Superflex has raised $9.6 million to introduce “powered clothing,” or apparel that enhances your strength just the way military exoskeletons do. But in this case, the Menlo Park, California-based company is targeting elderly people and others who need extra muscular help for tasks such as walking upstairs or getting up from a chair.
Superflex has spun out of research think tank SRI International, and its venture investors include Japanese venture firm Global Brain, Horizons Ventures, Root Ventures, and new investor Sinovation Ventures. Zak Murase of Global Brain and Wendy Yu of Horizons will join Manish Kothari, president of SRI Ventures, and Rich Mahoney, CEO of Superflex, on the board.
GamesBeat