From humans to hounds: How WIMBA is redefining orthotics for pets

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Welcome back, readers.

This week, we have the pleasure of interviewing a startup whose mission combines two of our favourite things: innovation and pet care. Meet WIMBA, the Polish startup that is adapting prosthetics and orthotics for animals.

And yes, WIMBA is referring to the song from The Lion King. Embarrassingly, it took our reporter until the end of the interview to realise this (as you will see).

Meanwhile, we’re giving another shout out to our new jobs board! if you’re a pet brand with a job opening, why not give it a whirl? Click here for details.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

In today’s issue, we talk to Franek Kosch, Co-founder of WIMBA.

• Founded in 2022 by brothers Franek and Greg Kosch and veterinarian Maciej Szczepanski, WIMBA aims to use 3D printing technology to create prosthetics for animals.

• Around 20% of the world’s estimated 700 million dogs have an orthopedic problem.

• To date, WIMBA has raised a total of approximately US$1.3 million, from Level2 Ventures and Leap Venture Studio.

Hi Franek. You and [co-founder] Gregory first began working together with Glaze Prosthetics for humans. Was there one specific moment where you thought, "Let’s apply this to animals?"

The story is a little longer. Greg started a traditional O&P (orthotics and prosthetics) company for humans more than 10 years ago. It became one of the biggest prosthetics chains in Poland. Later, we developed Glaze Prosthetics, a company focused on stylish prosthetics for humans. That’s where we really got into 3D printing, especially powder printing technology. We loved what this technology could offer, and we developed our expertise in that area.

Eventually, we saw a huge gap in the animal health sector where these innovations weren’t being applied. So we decided to bring our know-how in printing and design automation into veterinary care.

Can you explain how your technology gives you an advantage in creating orthotics and prosthetics?

What sets us apart is what we call "4D" printing. We use 3D printing with Multi Jet Fusion technology, but the fourth dimension is function. All our devices are 100% printed in PA material using Multi Jet Fusion, which makes them extremely light.

For example, we can create a carpal device weighing only 120 to 130 grams for a dog that weighs 70–80 pounds. That’s a huge advantage. And because of our automation, we can manufacture hundreds of fully personalised, custom devices in a matter of days, not weeks or months.

How many animals has WIMBA helped so far?

As of the end of April, we had delivered more than 1,200 devices. Accounting for bilateral cases, I’d say we've helped about 1,000 patients.

You now have your own printing facility in-house, which leads to faster delivery and better outcomes. Do you ever plan to outsource production?

We take quality very seriously. In the beginning, we considered outsourcing to scale more quickly without over-investing. But we've found that having full control over the manufacturing process is crucial. For now, and the near future, production will stay in-house.

You have several partnerships, including with Intrauma and previously Nupsala. How will these collaborations shape your future direction?

I'd especially highlight Intrauma and LimesVet, a Hungarian company. We believe the ecosystem of surgery and physiotherapy should be integrated, just like in human medicine. There should be a seamless flow from surgeon to physiotherapist, and orthotics should be part of that journey.

Our tools are now available to Intrauma and LimesVet customers: surgeons who already use their implants can now access WIMBA orthotics as a follow-up to surgery. We believe surgery is the gold standard for some conditions, and our devices can support recovery or serve as alternatives when surgery isn't feasible due to health or cost reasons. It's about working together, not against each other, for the best patient outcome.

So does the patient first consult a surgeon from Intrauma or LimesVet, and then get referred to WIMBA?

Essentially, yes. A customer who already buys implants from Intrauma now has the option to add WIMBA devices to their toolkit. Surgeons can suggest our devices post-surgery or in place of surgery when appropriate. Some patients aren't eligible for surgery due to health risks or cost, and we're here to help in those cases.

Looking ahead, what is your main growth driver?

From the beginning, we knew we had to be in the U.S. and U.K., and most of our growth now comes from those markets. We’ve split our product line into two divisions: WIMBA Go and WIMBA Pro.

WIMBA Go targets milder cases, like hyperextensions, mild instabilities, post-surgery recovery, and support for elderly or obese pets. One of our most popular products is the cervical collar for atlantoaxial instability and vertebral fractures.

WIMBA Pro focuses on more severe cases, where traditional devices don’t work. Dividing the product line this way has helped us reach more professionals with different levels of need.

You’ve previously said that you aim to be in 1,000 clinics across the EU and U.S. How is that progressing?

We’re currently registered in around 400 clinics, so we’re halfway there. Splitting our offerings into separate product lines has really helped us become more accessible. We see a trend: once a clinic uses WIMBA and sees success, they become regular users.

You were in the LEAP Venture Studio programme. What were the biggest takeaways?

For Greg and me, who don’t come from a medical background, LEAP was a fantastic introduction to the veterinary world. We learned how clinics operate, how veterinarians think, and what matters to business developers in clinics.

Also, being part of a group of other startup founders gave us diverse perspectives and experiences. It was a very enriching experience.

What are the main lessons or challenges you’ve faced since founding WIMBA three years ago?

There are so many, but one stands out. Things always take longer than you think. You may believe your product is a game-changer, and maybe it is, but it’s not the most important thing in your customer’s life.

I love WIMBA; it’s my mission and my passion. But for our clients, it’s just one part of their daily routine. You have to be humble and respectful of that. You’re asking them to change their workflow, so you need to make the experience seamless. The goal is for WIMBA to become part of their routine without disrupting it. That’s a big lesson.

One last thing: where does the name WIMBA come from?

It’s from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" song:"a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh..." I remember watching The Lion King when I was three or four. It was one of the first movies I saw in a cinema. It was all about animals enjoying life. When we shifted from human to animal prosthetics, the name just clicked.

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