Esper Bionics
Esper Bionics designs and manufactures AI-driven bionic prosthetic hands for upper-limb amputees, combining EMG-based machine learning with a multisensory MARS control hub and an Esper+ companion app. The company sells the $22,000 Esper Hand through US clinics, insurance reimbursement, and a prosthetist partnership network, with secondary social distribution to Ukrainian veterans.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Esper Bionics does
Esper Bionics is a Ukrainian-American engineering company founded in 2019 that designs and manufactures AI-driven bionic prosthetic hands for upper-limb amputees. The company is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, with R&D and production in Kyiv, Ukraine, and a manufacturing and R&D facility in Berlin, Germany. Its core product, the Esper Hand, is a multi-actuator bionic prosthetic that uses electromyography (EMG) sensors combined with machine learning and COAPT pattern recognition to predict user movement intentions and automatically select appropriate grips; the second-generation Esper Hand 2, launched in May 2025, adds IP6X waterproofing, aluminum fingers, extended battery life, and on-device AI. The proprietary MARS multisensory hub is positioned as the underlying control platform for prosthetics and future wearables, and the Esper+ mobile app provides Bluetooth-based grip customization, sensor tuning, and usage analytics.
The business model is anchored on hardware sales of the Esper Hand at a $22,000 price point, with US insurance reimbursement enabled by FDA approval and PDAC billing code L6880. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales to patients, a clinic and prosthetist partnership program, and the Esper+ self-serve companion app; the company has explicitly identified sensor technology licensing to other wearable and implant manufacturers as a future revenue stream. The customer base spans individual upper-limb amputees (civilian and military), prosthetists and clinics as channel partners, and Ukrainian war veterans served through the non-commercial Esper for Ukraine social program, which has delivered more than 80 devices since 2022. Strategic capital partners include YZR Capital, EBRD, and U.Ventures following a $5M round in June 2024, bringing total funding to approximately $7M, with the US identified as the primary commercial market ahead of global expansion.
Esper Bionics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Esper Bionics
- Legal name
- Esper Bionics Inc.
- Website
- https://esperbionics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Esper Bionics designs and manufactures AI-driven bionic prosthetic hands for upper-limb amputees, combining EMG-based machine learning with a multisensory MARS control hub and an Esper+ companion app. The company sells the $22,000 Esper Hand through US clinics, insurance reimbursement, and a prosthetist partnership network, with secondary social distribution to Ukrainian veterans.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Esper Bionics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bionic Prosthetics
- NAICS
- Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Limb Prosthetics (Upper/Lower Extremity Prosthetic Systems) (HLAHAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets) (HLAHAMAD), Prosthetics/Orthotics Rehab & Amputee Rehabilitation (HSADAIAN)
Keywords
Where Esper Bionics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Esper Bionics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Bionic Prosthetic Device Sales: Sale of AI-powered bionic prosthetic hands (Esper Hand) to patients. Primary revenue stream from hardware sales with Esper Hand priced at $22,000 and covered by insurance.
- Sensor Technology Licensing: Future revenue expected from licensing advanced sensors developed for prosthetic devices to other wearable technology and implant manufacturers.
- MARS Control System: Sales of MARS control system hub enabling high-precision control for prosthetics and wearables, part of expanding bionic ecosystem product line.
- Clinical Services and Support: Clinical onboarding, training, and ongoing support services for prosthetists and clinics implementing Esper Hand devices.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Esper Hand - Standard Configuration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Esper Hand 2 - Upgraded Version |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Esper Bionics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Esper Bionics designs, manufactures, and sells AI-driven bionic prosthetic hands (Esper Hand and Esper Hand 2) for upper-limb amputees, priced at $22,000 and covered by US insurance. The offering centers on the Esper Hand product line with integrated EMG-based pattern recognition, complemented by the MARS multisensory control hub and the Esper+ mobile app for grip customization. Distribution occurs through direct sales, clinic/prosthetist partnerships, and a social program providing free prostheses to Ukrainian war veterans.
Product overview
Esper Bionics offers a unified bionic ecosystem centered on the Esper Hand product line. The core offering is the AI-powered Esper Hand bionic prosthetic (now in its second generation), which combines advanced EMG-based pattern recognition with a smartphone companion app (Esper+) for customization. The MARS multisensory hub serves as the underlying control platform enabling high-precision body parameter detection and control. The company has developed the world's first AI-driven prosthetic with PDAC and FDA approvals, targeting both medical (amputees) and military markets with products priced at approximately $22,000.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Esper Hand: AI-powered bionic prosthetic hand with pattern recognition, waterproof design, and anatomical shape
- MARS
- Esper for Ukraine
- Esper+
Products and services
- Esper Hand The world's first AI-driven bionic prosthetic hand with PDAC (L6880) and FDA approvals. Features pattern-recognition control, waterproof design, aluminum-reinforced fingers, six independent motors for natural movement, and integration with the Esper+ mobile app for customization. Sold at $22,000 and covered by US insurance, targeting upper-limb amputees through clinics and direct sales.
- Esper Hand 2 Second-generation AI-powered bionic prosthetic hand with IP6X waterproof rating, enhanced grip strength via aluminum fingers, larger touchscreen surfaces, extended all-day battery life, and integrated AI-based pattern recognition using EMG sensors for smoother, more natural operation. Pre-orders opened in May 2025.
- MARS Control System Advanced EMG-based multisensory hub enabling detection of body parameters and high-precision control in prosthetics and wearables. Lays the foundation for a future preventive-medicine body health insights platform and is positioned as part of an expanding bionic ecosystem product line.
- Esper+ Mobile App iOS mobile application for users to customize grips, organize settings, fine-tune sensors, back up configurations via Bluetooth, switch commands, and track usage statistics including grip patterns and daily engagement metrics. Designed as the digital companion to the Esper Hand product line.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4 hours average daily usage demonstrating consistent real-world adoption
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Esper Bionics
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Esper Bionics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature9 records
Esper Bionics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- COAPTcoreTechnology partner providing pattern recognition functionality integrated into Esper Hand for direct access to intended grip. COAPT technology enables the system to recognize user movements and automatically switch to appropriate grip mode.
- RazommajorCollaboration with Razom and Ukrainian clinics to expand access to advanced prosthetic care for people with limb loss in Ukraine. Initiative supports the entire care pathway from assessment to long-term follow-up and aims to strengthen Ukraine's prosthetics ecosystem.
- Ukrainian ClinicsmajorPartnership with Ukrainian clinics for prosthetic care delivery, assessment, fitting, and long-term follow-up services. Focus on developing and educating specialists in modern bionic solutions to improve rehabilitation and accessibility.
- Protez FoundationsupportingPartner organization in Ukraine working to provide prosthetic solutions for war-affected individuals.
- UnbrokensupportingPartner organization supporting Ukrainian defenders and civilians with prosthetic and rehabilitation needs.
- SuperhumanssupportingPartner organization providing prosthetics and rehabilitation services for war veterans and civilians.
- Bez Obmezhen'supportingUkrainian organization supporting people with disabilities and limb loss.
- Brave StepsupportingPartner organization in Ukrainian prosthetics ecosystem.
- RevivedsupportingPartner organization supporting rehabilitation and prosthetics for war-affected individuals.
- Soldiers UkrainesupportingPartner organization supporting Ukrainian military personnel with prosthetic needs.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Esper Bionics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Open Bionics: Direct competitor building multi-grip bionic prosthetic hands (Hero Arm) using 3D-printed components and EMG control, with FDA clearance and a similar insurance-reimbursement-driven US go-to-market.
- Psyonic: Direct competitor whose Ability Hand is a multi-grip bionic prosthetic with touch-sensing fingertips targeting upper-limb amputees, closely overlapping Esper Hand's product positioning and customer base.
- Mobius Bionics: Developer of the LUKE shoulder-level bionic arm with EMG pattern recognition, addressing a higher level of upper-limb amputation but in the same AI-driven prosthetic category as Esper Hand.
Broad incumbents
- Össur (Touch Bionics): Broad incumbent in orthotics and prosthetics offering the i-Limb Quantum bionic hand, with established global distribution, deeper payer relationships, and a much wider product portfolio than Esper.
- Ottobock: Largest global prosthetics incumbent offering the bebionic multi-grip hand, with extensive clinical infrastructure, reimbursement expertise, and significant R&D resources.
- Fillauer: Established prosthetics manufacturer offering a broad range of upper- and lower-limb prosthetic components, including terminal devices and control systems used by prosthetists — comparable downstream channel partner.
Emerging players
- Prensilia: Italian robotics startup producing the IH2 Azzurra and Mia Hand bionic prosthetic hands using EMG signals, representing a smaller emerging competitor with overlapping technical approach.
- BrainCo: Brain-computer interface company developing prosthetic control technologies using EMG/EEG signals, intersecting with Esper's EMG-based control approach at the R&D and technology-stack level.
Others
- COAPT: Strategic technology partner supplying the pattern recognition engine integrated into Esper Hand; also sells its own Complete Control system to other prosthetic manufacturers, making it both an enabler and partial adjacent competitor.
Regional players
- Steeper Group: UK-based prosthetics manufacturer with a multi-grip bionic hand product line and established prosthetist distribution in Europe, offering a regionally comparable competitor outside Esper's primary US/Ukraine footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Esper Bionics social profiles
Digital presenceEsper Bionics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Esper Bionics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Esper Bionics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Esper Bionics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Esper Bionics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Esper Bionics
What does Esper Bionics do?
Esper Bionics designs, manufactures, and sells AI-driven bionic prosthetic hands (Esper Hand and Esper Hand 2) for upper-limb amputees, priced at $22,000 and covered by US insurance. The offering centers on the Esper Hand product line with integrated EMG-based pattern recognition, complemented by the MARS multisensory control hub and the Esper+ mobile app for grip customization. Distribution occurs through direct sales, clinic/prosthetist partnerships, and a social program providing free prostheses to Ukrainian war veterans.
Is Esper Bionics a public or private company?
Esper Bionics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Esper Bionics founded?
Esper Bionics was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Esper Bionics based?
Esper Bionics is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Esper Bionics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bionic Prosthetic Device Sales are the primary driver. The others are sensor Technology Licensing, MARS Control System and clinical Services and Support.
Who are Esper Bionics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Open Bionics, Psyonic and Mobius Bionics. Broad incumbents are Össur (Touch Bionics), Ottobock and Fillauer. Emerging players are Prensilia and BrainCo. COAPT is listed as an others. Steeper Group is listed as a regional player.
Does Esper Bionics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Esper Bionics.
What industry is Esper Bionics in?
Esper Bionics's product category is Bionic Prosthetics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAH, Limb Prosthetics (Upper/Lower Extremity Prosthetic Systems), with a secondary code of HLAHAMAD, Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets). Its NAICS code is 339113 and its SIC code is 3842.