Independence
Every design decision starts with a simple question: does this give the user more control over their own day?
About UpLyft®
We build mobility technology that lets people move between bed and wheelchair on their own terms, safely, comfortably, and without depending on someone else’s strength.
Our story
Why UpLyft exists
Transferring between a bed and a wheelchair is one of the most difficult and dangerous parts of daily life for people with limited mobility. The tools available for decades like slings, hoists, body boards, and “lift to stand” devices, all share the same limitation: they require another person, and they require physical force.
That dependency has a cost. Users lose privacy and spontaneity, waiting on someone else’s schedule to get out of bed. Caregivers, both professional and at home, absorb repeated strain that leads to some of the highest injury rates of any occupation.
UpLyft was created to break that trade-off. It is the world’s first Self Transfer System (STS), a free-standing floor lift that moves a person in a seated position between bed and wheelchair in about two minutes, operated by the user themselves or by a single attendant with the touch of a control.
Our founder
In memory of Anton Simson
UpLyft began in 2016 when Anton Simson, a mechanical engineer and lifelong inventor, built the first prototype in his garage. After a close friend’s son became paraplegic in a bicycle accident, Anton discovered that no adequate technology existed to help him get out of bed safely. He made it his mission to build one.
Ten years and nine prototypes later, that mission became UpLyft: a seated self-transfer system designed to restore independence and protect caregivers.
Anton spent 35 years in aerospace at General Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas, and L3, and held BS, MS, and PhD degrees from MIT along with an MBA from Wharton. A successful inventor with multiple patents and several commercial product companies to his name, he dedicated his career to engineering technology that improves people’s lives.
Our mission
What we're working toward
Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people with mobility challenges and the people who care for them. We do that by replacing manual patient handling with technology that is safe, self-operable, and tested, for consumers at home and for institutional healthcare facilities alike.
Safety
Transfers are the highest-risk moment of the day for users and caregivers alike. UpLyft removes the manual force from that moment.
Dignity
No slings, no hoisting, no being handled. A seated transfer preserves comfort and dignity on both sides.
Caregiver Support
Fewer lifting injuries, less physical strain, and more time to focus on care rather than logistics.
Our team
The people behind UpLyft
UpLyft is built by a team drawn from medical device engineering, rehabilitation care, manufacturing, and patient advocacy. We work closely with occupational therapists, clinicians, caregivers, and most importantly the people who use our system every day. Their feedback drives every revision of the product.
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