NextStep Robotics

NextStep Robotics, founded in 2017, is a medical technology company focused on advancing neurorehabilitation for patients with mobility impairments, specifically foot drop resulting from strokes and other neurological conditions. The company is a spin-out from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, leveraging a decade of research from the university and the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Motor Performance Laboratory.

The founding team includes CEO Brad Hennessie, who transitioned the technology from a research setting to a commercial enterprise. Hennessie, a former US Army paratrooper, has a background in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, complemented by Master's degrees in Health Care Administration and Business Administration. His journey began as a research intern at the VA Maryland Exercise and Robotics Center of Excellence (MERCE), where he worked with the technology's inventors, including Dr. Richard Macko, Dr. Larry Forrester, and Dr. Anindo Roy, who are also part of the founding team. Dr. Roy, the company's CTO, is a specialist in rehabilitation robotics and spearheaded the engineering development of the core technology.

NextStep Robotics' core product is the AMBLE™, an FDA-registered, wearable robotic ankle exoskeleton designed for use in clinical settings. Unlike traditional ankle braces that immobilize the joint, AMBLE provides graded, variable assistance with each step. This approach utilizes real-time biofeedback and intelligent software to create personalized therapy plans, stimulating muscles and helping the brain to relearn a natural gait. The device is intended for physical therapy clinics of all sizes, aiming to be an affordable solution that allows for high-intensity, data-driven training sessions that can be administered by any trained staff member. The business model targets rehabilitation clinics, providing them with a tool to offer effective, reimbursable therapy for foot drop. The company has secured over $5.5 million in NIH grant funding and raised approximately $3.35 million through various funding rounds with investors like the Maryland Momentum Fund, TEDCO, and the Abell Foundation.

Keywords: neurorehabilitation, medical robotics, foot drop, stroke recovery, physical therapy, wearable technology, exoskeleton, gait training, adaptive robotics, clinical rehabilitation