CategoryExoskeletons
Overview
Dephy is a wearable robotics company founded in 2016 in Maynard, Massachusetts, pioneering bionic footwear with the Sidekick — the world's first powered ankle-assist wearable device. The Sidekick provides a gentle boost with every step, priced at $4,500.
Reality check
Sidekick (company-claimed)
Powered footwear adding ankle support to a person's stride; positioned as a wellness product, not a medical device.
Movement control (company-claimed)
Integrated sensors, adaptive controls and a brushless motor give a real-time boost at push-off.
Verified record
- Verified deployments
- 1 deployment on file
- Active incidents
- None on file
Data & sources
Web sources
4
4 sources backing this record.View all →
Models (1)
View all models →Dephy on the deployment map
View the global map1 verified deployment across 1 region, newest verified Jan 2026. Explore where Dephy's robots are operating, by place and type.
View the full Dephy deployment record →
Relationships
Current leadership (3)
- Luke Mooney Co-Founder & CEO, Co-FounderSEC-verified
- Hugh Herr Co-FounderSEC-verified
- Jean-François Duval Co-Founder & CTO, Co-FounderSEC-verified
Founders (3)
- Jean-François Duvalcofounderno longer at company
- Hugh Herrcofounderno longer at company
- Luke Mooneycofounderno longer at company
Safety record
No incidents on record for Dephy.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Full safety record: incidents, sourcing, and exposure data →
Operator customers (1)
- Dephy1 deployment
Recent coverage
Dephy in third-party press
Peer companies
- Gobio Robot6 models
- Fourier Intelligence4 models
- Honda4 models
- Lifeward3 models
- Lockheed Martin3 models
- Wandercraft3 models
Mentioned on (3)
Registry pages whose text names Dephy.
People (3)
Timeline
Every recorded move in Dephy’s history, most recent first: funding rounds, partnerships, acquisitions, supply-chain starts, key hires, and press.
Funding roundSeed funding round
2024-09-01Seed
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Record createdAug 8, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedJan 7, 2026
Sidekick at Las Vegas
Sources (4)
Common questions
What is Dephy?
What does Dephy make?
Is Dephy publicly traded?
Who competes with Dephy?
Who is the CEO of Dephy?
How can I invest in Dephy?
Where is Dephy headquartered?
Who owns Dephy?
Where does Dephy operate robots?
How many robots has Dephy deployed?
Is Dephy a top robotics company?
When was Dephy founded?
Is Dephy safe?
Methodology: Verified · 4 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-10-21
Verification posture
Verified
Low confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-10-21
Sources by quality tier
- 4
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for Dephy.Peer companies
- Gobio Robot6 models
- Fourier Intelligence4 models
- Honda4 models
- Lifeward3 models
- Lockheed Martin3 models
- Wandercraft3 models
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning Dephy from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
Sidekick 'ankle exoskeleton' shoes bringing science fiction tech to life
CBS Minnesota (WCCO) tests the Dephy Sidekick ahead of its appearance at the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show. The powered ankle exoskeleton uses a motor, batteries, and a lower-leg…
I Tried a $4,500 Robotic Exoskeleton and It Gave Me Super Ankles
CNET YouTube hands-on review of the Dephy Sidekick in New York. The $4,500 powered ankle exoskeleton uses specialized shoes that lock into motorized shin devices. AI calibrates to…
Dephy Sidekick Exoskeleton Hands-On
Mashable/CNET hands-on review of the Dephy Sidekick, a powered ankle exoskeleton that uses wearable robotics to reduce calf strain and assist with walking. The device provides a…
Dephy's $4,500 Robotic Exoskeleton Gave Me Superhuman Walking Powers
PCMag hands-on review at CES 2026 of the Dephy Sidekick, a $4,500 powered ankle exoskeleton that provides a mechanical boost at the heel with each step. Created by Dephy…
Dephy Company Profile: Valuation, Funding & Investors - PitchBook
PitchBook company profile for Dephy. Founded 2016, headquartered in Boxborough, MA. Private, venture capital-backed. 31 employees. Primary industry: Therapeutic Devices; also…
Dephy - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
Crunchbase profile for Dephy, Inc. Legal name: DEPHY, INC. Founded 2016, headquartered in Boxborough, MA. Private, for-profit, active. 11-50 employees. Categories: Consumer…
Luke Mooney, Founder of DEPHY — Investors & Backers
StartupFundraising profile for Luke Mooney, founder of Dephy. Company based in Boxborough, MA. Industry: Robotics. Backed by Boston Seed Capital. References DePHY seed funding…
Wearable robotics are moving beyond sci-fi - Dephy CEO Luke Mooney on Cheddar
Cheddar news segment: Dephy CEO Luke Mooney explains how the company's smart ankle exoskeleton is changing mobility. Discussion covers Dephy's origins at MIT Media Lab with…
Nike's Project Amplify creates motor-powered shoes
Fox News coverage of Nike's partnership with robotics company Dephy to create Project Amplify, the world's first motor-powered footwear system. The design combines a carbon-plated…
Nike Unveils Project Amplify, the World's First Powered Footwear System for Running and Walking
Nike announces Project Amplify, the world's first powered footwear system for running and walking, built with robotics partner Dephy. The system comprises a lightweight motor,…
Dephy, Inc. - HSA / FSA eligible for qualified customers | Truemed
Truemed partnership: Dephy Sidekick is HSA/FSA eligible for qualified customers. Dephy is a bionic footwear and apparel company creating human-centered technologies that enhance…
Dephy, Inc. — investors & funding - gritt.io
Gritt.io profile: Dephy, Inc. founded 2015, Boxborough, United States. 33 employees. Last funded Sep 2024. Research Services industry. 2 investors on record: Chris Thomas (Board…
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /companies/dephy.md
- RSS feed: /companies/dephy/feed.xml
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/companies/066ce2fc-5ec0-4624-a1e0-24f727f77410
- Revision history: /companies/dephy/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Peer companies
- Gobio Robot6 models
- Fourier Intelligence4 models
- Honda4 models
- Lifeward3 models
- Lockheed Martin3 models
- Wandercraft3 models
Video
The future of wearable tech isn’t just on your wrist — it’s on your legs. CNET Editor at Large Scott Stein got to test out the Dephy Sidekick, a consumer powere
The Dephy Sidekick is a next-generation powered wearable mobility device designed to help you move farther, faster, and with less effort in everyday life. As th
Overview of the Dephy Sidekick | Components & Features Explained
Getting Started with Your Dephy Sidekick | Unboxing & Setup Guide
I got a chance to check out the Dephy Sidekick at #ces2026 and it was truly eye opening as to what robotics tech is going to do for us in the future. I felt li
Dephy Sidekick is a powered ankle device worn with shoes that assists walking by adding timed propulsion at heel lift. After about 20 steps, onboard sensors lea
Heat Index
Serious50/100
A composite of competitive footprint, funding, press velocity, active partnerships, and supply-chain edges. Different from the Intelligence score below (which is per-form-factor productization). Non-robotics companies cap at 25.
Reality vs attention
Dephy draws attention at the 74th percentile but verifies reality at the 47th percentile among exoskeletons. Hype Gap +27.4, 15th widest among exoskeletons.
6-month trend
Analysis
Clean safety record across 1 verified deployment. Deployment footprint remains limited relative to category peers.
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Nov 7, 2026