suitX
What they do: Build modular exoskeletons that help people with disabilities regain
their mobility and to help all workers avoid repetitive stress injury on the job.
Problem they solve: People with disabilities are at a disadvantage in the workplace, unable to complete many jobs. Meanwhile, people who do repetitive manual tasks at work (usually involving their arms, legs, and backs) need the ability to relieve muscle strain to prevent injuries on the job.
Today, most exoskeletons are heavy, cumbersome, and expensive. Another drawback is that current exoskeletons are not designed for children.
How they solve it: suitX builds modular exoskeletons for mobility, rehabilitation, and injury prevention. Currently, suitX makes two modular exoskeletons: Phoenix for people with mobility disorders (and in the future for children with neurological disorders), and MAX for industrial use for people who perform repetitive manual tasks.
#Big50-2017 #startup suitX builds exoskeletons that provide mobility to the disabled and which help workers avoid repetitive stress. Share on XPhoenix can be used by adults with lower spinal injuries to enable them to step out of their wheelchairs and walk, and Phoenix will soon be used in therapy to help kids with neurological disorders gain their mobility during the critical period of life when it is still possible.
According to suitX, people who do repetitive manual labor (lifting, welding, construction, etc.) need an assistive exoskeleton that allows them to avoid repetitive injury. They also need an exoskeleton that doesn’t prevent them from doing normal activities while wearing it, like climbing a flight of stairs or driving. suitX MAX (comprised of three independent modules – backX, shoulderX, and legX) helps to reduce repetitive strain on the job, supporting people’s backs, arms, and legs as they work.
Headquarters: Emeryville, CA
CEO: Dr. Homayoon Kazerooni. Dr. Kazerooni has been a professor at UC Berkeley since 1990. He founded Ekso Bionics in 2005, and has also been involved with numerous exoskeleton projects over the years, such as HULC, which has been used for military application.
Year Founded: 2012
Funding: The startup is currently self-funded.
Competitors include: Ekso Bionics, Rewalk Robotics, and Cyberdyne.
Why they’re in the Big 50-2017: suitX did exceptionally well in the online voting challenge, and the startup occupies a unique niche with a ton of upside. Moreover, founder and CEO Dr. Homayoon Kazerooni is a pioneer in this space. Having him at the helm gives the startup a serious competitive advantage.
You must be logged in to post a comment.