Nextiles

Nextiles operates as a materials science company focused on quantifying human performance by integrating flexible electronics into textiles. The company was founded in 2018 by Dr. George Sun, who developed the core technology while pursuing his PhD in biological and electrical engineering at MIT. His experience at Puma, where he led an embedded engineering team, highlighted the limitations of existing wearable technology, which typically involved affixing rigid electronic pods to clothing. This insight led to the creation of Nextiles, with the mission to build sensors directly into fabrics from the ground up, thread by thread.

The company's patented technology utilizes semi-conductive threads that are woven or sewn into common athletic fabrics like nylon and spandex using traditional manufacturing techniques. These threads function as sensors that can measure mechanical forces such as stretch, bend, and pressure. This allows for the collection of advanced biomechanical and biometric data, including Newtonian force analytics, 3D motion capture, range of motion, and power, which is then transmitted via Bluetooth to a connected device. The apparel, such as arm and knee sleeves, is machine washable after removing a small, rechargeable controller. Data is accessed through a software development kit (SDK) that allows partners to integrate Nextiles' analytics into their own applications, creating a customizable and seamless user experience.

Nextiles primarily serves the elite sports and human performance markets, including professional athletes, leagues, teams, and the military. Its business model is largely B2B2C, where it collaborates with partners to develop white-label products and provides them with the hardware and software platform. Revenue is generated through the sale of these smart garments and a recurring software licensing fee for its SDK and API access, which is priced on a per-user, per-month basis for data storage and housing. The company has secured strategic partnerships and investments from entities like the NBA, Drive by DraftKings, and Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Furthermore, Nextiles has received Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Air Force to advance its research.

Keywords: smart fabric, wearable technology, human performance analytics, materials science, flexible electronics, biomechanics, motion capture, sports technology, athletic apparel, sensor technology, data analytics platform, smart textiles, Newtonian force analytics, compression clothing, athletic monitoring, injury prevention, sports medicine, digital health, IoT in sports, connected fitness, performance tracking, patented sewing technology, semi-conductive threads, B2B2C sports tech, elite athlete solutions