In Conversation with Praxis SCI Accelerate Cohort Member: Bowhead
Praxis interviewed Tatiana Place, Product Manager, Wheelchairs at Bowhead Corporation
About Bowhead Corporation
For people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), mobility solutions are not only about movement, they are about independence, identity, and access to daily life. Yet the standard wheelchair market often leaves users facing long lead times with limited equipment durability and a product that doesn’t evolve as their needs change. Bowhead, an Alberta-based start-up, is tackling these challenges head-on with a commitment to modular, user-friendly design.
Building on three decades of innovation sparked when founder Christian Bagg began designing equipment to get back outdoors after sustaining an SCI in 1996, Bowhead is now bringing the ERA, its next-generation carbon-fiber manual wheelchair, to market. Their customizable, adjustable-fit and modular design introduces features such as a single-bolt design and hubless caster wheels that prevent hair and debris from interfering with movement, redefining modern wheelchair design.
Understanding the Barriers
Before joining the 2025 Praxis Accelerate Program, the Bowhead team focused primarily on the technical and functional aspects of their product including adjustability, compatibility, and durability. But through the program, their perspective expanded.
“Before the program, we understood those challenges as largely from a functional perspective. But what Praxis helped clarify is how layered those challenges really are for the end user. It is not just about the physical product, it is about how easy that product is for the customer to understand, access and actually personalize.”
The team began to see that the wheelchair experience extends far beyond the chair itself including navigating order forms, interpreting technical measurements, and understanding reimbursement pathways.
Praxis Value
Participating in the Praxis SCI Accelerate Program gave Bowhead access to a wealth of feedback from both end-users and clinicians that shifted how they approached product development and strategy.
“One of our biggest takeaways was really actually understanding how unique our product was,” says Tatiana. “It helped us understand how important the role accessories play in adding that extra level of personalization. For a lot of manual wheelchair users, those can be a deciding factor in whether or not the product is usable for them at all”.
Guidance from Praxis mentors also shaped practical business decisions. With input from the PLEX team and clinical researchers, Bowhead revamped their website and order form to make them more intuitive and user-friendly. “There was a lot of iteration on both our website and order form with those teams which was essential in reducing barriers for both end-users and clinicians.”
One of the most impactful experiences was an in-person clinical session at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver.
“Being in-person, getting to test out our pitch to a larger number of clinicians, we learned a lot about the different questions being asked and how we could make the presentation more hands on in the future for deeper understanding. I think that’s really important to gaining confidence, comfort, and understanding how they could actually use it in their world.”
Where Bowhead Is Now
With feedback and real-world validation, Bowhead has refined the ERA including user facing documentation and how-to videos, with a clear roadmap for growth. They are adopting a generation-based release strategy, starting with a core configuration and expanding accessory options as user feedback grows. This ensures that users have meaningful customization available from day one. They are also addressing systemic barriers, such as reimbursement, by exploring partnerships with grant organizations and funding bodies, work that was sparked by repeated questions from both clinicians and end-users during the program.
Most importantly, Bowhead leaves the program with a deeper understanding of their users. With that foundation, Bowhead is not just launching a new wheelchair; they are building an adaptable mobility platform that evolves with users and redefines what independence can look like.
“The value of the program goes beyond just knowledge. It gives you a chance to engage with the network, and to iterate and refine your ideas and your approach based on real-world feedback.”
About the Praxis SCI Accelerate Program:
The Praxis Spinal Cord Institute’s Accelerate Program is a six-month Program geared towards prototype stage projects with innovation to transform the lives of people with spinal cord injury.