Ride Designs
Ride Designs is a privately held Littleton, Colorado medical device company that designs and manufactures custom and standard wheelchair cushions and back supports, distributed exclusively through a certified Complex Rehabilitation Technology provider network across the US and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersLittleton, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ride Designs does
Ride Designs, founded in 1998 in Littleton, Colorado, designs and manufactures custom and standard wheelchair seating systems, including cushions (Forward, Java, Custom 2, Custom AccuSoft) and back supports (Java Back, Java Decaf Back, Custom Back), plus the integrated Aspen Seating Orthoses pediatric solution and the RideWorks digital shape-capture platform. Its core technological differentiator is an orthotic/prosthetic-based approach that off-loads pressure from at-risk bony prominences rather than relying on traditional immersion/envelope methods, combined with infinitely adjustable FlexLoc mounting hardware and proprietary RideWorks LiDAR/bead-bag scanning for custom orders. Ride Designs also operates the Aspen Seating Clinic at its headquarters, where complex cases including Paralympic athletes are fitted, and offers a two-day Ride Certification training program for clinicians.
The company distributes exclusively through a certified network of Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) providers in the US and Canada, requiring custom product suppliers to complete in-person certification at its headquarters, while standard products are sold through manufacturer-rep-approved providers. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time unit sales of cushions and backs at undisclosed pricing via the certified channel, supplemented by certification/training fees and RideWorks tooling sales; 98% of custom orders ship within 12 business days. The legal entity is Aspen Seating, LLC (Colorado), and as of January 2026 Canadian orders are processed through Sunrise Medical Canada, signaling channel alignment with a major wheelchair OEM.
The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, employs 51-100 people, and is led by co-founder Joe Bieganek (President and Orthotist, principal inventor of the product line) alongside co-founder Tom Hetzel. Its intellectual property portfolio spans multiple granted US and Canadian patents on cushion contours, mounting systems, and shape-capture methods, with two additional patents pending, and the company cites university-level research including MRI tissue deformation studies and peer-reviewed clinical trials to substantiate product performance claims.
Ride Designs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ride Designs
- Legal name
- Aspen Seating, LLC
- Website
- https://ridedesigns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ride Designs is a privately held Littleton, Colorado medical device company that designs and manufactures custom and standard wheelchair cushions and back supports, distributed exclusively through a certified Complex Rehabilitation Technology provider network across the US and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Ride Designs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Littleton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ride Designs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Custom Wheelchair Cushions and Backs: Custom-molded wheelchair cushions (Custom 2, Custom AccuSoft) and back supports (Custom Back) sold through certified providers. Products are manufactured to match individual body shapes captured via the RideWorks scanning system. 98% of custom orders ship within 12 business days.
- Standard/Configured Wheelchair Cushions and Backs: Non-custom wheelchair cushions (Forward, Java) and back supports (Java Back, Java Decaf Back) sold through certified providers. These are standard-size products with various configurations.
- Certification and Training: Two-day Ride Certification courses providing 8 CEUs and Level 2 Certificate. Optional Hand Skills Lab add-on courses. Online Ride University courses available for free.
- RideWorks Tools and Accessories: Shape Capture Starter Kits, Upgrade Kits, replacement tools and accessories sold to certified suppliers for product fitting and manufacturing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Products - Made from Shape Capture |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard/Configured Products |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Ride Certification Course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ride Designs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ride Designs manufactures and sells custom and standard wheelchair cushions and back supports, including the Forward, Java, Custom 2, Custom AccuSoft, Java Back, Java Decaf Back, and Custom Back product lines. Products are built on orthotic and prosthetic-based design principles that off-load at-risk bony prominences rather than using traditional immersion methods, and are sold exclusively through certified Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) providers who capture client shape using the proprietary RideWorks scanning platform.
Product overview
Ride Designs is a wheelchair seating company offering a comprehensive portfolio of cushions and back supports organized into standard and custom product lines. The standard product line includes the Ride Forward Cushion (moderate support), Ride Java Cushion (maximum skin protection), Ride Java Back, and Ride Java Decaf Back (pediatric). The custom product line encompasses the Ride Custom 2 Cushion, Ride Custom AccuSoft Cushion, and Ride Custom Back—all manufactured to individual specifications using the proprietary RideWorks shape capture and scanning system. The portfolio is anchored by the Aspen Seating Clinic, where products are developed and tested with complex users including Paralympians, and supplemented by Ride University certification courses for professionals. Ride Designs also offers the Aspen Seating Orthoses (ASO) for growing children with integrated growth adjustment coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RideWorks: A custom wheelchair seating shape capture and ordering technology system using bead-bag vacuum system and iOS app for scanning and ordering.
- Aspen Seating Clinic
- Ride University
Products and services
- Ride Forward Cushion A wheelchair cushion that surrounds the pelvis with supportive contours while reducing pressure around at-risk bony prominences; provides comfort and moderate postural support for users with mild to moderate seating challenges. Sold through certified CRT providers.
- Ride Java Cushion A wheelchair cushion that delivers the highest level of skin protection and postural control through patented off-loading contour design, redistributing pressure away from high-risk bony areas while selectively loading tolerant areas. Sold through certified CRT providers.
- Ride Custom 2 Cushion A custom-molded wheelchair cushion made to match each user's unique body shape using the RideWorks scanning system; offers superior skin and postural care in a lightweight, adjustable design. Sold through certified CRT providers; 180-day Fit and Function Guarantee included.
- Ride Custom AccuSoft Cushion A custom-molded wheelchair cushion offering the same accurate fit as the Custom 2 Cushion with a softer, more forgiving sitting surface, available with soft or extra soft foam options for users needing a more accommodating interface. Sold through certified CRT providers.
- Ride Java Back An adjustable wheelchair back support with patented biomechanical design that provides flexibility to optimize pelvic support and trunk balance; available in multiple widths, three heights, and two depths. Sold through certified CRT providers.
- Ride Java Decaf Back A pediatric back support with all adjustable features of the Java Back plus extras for growing and developing children; accommodates wheelchair widths from 10 to 15 inches with regular and tall profile options. Sold through certified CRT providers.
- Ride Custom Back A custom-fitted wheelchair back support made to fit virtually any size and contour using bead bag shape capture and RideWorks scanning; provides exacting support with infinitely adjustable FlexLoc mounting hardware. Sold through certified CRT providers.
- Aspen Seating Orthoses (ASO) A combined seating device integrating the beneficial features of the Ride Custom Cushion and Custom Back into a single orthosis, including a growth program covering height, width, and weight adjustments throughout a three-year outcomes-based warranty period for pediatric users.
- RideWorks A digital shape capture and ordering platform used by certified CRT providers; combines a patent-pending dual bead-bag and vacuum Shape Capture Base with LiDAR scanning and an iOS app to capture client shape and submit custom product orders to Ride Designs via secure encrypted connection.
- Ride University Certification Courses A two-day comprehensive wheelchair seating certification course for rehabilitation professionals held at Ride Designs headquarters in Littleton, Colorado, awarding 8 CEUs and a Ride Level 2 Certificate; includes an optional Hand Skills Lab add-on. Required for CRT providers to sell Ride custom products.
- Ride Custom Adaptive Sports Seating Custom seating solutions for adaptive sports and recreation, including mono-ski buckets, handcycle seats, and competitive sports equipment interfaces, designed for Paralympians and wheelchair athletes requiring precision fit for athletic performance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Java Cushion demonstrated ability to promote healing of stage I-II-III pressure injuries in prospective observational study of 15 subjects with SCI - all existing injuries closed and no new injuries occurred
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ride Designs
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ride Designs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ride Designs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Sunrise MedicalcoreSunrise Medical is the parent company of Ride Designs (operated as a branch under Aspen Seating, LLC). As of January 2026, Canadian orders are processed through Sunrise Medical Canada. The Sunrise Medical brand is visible on product pages. Ride Custom Back is compatible with Sunrise Medical Quickie Sedeo Pro seating systems.
- Aspen Seating CliniccoreThe Aspen Seating Clinic is an integral part of Ride Designs' headquarters where world class wheelchair athletes, Paralympians, and discerning wheelchair users come for seating solutions. The clinic serves as the source and proving ground for Ride's innovative product line, developing and testing all seating systems.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ride Designs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ottobock: Ottobock is a global orthotics/prosthetics and wheelchair seating manufacturer (Ottobock Seating & Positioning), directly competing with Ride's off-loading approach; Mandy Chadwick, Ride's Prosthetist, previously led rehabilitation at Ottobock Australasia, evidencing competitive overlap and IP transfer.
- Comfort Company (Etac): Comfort Company (now part of Etac) makes wheelchair cushions, backs, and positioning accessories (e.g., Curve, Vicair) and competes head-to-head with Ride's cushion and back SKUs in the complex rehab channel.
- Permobil (ROHO): Permobil owns the ROHO brand, the leading air-cell wheelchair cushion line (including ROHO Single Compartment and Agility), a direct competitor to Ride's Java Cushion in the high-end skin-protection segment, and similarly targets complex rehab and pressure-injury prevention.
- Vicair: Vicair (Netherlands) makes air-cell-based wheelchair cushions (Vicair Adjuster, Vector) that compete directly in the pressure-injury and skin-protection segment where Ride's Java Cushion is positioned.
- Spex Seating (Medifab): Spex (Medifab) designs modular wheelchair cushion and back supports, including contour and off-loading technologies overlapping with Ride's Java and Custom product lines for complex rehab users.
Broad incumbents
- Sunrise Medical: Sunrise Medical is the global wheelchair manufacturer behind JAY cushions and backs (Quickie, Sedeo Pro, Zippie), which directly compete with Ride Designs' cushion portfolio and whose Quickie Sedeo Pro seating system is compatible with Ride Custom Back. Sunmed also processes Ride's Canadian orders, indicating an integrated operating relationship.
- Invacare (Etac): Invacare (now part of Etac) is a broad incumbent in home medical equipment, including seating and cushions (e.g., Invacare Matrx), overlapping with Ride Designs across the complex rehab and pressure-injury cushioning market.
- Ki Mobility: Ki Mobility manufactures ultralight rigid and tilt-in-space wheelchairs and complementary seating products, competing with Ride Designs at the wheelchair-system level and serving the same complex rehab providers.
Others
- Stealth Products: Stealth Products makes wheelchair positioning hardware, headrests, and mounting hardware (e.g., i-Drive, Elara), adjacent to Ride Designs' FlexLoc mounting ecosystem and often co-specified in complex rehab rigs.
- Bodypoint: Bodypoint designs wheelchair positioning belts, harnesses, and postural supports that complement Ride's cushions and backs in the same wheelchair prescription workflow with complex rehab users.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ride Designs social profiles
Digital presenceRide Designs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ride Designs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Ride Designs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ride Designs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ride Designs
What does Ride Designs do?
Ride Designs manufactures and sells custom and standard wheelchair cushions and back supports, including the Forward, Java, Custom 2, Custom AccuSoft, Java Back, Java Decaf Back, and Custom Back product lines. Products are built on orthotic and prosthetic-based design principles that off-load at-risk bony prominences rather than using traditional immersion methods, and are sold exclusively through certified Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) providers who capture client shape using the proprietary RideWorks scanning platform.
Is Ride Designs a public or private company?
Ride Designs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ride Designs founded?
Ride Designs was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ride Designs based?
Ride Designs is headquartered in Littleton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ride Designs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Wheelchair Cushions and Backs are the primary driver. The others are standard/Configured Wheelchair Cushions and Backs, certification and Training and rideWorks Tools and Accessories.
Who are Ride Designs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ottobock, Comfort Company (Etac), Permobil (ROHO), Vicair and Spex Seating (Medifab). Broad incumbents are Sunrise Medical, Invacare (Etac) and Ki Mobility. Others are Stealth Products and Bodypoint.
Does Ride Designs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ride Designs.