be doing more presentations to groups in the future.

Loverude says, “Antonio and Arav are energetic and passionate about what they do. We have enjoyed going through the testing process with them.”

You can learn more by visiting the website or emailing info@technotonin or calling (617) 410-6566.