Intense, exciting, and educational days—that’s how the Limitless Device team describes their experience in the United States. The Apulian startup presented itself as an ambassador of Italian excellence in sustainable mobility after winning the “LoveITDetroit – The Perfect Pitch” call in Rome, promoted by Reputation Research in collaboration with the Italian Consulate in Detroit, RetImpresa-Confindustria, We The Italians, and the institutional partner Giovani Imprenditori Confindustria.
The idea behind Limitless Device stems from the intersection of disability, design, technological innovation, medical research, and sustainability, with the goal of developing medical devices tailored to the real needs of people with disabilities or limited motor functions.
Every step of Limitless in the U.S. was taken alongside Allegra Baistrocchi, the Italian Consul in Detroit, from the very first day, filled with pitches and events in front of investors and stakeholders, as well as a pleasant meeting with the Head of Fiat USA, Aamir Ahmed.
The well-organized agenda allowed Alessio Sansò and Emanuele Battista, CEO and CTO of Limitless, to participate in training sessions with the other two startups representing Italian excellence, Novac and Arlix, and to connect with prominent figures such as Aurora Battaglia, Vice President of Comerica Bank, Kevin Mull, Director at Bedrock, and Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor, Garlin Gilchrist II.
Fueled by the enthusiasm with which venture capitalists received the revolutionary wheelchair that Limitless is developing—soon to hit the market—Alessio and Emanuele then traveled from Detroit to Chicago, where they explored the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, the top rehabilitation center in the United States for years.
Their journey continued to San Francisco, where they visited Mind the Bridge, a global platform providing consulting services and innovation products for companies and startup ecosystems worldwide, managed by Marco Marinucci.
They also gathered valuable insights from Alessandro Marianantoni, director of M-Accelerator, whom they met in Los Angeles—their final, vibrant stop—where Alessio and Emanuele conducted a unique social experiment: unveiling the new Limitless wheelchair on the streets. They witnessed firsthand the “wow effect” from passersby, both children and adults, who admired its verticality, lightness, and, most importantly, its cool and stylish design.
“What pleasantly surprised me,” said CEO Alessio Sansò, “is how in the United States, an idea is perceived for the value it deserves. Here, ideas are welcomed with great enthusiasm, and people listen without bias, regardless of who you are. They offer their know-how to help you improve and scale. For example, Marco Marinucci did not hesitate to host us, even on a last-minute appointment, to fully understand our project.”
“Every person we met on this journey,” added CTO Emanuele Battista, “has helped us grow. We draw great strength from the feedback of startup mentors who are used to evaluating new projects every day. Receiving their insights on our project has been an invaluable source of inspiration. We return to Italy exhausted but full of energy, ready to pour it into the next steps ahead.”
Now more than ever, social inclusion and mobility represent the future that Alessio and Emanuele are shaping day by day.
