The knee sleeve has undergone trials with UK football clubs and star athletes, including world skiing champion Alex Schlopy. The product, which will cost around $129 with a $29 to $99 monthly subscription plan, could also be used for injury prevention in construction jobs or by the elderly. The company differentiates itself from other joint protection brands by offering predictive or reactive technology, which is not currently offered by existing solutions.
Key takeaways:
- Kylin Shaw, a former basketball hopeful, is developing a "knee sleeve" airbag through his startup, Hippos Exoskeleton. The device measures stress on the knee joint and inflates to protect it from major injuries.
- The startup uses predictive AI to detect risky movements in real-time and deploys airbags around the knee, potentially saving athletes from expensive medical treatments.
- Hippos Exoskeleton has raised a $642,000 pre-seed round from investors Possible Ventures and Silicon Roundabout Ventures. The funds will be used to further develop the product and prepare for a full launch in about three months.
- The device has been tested with U.K. football clubs and star athletes, including world skiing champion Alex Schlopy. Beyond athletes, the product could also be used for injury prevention in other high-risk jobs or by the elderly.