Superflex Raises $9.6M to Develop 'Iron Man'-Style Smart Exosuit for Aging Populations

Superflex, a company specializing in smart clothing, is a subsidiary of the U.S. non-profit research institution SRI International. It recently secured $9.6 million in Series A financing, led by the Japanese early-stage venture capital firm Global Brain, with participation from seed investors Horizons Ventures and Root Ventures, as well as Sinovation Ventures.

This funding round will be used to further develop Superflex’s powered suit, which is made from lightweight materials and equipped with electronic sensors and motors to enhance the wearer’s strength and mobility.

Judging from the description, this powered exosuit is akin to the armor in *Iron Man*, enveloping the body like a shell. However, its lightweight and flexible materials prevent the bulky appearance associated with traditional armor (early prototypes were somewhat cumbersome), instead offering an elastic, form-fitting design reminiscent of Black Widow’s suit, while also providing enhanced strength. Superflex only provides power assistance when it detects the user’s need for additional force, thereby significantly extending battery life.

Comparison Between Superflex’s Early Products and New Products

This garment is designed for the elderly, athletes, or individuals with physical disabilities. It can be worn under regular clothing to provide power assistance or enhance limb mobility when needed. For instance, some individuals may struggle with rising from a seated position or lifting heavy objects. Superflex’s concept is that this garment senses and responds to the body’s natural movements, offering power support to the wearer’s torso, hips, or legs when they experience muscle weakness.

Superflex’s apparel was not originally designed for the general public, but rather as a new military technology. The background is that SRI International, an institution serving government and industrial sectors, previously had a dedicated project to develop this product, funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), aimed at enhancing soldiers’ physical strength and reducing injuries.

However, developers soon realized that powered exoskeletons might be more beneficial for populations beyond the military, especially given the unstoppable trend of an aging society, where one-third of elderly individuals face mobility challenges. Consequently, this April, Superflex officially spun off from SRI International’s robotics program to produce consumer-oriented products. More importantly, the team expects to release this powered suit within the coming months.

“We started out building robots, but we’re moving in the direction of a clothing company,” said Rich Mahoney, co-founder and CEO of Superflex. “This garment combines comfort and style while providing power assistance, with an appearance and feel that are truly exceptional. Wearing it enables people to move with greater strength, reduces the risk of workplace injuries, and boosts confidence in social interactions.”

The robots mentioned by Mahoney here refer more to the increasingly popular “soft robots.” In this context, it denotes an exoskeleton equipped with sensors that can help reduce physical exertion and enhance load-bearing capacity. It is reported that experts in the United States began researching such load-bearing exoskeletal frameworks designed to augment human kinetic energy many years ago.

The CEO also revealed that they would be collaborating with a “top-tier design firm,” but declined to provide further details.

One major reason Global Brain, the lead investor, was attracted to Superflex’s products is that Japan has a vast elderly population that is increasingly becoming a primary consumer force. In addition to its investment, Global Brain will collaborate with Superflex to establish an office in Japan to facilitate the entry of early-stage products into the domestic Japanese market.

“We searched for more than ten companies worldwide, hoping to find products that could truly meet the demands of the Japanese market, and Superflex was the only one that met this criterion,” said Yasuhiko Yurimoto, CEO of Global Brain, in a statement. He also believes that the new line of powered exoskeletons represents the future trend of human augmentation technology, helping people achieve better physical and mental well-being.