Sruthi Babu, an innovative entrepreneur, has revolutionized the assistive technology space with her groundbreaking invention, Sahayatha, a smart wheelchair integrated with an assistive cleaning system. This remarkable innovation provides both convenience and dignity to individuals who are immobile due to medical conditions such as paralysis, post-surgical recovery, and other physical disabilities. Sruthi’s journey, from witnessing the struggles of immobile patients to successfully pitching her idea on Shark Tank India Season 2, is a testament to the power of innovation driven by compassion.

The Inspiration Behind Sahayatha

The idea for Sahayatha was born out of a real-life experience during Sruthi Babu’s BIRAC Sparsh Fellowship at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore. While visiting the hospital as part of her immersion program, she encountered a paralyzed patient who was dependent on his two daughters for basic hygiene. Witnessing their struggle to lift and clean him after using the toilet was a heartbreaking moment that ignited her determination to find a better solution.

One particular statement from the patient struck her deeply—“It’s better to die than be a burden on my daughters.” These words fueled her desire to create an innovation that would restore dignity to individuals facing similar challenges. She realized that although commode-equipped wheelchairs existed, the essential problem of cleaning immobile patients remained unresolved.

From Idea to Innovation

With a background in biomedical instrumentation engineering, Sruthi Babu leveraged her knowledge and family’s entrepreneurial spirit to develop a product that could bridge this gap in assistive care. Together with her father, she founded Dhanvantri Biomedical Pvt Ltd and embarked on an intensive research and development journey.

Their efforts resulted in Sahayatha, a unique wheelchair featuring an automatic cleaning system that eliminates the need for caregivers to manually assist immobile patients with hygiene after defecation or urination. The product underwent 118 iterations and five prototypes before arriving at its final design, which was officially launched on May 8, 2022.

Features and Functionality of Sahayatha

Sahayatha comes in two models—S100 and S200:

• S100 (Recliner Model):
  • Functions as both a wheelchair and stretcher, reclining up to 180 degrees.
  • Equipped with an automatic jet spray cleaning system to ensure hygiene with minimal caregiver intervention.
  • A removable bidet for easy waste disposal.
• S200 (Non-Recliner Model):
  • Designed for patients who do not require a recliner but still need assistance with cleaning after using the commode.
  • Provides the same hygienic cleaning system as the S100 model.

The innovation significantly reduces caregiver dependency from three people to just one while ensuring a more dignified experience for the patient.

Shark Tank India Success and Future Plans

Sruthi Babu’s dedication and perseverance led her to Shark Tank India Season 2, where she secured a ₹1 crore investment in exchange for 10% equity from five prominent sharks:

• Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals)
• Aman Gupta (boAt)
• Anupam Mittal (Shaadi.com)
• Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics)
• Amit Jain (CarDekho Group)

Following her appearance on the show, demand for Sahayatha skyrocketed, with inquiries pouring in from across India and international markets. Sruthi now aims to scale production and increase manufacturing to 100 units per month.

The Road Ahead

Despite her success, Sruthi Babu’s journey has not been without challenges. Developing medical technology is a rigorous process requiring certifications, approvals, and continuous innovation. She has applied for patents for both models of Sahayatha and is actively working on reducing production costs to make the device more affordable and accessible.

The initial development phase was funded through personal investment from Sruthi and her father, amounting to ₹18 lakh. She later received support from grants such as:

• BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)
• Startup India Seed Fund
• Tamil Nadu Student Innovators Programme
• DST (Department of Science and Technology)

Her father, who was her strongest supporter, passed away in the midst of her entrepreneurial journey. However, Sruthi is determined to carry forward their shared dream and expand Sahayatha’s impact across the country and beyond.

A Revolutionary Step in Assistive Technology

Sahayatha is a game-changer in the field of assistive healthcare, bridging the gap between innovation and the basic human need for dignity. With its unique features and successful backing from Shark Tank India, it is poised to make a significant difference in the lives of immobile patients and their caregivers.

Sruthi Babu’s story is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, proving that a genuine desire to solve real-world problems can lead to life-changing breakthroughs.