#3DStartup: Unlimited Tomorrow and its 3D Printed Bionic Prosthetic Arm

It is no secret that 3D printing has been making great waves in recent years in the medical sector. One arena in which the technologies have been especially useful is for making prostheses as it allows for lighter, more customized solutions for users. One notable example is the TrueLimb prosthetic from our startup of the month, Unlimited Tomorrow. The company uses 3D printing to create high-quality, low-cost bionic prosthetic arms with the goal of being accessible to all who need them. As such, they have also partnered with The Singularity Group in order to raise money to help amputee victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We spoke with Jennifer Barbic, the Vice President of Marketing, to learn more about their TrueLimb prostheses, why they turned to 3D printing and their current projects.

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and Unlimited Tomorrow?

My name is Jennifer Barbic. I am Vice President of Marketing for Unlimited Tomorrow. We produce a 3D printing bionic prosthetic arm called TrueLimb. As for Unlimited Tomorrow, to understand our company you must first understand our founder. Growing up in a small town in Colorado, Unlimited Tomorrow’s Founder and CEO, Easton LaChappelle, was a child who loved to tinker. He loved taking things apart to understand how they worked, building with legos, and experimenting with motors and gadgets. As a teenager he started experimenting with building robotic arms, first creating one that was wirelessly controlled, and eventually creating one using 3D printing, a new technology that fascinated Easton. That 3D printed arm wound up winning 2nd place in engineering at the International Science Fair. As a result, Easton had the opportunity to meet former President Barack Obama, speak to international audiences including delivering a TedTalk, and pursue an internship at NASA. Even during this exciting time in Easton’s life, his mind kept coming back to a little girl he had met at the Colorado State Science Fair a few years prior.

The Unlimited Tomorrow team including Jennifer Barbic (photo credits: Unlimited Tomorrow)

While Easton was showcasing his invention, he noticed one little girl closely examining the robotic arm, even more so than any other visitor. As he stepped over to talk to her, he noticed that the girl had an upper limb difference and was wearing a prosthesis. As he started talking to her and her parents, he was astounded by what they shared. The device that the girl was wearing was very heavy and uncomfortable, it did not match the size of her sound limb, and it had very minimal functionality. When they shared that the device had cost more than their annual salary, Easton was truly floored. The wheels started turning in Easton’s head after that conversation, and they never stopped. The girl had made such an impression on Easton that while he was interning at NASA, he continued to stay up late at night working on his robotic arm technology, thinking that there had to be a better solution for the challenges the girl and her family had faced.