From London to Silicon Valley: How Explore Accelerated Unhindr’s Global Ambitions

We caught up with Enterprise Fellowship alumni, Dr Ugur Tanriverdi, Co-founder & CEO of Unhindr following his Explore trip to Silicon Valley with the Enterprise Hub in October 2025.

Explore leverages the Royal Academy of Engineering’s unparalleled global network and convening power to open doors to world-class networks, exposure to investment, expertise and leaders.

Each round brings together a small, carefully selected cohort of entrepreneurs for a tailored experience. Co-designed around the cohort’s goals and challenges, the programme combines thematic expertise, one-to-one coaching and a focused international mission – all aligned to a specific sector and market. The result is a targeted, high-impact journey that builds meaningful connections, unlocks new opportunities, exposure to investment and accelerates global readiness.

The momentum generated by the Explore trip has been immediate and tangible. The experience didn't just open doors; it accelerated our commercial readiness and moved us from conversation to execution much faster than anticipated.

What was your initial impression of Silicon Valleys tech and investment culture?

My initial impression was that I was getting a preview of the next decade. The culture is intensely focused on solving problems that will exist five years from now, once today's technology has scaled. The investment culture is undoubtedly top-tier, but what struck me was how relaxed and accessible it felt. The people managing these massive funds are not the "sharks" one might expect; they are analytical, insightful, and very grounded in the mechanics of building value.

Which meeting or connection stood out as the most valuable for your company? 

It’s difficult to highlight just one, as the value was immense across several fronts. From a technical perspective, the discussions at Ericsson provided profound insights into the future market trends for cloud connectivity and AI, which will be invaluable for our strategic planning. From an ecosystem perspective, pitching to Plug and Play and being invited to join their 'PlayBook' was a massive win, giving us a digital stage to over 600 global partners. Additionally, and most importantly from a commercial view, I met with several clinics during the visit, and we now have four of them signed up for sales. The trip delivered exceptional results on every level.

Dr Ugur Tanriverdi, Co-founder & CEO of Unhindr

What questions did you encounter from investors in Silicon Valley?

US VCs are very clear: if your primary revenue base will be the US market, they expect the leadership, or at least the CEO, to be based there. For our specific sector in prosthetics, this presents an interesting nuance. Because prosthetics like all other medical devices, is a huge market in the US, but much of the foundational R&D and the current global market leaders emerged from Europe post-WW1 and WW2. This context gives us a strategic point to consider as we plan our expansion

Beyond the meetings, what moment captured the spirit of the trip for you? 

There’s a specific moment that’s become the "album cover" of the trip in my mind. A few of us from the cohort were in a Waymo (a self-driving taxi), and the Golden Gate Bridge was in the background, and we were just in this incredible flow-state, having an intellectual conversation and reflecting on the visit, while the car was driving itself. It captured everything: the futuristic tech, the iconic location, and the connection with peers.

Can you share the impact of the mission so far on your business?

The momentum generated by the Explore trip has been immediate and tangible. While specific details remain confidential at this stage, I can share that the visit was a catalyst for significant milestones: we have secured a committed investor post-visit and are rapidly developing our sales pipeline based on the foundations laid in Silicon Valley. The experience didn't just open doors; it accelerated our commercial readiness and moved us from conversation to execution much faster than anticipated.

I am incredibly grateful for the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub’s genuine support. The cohort assembled for this Explore programme was outstanding, and has bonded really well.

About Unhindr

Unhindr is a deep tech company validating its technology in the MedTech sector first. We invented a manufacturing method that resulted in a novel meta-material, which unlocks applications ranging from medical devices to future use in sports and other consumer products.

Right now, we are using this to solve a 200-year-old problem.

Did you know that we are 1.5 cm shorter at the end of each day compared to the morning? The human body changes shape throughout the day, which is why we wear flexible clothes. However, if you lose a leg, you wear a rigid prosthetic structure that stays the same, leading to pain and clinical dependency. Our flagship product, Roliner, is an AI-controlled sleeve made from our meta-material. It sits between the rigid prosthetic and the body, dynamically adapting its shape and pressure to ensure a comfortable fit all day long.

The trip delivered exceptional results on every level.

Explore: Alumni growth programme

Explore is our fully funded, high-impact opportunity for alumni only, who are looking to expand and explore new markets. It is designed to accelerate global readiness, forge high-value international connections, and build a sharper, more confident growth strategy. 

More missions are being planned for next year. Find out more about the EXPLORE programme.