Company Overview
Articulate Labs is a private startup headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializing in the development of wearable medical devices. Their flagship product, KneeStim™, utilizes neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to enhance muscle growth and facilitate physical therapy as part of daily activities. This technology is designed for on-the-go rehabilitation, effectively integrating therapy into a user's daily movements to overcome functional limitations and restore physical capability.
Key Products and Innovations
- KneeStim™: This innovative device is engineered to administer NMES tailored to an individual's gait, improving muscle function during everyday activities and making physical rehabilitation more accessible and efficient. Scientific research conducted at UT-Austin validated KneeStim's precision, demonstrating 99% accuracy in stride detection and full accuracy in muscle and band contraction.
- Patents: Articulate Labs holds four U.S. utility patents covering movement-synchronous stimulation, applicable across various joints and conditions.
Financial Insights and Partnerships
Articulate Labs has secured significant financial support, receiving a $1.3 million grant from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium. This funding supports a study on the KneeStim device at the Keller Army Community Hospital. The company has also raised a total of $5.82 million from investors including mHUB Ventures, Techstars, and Capital Factory.
Leadership and Board
- Management Team:
- Josh Rabinowitz: Co-Founder and CEO, leading the company in fundraising, business development, proposal writing, and strategic corporate improvements. His background includes managing operations in non-profit and governmental sectors, with a B.A. in Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University.
- Herbie Kirn: Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, brings extensive expertise in adaptive control systems and holds over 55 patents globally. His experience in systems design for major automotive companies and his personal journey in rehabilitation inform his work at Articulate Labs.
- Kyle Kircher: As Chief Commercialization Officer, Kircher has nearly 30 years of sales leadership experience in the medical device and healthcare sectors, playing a pivotal role in team building and market expansion for Articulate Labs.
- Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board:
- Jeff Brown: Offers over 26 years of experience as a General Manager and COO at companies like Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson, providing strategic oversight and operational excellence.
- Dr. Anthony Johnson: Directs the orthopedic surgery residency at Dell Medical School, contributing orthopedic and sports medicine expertise informed by his extensive military medical experience.
- Dr. J. Michael Bennett: An orthopedic surgeon with a focus on sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, enriches Articulate Labs' clinical approach.
Awards and Recognition
Articulate Labs has been recognized industry-wide for its innovation and contributions:
- Winner, OrthoChallenge 2020
- Defense Innovation Award, 2019
- Finalist, American College of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Launchpad Competition, 2018
Competitor Profiling
Market Overview
Articulate Labs operates in the healthcare technology sector, focusing on the development of wearable medical devices. As of November 2024, the company faces competition from 60 active competitors. Some notable competitors include:
- ONWARD Medical: Develops therapies for restoring movement and independence in people with spinal cord injuries. Their ARCEX System provides non-invasive spinal cord stimulation, highlighted by successful outcomes in safety and effectiveness as demonstrated in the Up-LIFT pivotal trial.
- SetPoint Medical: Specializes in neuromodulation devices for chronic inflammatory diseases through vagus nerve stimulation, with ongoing clinical trials in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohn’s disease.
- Strados Labs: Focuses on respiratory health monitoring via their wearable RESP Biosensor, aimed at chronic respiratory disease management by offering continuous monitoring solutions.
- Thermaquil: Develops drug-free reversible nerve block devices for pain management, targeting conditions caused by overactive nerves.
- G Medical Innovations: A mobile health company providing clinical and consumer health monitoring solutions, expanding into the e-health market with innovative medical-grade devices.
Market Positioning and Competitive Insights
Articulate Labs is positioned in a dynamic healthcare technology industry shaped by emerging technologies across various disciplines. Competitors are focusing on diverse therapeutic areas from neuromodulation to mobile health, each with unique selling propositions:
- ONWARD Medical and SetPoint Medical are closely aligned with Articulate Labs in their focus on neuromodulation and rehabilitation technologies.
- Companies like Strados Labs and G Medical Innovations diversify the competitive landscape with solutions in respiratory and mobile health monitoring.
- Thermaquil's innovation in pain management with drug-free solutions presents an alternative therapeutic approach.
These competitive insights demonstrate the need for Articulate Labs to strategically position themselves by leveraging unique features and exploring unmet market demands to differentiate their offerings and capitalize on opportunities.
