German Bionic raises $16.3M for powered exoskeletons

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German Bionic, a developer of electrically powered exoskeletons, raised more than $16.3 million in an expanded Series A funding round. The funding is part of the company’s plan to intensify its relationship with its industrialization partner, Mubea.

Mubea is a German automotive supplier. German Bionic said it’s leveling up its relationship with the supplier to better meet the escalating demand for smart occupational safety systems.

“The strengthening of our partnership with German Bionic underscores Mubea’s commitment to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable mobility solutions,” said Thomas Muhr, managing partner of Mubea. “This is increasingly the case in the field of micromobility, which operates within the group under the name Mubea U-Mobility. Our expertise in smart lightweight solutions coupled with a proven track record in successfully launching large-scale production projects and the global reach of the Mubea Group, align seamlessly with the shared growth objectives we are pursuing alongside German Bionic.

“With our investment in the technology leader for smart e-suits, we are supporting the upscaling of a revolutionary technology that not only increases the efficiency of human work in industry, logistics and healthcare, but also contributes to employee health and safety. Given the prevailing labor shortage, we identify a swiftly expanding market for e-exoskeletons in today’s landscape.”

Mubea led the Series A round, which also included participation from existing investors in the company. Those include Benhamou Global Ventures, Bayern Kapital, IT Farm, Kailua Ventures, Cumberland VC, and Family Office Klein.

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Exoskeletons for a variety of industries

German Bionic currently offers two exoskeletons: Apogee for the logistics and retail sectors, and Apogee+ for the healthcare sector. These exoskeletons are fully-connected wearables for the workplace. They aim to amplify lifting movements, give walking assistance, and prevent poor posture. Both products feature an integrated ergonomic early warning system that also supplies real-time data collected during the working day. German Bionic said this simultaneously protects employees’ health, reduces the risk of accidents, and improves work processes, according to the company.

“The emphasis on occupational safety is growing in workplaces around the world,” said Armin G. Schmidt, CEO of German Bionic. “Our aging societies can no longer afford to lose people due to illness or early retirement, and we must understand that sustainability starts with young employees. German Bionic is benefiting from today’s trend towards investing in occupational health and safety to ensure a resilient and motivated workforce of tomorrow.”

German Bionic was founded in 2018. Its logistics customers include DPD, Dachser, and Fiege. It also has large retail customers, like Canadian Tire and the British CE retailer Currys, as well as major international airport customers.

Expanding to healthcare

Apogee+ is German Bionic’s latest innovation. Announced in August 2023, this exoskeleton is designed to provide lift assistance to caregivers working in the healthcare industry. With the release of this exoskeleton, German Bionic aimed to address concerns with care worker safety and job satisfaction. 

Apogee+ provides active assistance during lifting and walking, offering up to 66 lbs (30 kg) of back relief with every lift. The exoskeleton also features integrated grips that aim to enhance the ease of lifting and repositioning patients, helping to streamline daily caregiving tasks.