OUR STORY
We're rethinking what
mobility aids can be.
We're rethinking what mobility aids can be.
Hi, we're Steven, Morgan, and Beth — the founders of Telo.
Our story began when Steven's dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Watching him navigate a world of outdated, uncomfortable mobility aids sparked a question: why haven't these devices changed in decades?
In college, that question became a mission. We teamed up at the University of Minnesota to bring real innovation and thoughtful design to an overlooked industry, starting with the walking cane.
The Problem
We consulted with physical therapists and spoke with countless traditional cane users, the same frustrations kept coming up that they can:
- encourage poor posture
- strain the wrist over time
- look overly clinical
For many people, the device that was supposed to help them move better was quietly working against them. We knew there had to be a better way.
We consulted with physical therapists and spoke with countless cane users, the same frustrations kept coming up:
- Traditional canes can encourage poor posture
- They strain the wrist over time
- The look feels overly clinical — not like something you'd choose to use
For many people, the device that was supposed to help them move better was quietly working against them. We knew there had to be a better way.
Our Answer
We set out to design a mobility aid that was both better for your body and beautifully designed – something you'd actually want to use everyday, not something you settle for.
We built and tested more than a dozen prototype iterations, working closely with physical therapists to refine every detail. Before we launched, a few early product testers used the Y-Cane in their daily lives for over a year, putting it through real-world conditions and helping us get it right.
The result is the Y-Cane, designed to encourage upright posture, steady movement, and lasting comfort, with a modern look that feels like part of your personal style.
We set out to design a mobility aid that was both better for your body and beautifully designed – something you'd actually want to use everyday, not something you settle for.
We built and tested more than a dozen prototype iterations, working closely with physical therapists to refine every detail. Before we launched, a few early test users carried the Y-Cane in their daily lives for over a year, putting it through real-world conditions and helping us get it right.
Evolution of the Y-Cane: from early prototypes to the final product design.
The result is the Y-Cane, designed to encourage upright posture, steady movement, and lasting comfort, with a modern look that feels like part of your personal style.
How we got here
To date, Telo is 100% bootstrapped. We got our start by traveling the country and pitching at student startup competitions, using the winnings to fund our early product research and development one step at a time.
In October 2025, we launched the Y-Cane on Kickstarter to fund our first real production run. We raised 457% of our funding goal from 460 backers who believed in us early. That community is everything to us, and we're so grateful to everyone who has helped us get here.
Morgan and Steven at the Heartland Challenge Startup Competition
What's Next
The Y-Cane is just the beginning. The mobility aid industry has gone largely unchanged for decades, and we think it's overdue for a rethink across the board.
We're actively exploring what's next, driven by the same process that got us here: deep research, real user testing, and a commitment to designing devices that actually serve the people who use them.
Thank you for being part of this journey, we can't wait to see what's next!
— Steven, Morgan & Beth