The Smart Brace originated in 2022 at the Biomedical Device Design and Production Technology group of the University of Twente. A team of researchers and students, including current founders Malte Asseln and Daan Legters, collaborated on developing a solution to the growing problem of work-related low back pain. Throughout 2023 and 2024, the technology was designed, tested, and refined in close collaboration with leading healthcare institutions and industrial partners.
In early 2025, Orthevo was founded by Malte Asseln and Daan Legters as a spin-off from the University of Twente. With a clear mission to improve working lives in physically demanding sectors, Orthevo focuses on translating research into practical and scalable solutions that address one of the most pressing occupational health challenges.
Co-founder
Co-founder
Product developer
Advisor - BDDP
Advisor - UTH
Strategic Advisor
