“I want every school and hospital in North America to have a Guided Hands," says founder Lianna Genovese, who won $25,000 in the 2023 Power Play Innovative Startup Pitch Competition.
Since Lianna Genovese won the Power Play Innovative Startup Pitch competition in 2023, her company has grown – in all ways. Two years ago, Genovese was a one-person organization on a mission to sell a game-changing product, Guided Hands; today, her company has six staffers, a local manufacturing facility, deep ties to the disability community, and even bigger dreams.
Genovese is the founder and CEO of ImaginAble Solutions. It makes Guided Hands, an assistive device that enables children and adults with mobility restrictions to independently use a pencil, paintbrush, marker, or stylus. People with disabilities like cerebral palsy (CP) and spinal cord injuries can use Guided Hands to express themselves or access technology. Some children can use it to draw or write for the first time.
The promise of that product earned Genovese her Power Play win – and the $25,000 prize that came with it. She used that money to expand the company, which now has a manufacturing facility in Hamilton.
“I’m a biomedical engineer by trade, and I love being tied to the manufacturing and the product development,” she says. Keeping the production small and local also allows ImaginAble to create customized solutions for users and continue to do research and development, with users’ input. Insights from the disability community and occupational therapists recently led them to add a new joystick-style handpiece option, as well as an adaptation kit that will let institutions such as schools, hospitals and rehab centres adapt the device on the spot to different mobility levels.
Genovese has also hired her first employees, in addition to bringing on co-op students every year. “It’s been wonderful to expose younger engineering students to the importance of disability innovation and having compassion as a key pillar in the design thinking process.” She was also honoured to receive a Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award in 2024.
Right now, Guided Hands is their only product, but Genovese says they have a vision to create more in partnership with the community using Guided Hands.
ImaginAble has sold more than 750 units to over 24 countries worldwide, and Genovese estimates more than 4,500 people have used them. ImaginAble has recently developed a community sponsorship program that raises funds so that the company can donate units to people who can’t afford it – something that Genovese says she started to “help her sleep at night” after hearing stories of families who couldn’t afford it.
Previously, the organization had donated devices on a one-off basis when possible. One went to a little boy, Luke, who had CP. With it, he could draw for the first time alongside his twin brother, who isn’t disabled. “After he passed away, his mom called me and thanked me for helping her son express himself,” says Genovese, adding that Luke was non-verbal. His mom has hung up Luke’s artwork all over their family home.
Those user stories keep Genovese going – “Sometimes when I’m in a slump, I’ll just scroll through our Instagram page and watch the smiles on people’s faces as they use our Guided Hands,” she says. They also inspire her to continue to grow. “I want every school and hospital in North America to have a Guided Hands to make education and rehabilitation accessible and fun,” she says. “And I want ImaginAble Solutions to be Canada’s leading assistive technology company, creating disability innovation for a community of people who are often overlooked.”
Submissions for this year's Power Play competition are open now at https://kite-uhn.com/news/power-play-ICAIR-2025.