Roam Robotics, a company building robotic exoskeletons for everyday people as they live, work and play, has completed a $12 million Series A round of funding.
Yamaha Motor led the investment round with participation from existing and new investors Boost VC, Heuristics Capital Partners, Menlo Ventures, R7 Partners, Spero Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, and Venture Investment Associates. Collectively these investors bring a wealth of experience in robotics, hardware, and consumer startups.
Tim Swift, Roam founder and chief executive officer, says: “Roam exists to change the boundaries of human mobility.
“That boundary is different for every person, but they exist for everyone. Whether you are an Olympian, an everyday athlete, or looking to regain lost mobility, we want to power you beyond what your body currently makes possible.”
To make this possible, Roam will leverage their unique platform technology that relies on high-strength fabrics and air power to reduce device weight and cost without sacrificing performance.
It avoids high-tolerance metal components in favor of affordable mass manufacturing processes like sewing and molding. They are using this platform to develop products to make more mobile lives a reality for everyday consumers.
Amish Parashar, partner at Yamaha Motor Ventures, says: “Roam is creating an exciting new category of products that enhance human capabilities.
“By making these robotic exoskeletons affordable, scalable, and powerful Roam has removed the biggest barriers to widespread adoption. We envision these products will one day be commonly used to create new thrilling experiences and support human mobility.”
Roam’s first step on this path is the release of their first product – “Elevate”, a robotic exoskeleton designed to boost a user’s skiing experience.
Elevate boosts your quad strength giving you more control, stronger turns and longer runs while reducing muscle fatigue and joint pressure.
It can augment the experience for skiers looking to push the edges of what’s possible, and for those looking to maintain the experience from their younger years.
Elevate will be available this winter for demo rentals in the Lake Tahoe, California area and Park City, Utah.
Swift says: “We are extremely proud to bring Elevate to market, but this is only the first step. We are just scratching the surface of what is possible.”
