NextStep Robotics

Cambridge, United States· Est. 2016

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Private Company

Total funding raised: $1.7M

Overview

NextStep Robotics is a private, clinical-stage medical device company focused on revolutionizing neurorehabilitation for foot drop. Its core product, the AMBLE Robotic, is a wearable exoskeleton that uses proprietary algorithms to deliver adaptive, real-time assistance during walking, targeting improved dorsiflexion and gait retraining. The company is built on over two decades of academic research, has secured significant NIH grant funding, and is transitioning from clinical validation to commercial deployment in rehabilitation clinics. Its mission is to make effective robotic therapy accessible and affordable for clinics of all sizes.

Neurological RehabilitationStrokeMultiple SclerosisSpinal Cord Injury

Technology Platform

Wearable robotic exoskeleton for the ankle with proprietary algorithms providing real-time, adaptive (graded and variable) assistance during gait. Integrates hardware and intelligent software for biofeedback-driven therapy, objective progress tracking, and personalized treatment plans.

Funding History

Total raised:$1.7M

Seed$1.2MUndisclosedAug 15, 2020

Grant$500KNational Institutes of HealthJun 15, 2019

Opportunities

The large and growing neurorehabilitation market, driven by an aging population and increased stroke survival, presents a significant opportunity.

There is also potential to expand the AMBLE platform's indications to other neurological gait impairments and possibly develop a future home-use version, increasing accessibility and treatment dosing.

Risk Factors

Key risks include the challenge of commercializing a novel medical device, including establishing insurance reimbursement and convincing a traditionally conservative clinical market.

The company also faces competition from both low-tech alternatives (AFOs) and other robotic devices, and may face resource constraints if reliant primarily on grant funding for scaling operations.

Competitive Landscape

Competitors range from traditional passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices to high-cost, stationary robotic gait trainers. NextStep's AMBLE aims to compete by offering a middle-ground solution: more therapeutic and active than AFOs/FES, but more affordable and clinic-accessible than large robotic systems. It must differentiate on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness.