CategoryExoskeletons
Overview
HeroWear is a Nashville-based wearable tech startup developing industrial back support exosuits. The company's flagship product is the world's leading exoskeleton for back relief, addressing the $15.5B+ annual cost of overexertion injuries. Raised $5M Series A.
Reality check
Apex 2 (company-claimed)
Lightweight, non-motorized back-assist exosuit for lifting, bending and reaching.
Adjustable assist (company-claimed)
Assistance can be adjusted or switched for different industrial tasks.
Verified record
- Verified deployments
- 2 deployments on file
- Active incidents
- None on file
Data & sources
Web sources
3
3 sources backing this record.View all →
Models (1)
View all models →HeroWear on the deployment map
View the global map2 verified deployments across 2 regions, newest verified Jan 2025. Explore where HeroWear's robots are operating, by place and type.
View the full HeroWear deployment record →
Relationships
Current leadership (2)
- Joel Edwards CEOsecondary-verified
- Karl Zelik CSO & Co-foundersecondary-verified
Founders (1)
- Karl Zelikcofounderno longer at company
Safety record
No incidents on record for HeroWear.
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)
- HeroWear2 deployments
Recent coverage
HeroWear in third-party press
Peer companies
- Gobio Robot6 models
- Fourier Intelligence4 models
- Honda4 models
- Lifeward3 models
- Lockheed Martin3 models
- Wandercraft3 models
Mentioned on (4)
Registry pages whose text names HeroWear.
Robots and products (1)
Deployments (1)
People (2)
Funding rounds (1)
- Series A2025-04-03
$5M(reported)
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 1, 2025
Apex 2 at Multiple, Global
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedOct 3, 2024
Apex 2 at Canberra, Australia
Sources (3)
Common questions
What is HeroWear?
What does HeroWear make?
Is HeroWear publicly traded?
Who competes with HeroWear?
Who is the CEO of HeroWear?
How can I invest in HeroWear?
Who owns HeroWear?
Where does HeroWear operate robots?
How many robots has HeroWear deployed?
Is HeroWear a top robotics company?
Is HeroWear safe?
Methodology: Verified · 3 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
- 3
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for HeroWear.Peer companies
- Gobio Robot6 models
- Fourier Intelligence4 models
- Honda4 models
- Lifeward3 models
- Lockheed Martin3 models
- Wandercraft3 models
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning HeroWear from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /companies/herowear.md
- RSS feed: /companies/herowear/feed.xml
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/companies/6507ef99-a474-4192-8916-6dded78d0867
- Revision history: /companies/herowear/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
Highlights of users in the Apex 2 exosuit, with facts about the exo (exoskeleton) and its benefits.
How to put on and use the Apex 2 exosuit. The comfortable, soft-shell exoskeleton from HeroWear, made to help industrial workers take the strain off their backs
Real users of the HeroWear Apex back-assist exosuit share what it is like to use an exoskeleton at work, and how the benefits have improved their lives, made th
Demonstration of the HeroWear Apex exosuit (exoskeleton) back assists device. Includes demonstration of leaning, bending, lifting, climbing ladders, kneeling, a
https://herowearexo.com From Vanderbilt University video "Smart Underwear Prevents Back Stress with just a Double Tap" with Dr. Karl Zelik, co-founder of HeroW
Tony had two major back surgeries, driving him to search for a device that can support his back while working in vineyards. The Apex exosuit not only helped wi
Watch Mark Harris, HeroWear CEO, announce the arrival of the Exo For All (the Apex) at WearRAacon 20. Built from the ground up for both men and women, the Her
Explore the HeroWear Apex 2 exosuit, engineered to reduce back strain and improve ergonomics for industrial workers. This wearable technology provides passive s
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
HeroWear draws attention at the 29th percentile but verifies reality at the 50th percentile among exoskeletons. Hype Gap -20.8, 34th widest among exoskeletons.
6-month trend
Analysis
Clean safety record across 2 verified deployments. 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