Bend Labs
Bend Labs is a flexible soft-silicone sensor technology company, now operating as Nitto Denko's "flexSensing" product line, selling 1-Axis and 2-Axis angular displacement sensors and BLE-enabled evaluation kits for rehabilitation, sports, infrastructure, robotics, VR/AR, and automotive applications.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bend Labs does
Bend Labs is a Salt Lake City-based sensor technology company founded in 2013 that developed a soft silicone-based flexible angular displacement sensor capable of measuring bending and elongation with ±1.0° angle accuracy and ±0.5mm elongation accuracy. The technology targets seven distinct use cases — rehabilitation and healthcare, sports and training, infrastructure monitoring, consumer and industrial electronics, robotics, VR/AR and wearables, and automotive — marketed horizontally rather than vertically. The product line, now branded "flexSensing," consists of 1-Axis and 2-Axis sensor variants plus three evaluation kit configurations that bundle the sensors with BLE modules and lithium-ion batteries for developer onboarding.
The company was acquired by (or absorbed into) Nitto Denko Corporation, the publicly traded Japanese industrial conglomerate (TSE: 6988), and now operates under Nitto's "New Business" product category. Post-integration, the technology is distributed through Nitto's global infrastructure spanning 16+ countries with localized websites and a dedicated e-commerce purchase site for samples and evaluation kits. A companion WebApp provides data visualization for evaluation kit buyers. The original Bend Labs entity raised approximately $1.15M in priced funding (September 2021 from Heuristic Capital) plus earlier undisclosed rounds from Royal Street Ventures and Lighthouse Capital Management.
The business model is hardware-unit sales — direct e-commerce of sensors and kits at pay-as-you-go pricing — with no disclosed enterprise contracts, no recurring software revenue, and no API/SDK monetization. The company has 1-10 employees per current firmographic data, no named customers, and no disclosed revenue. Key technical differentiators include speed-independent measurement, durability over 1 million bending cycles at 180°, and an extreme operating temperature range of -50 to 100°C.
Bend Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bend Labs
- Legal name
- Nitto Denko Corporation
- Website
- https://bendlabs.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bend Labs is a flexible soft-silicone sensor technology company, now operating as Nitto Denko's "flexSensing" product line, selling 1-Axis and 2-Axis angular displacement sensors and BLE-enabled evaluation kits for rehabilitation, sports, infrastructure, robotics, VR/AR, and automotive applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bend Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flexible Motion Sensors
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Sensors (Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Proximity, Vibration) (IMAGAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Inertial & Motion Sensors (Accelerometers/Gyroscopes/IMUs) (HDAHALAA), Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO)
Keywords
Where Bend Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Bend Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Sensor Hardware Sales: Sale of flexible angular displacement sensors and evaluation kits including 1-axis sensors, 2-axis sensors, and combined evaluation kits with BLE modules and lithium-ion batteries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-Axis Sensor - Bending and elongation measurement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-Axis Evaluation Kit - Complete development kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2-Axis Sensor - Two-directional bending measurement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2-Axis Evaluation Kit - Complete development kit for 2-axis |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Combined Evaluation Kit - Full sensor suite |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Bend Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bend Labs designs and manufactures flexible, stretchable silicone-based angular displacement sensors under the flexSensing brand, sold as 1-axis and 2-axis sensors as well as BLE-enabled evaluation kits. The sensors deliver real-time measurement of bending and elongation for human motion monitoring, structural deformation, robotics, and wearable/VR applications. The company offers standalone sensors and developer evaluation kits that bundle the sensor with a BLE module and lithium-ion battery for prototyping.
Product overview
flexSensing is a Flexible Angular Displacement Sensor product line designed for measuring angular displacement in applications such as human joint monitoring, rehabilitation, sports training, infrastructure monitoring, and robotics. The portfolio consists of two core sensor variants (1-Axis and 2-Axis) and corresponding Evaluation Kits that bundle the sensors with BLE modules and lithium-ion batteries for immediate development use. The 1-Axis Sensor measures bending in one direction and elongation, while the 2-Axis Sensor extends this to bending in two directions. The Combined Evaluation Kit provides both sensor types for comprehensive evaluation. Technical specifications include angle accuracy of ±1.0°, elongation accuracy of ±0.5mm, durability exceeding 1 million bends at 180 degrees, and an environmental temperature range of -50 to 100°C with sampling rates of 1-200Hz.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- flexSensing: A highly flexible and stretchable sensor designed to measure angular displacement in applications such as human joint monitoring.
Products and services
- 1-Axis Sensor
Quantifiable outcome
- Angle measurement accuracy: ±1.0 degrees
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bend Labs
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Bend Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Bend Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bend Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- StretchSense: StretchSense manufactures soft, stretchable capacitive sensors for capturing human motion and deformation. They are the most direct technology peer to Bend Labs, both commercializing elastomer-based sensors for motion capture, VR/AR, and wearable applications.
- XSENS / Movella: Movella (formerly Xsens) produces inertial motion tracking sensors and full-body mocap suits used in animation, sports, and rehabilitation. They compete with Bend Labs in joint-angle and motion capture applications but use MEMS IMU-based architectures rather than flexible silicone.
- SynTouch: SynTouch develops biomimetic tactile and force sensors for robotics and prosthetic applications. They overlap with Bend Labs in providing novel deformation-sensing technology for human-machine interfaces and robotic articulation feedback.
- Flexpoint Sensor Systems: Flexpoint Sensor Systems manufactures flexible bend sensors used in medical, automotive, and industrial applications. They share Bend Labs' core value proposition of providing flexible thin-form-factor sensors for measuring bending and elongation.
- Tekscan: Tekscan manufactures thin-film force and pressure sensors used in medical, dental, and industrial applications. They are a relevant comparable for Bend Labs' use of novel thin-film sensing technology to capture physical deformation in embedded applications.
- Interlink Electronics: Interlink Electronics designs and manufactures force-sensing resistors and custom sensor solutions for human-machine interface applications. Their technology and target verticals (medical, IoT, wearables) closely overlap with Bend Labs' flexSensing portfolio.
Emerging players
- Bota Systems: Bota Systems develops high-resolution force/torque sensors for robotic manipulation and prosthetic applications. They overlap with Bend Labs in the robotics articulation and joint-angle monitoring segment but specialize in rigid sensor form factors.
Broad incumbents
- Bosch Sensortec: Bosch Sensortec is a leading manufacturer of MEMS inertial sensors, environmental sensors, and smart sensors for consumer electronics and IoT. As a broad incumbent, they offer IMUs and motion sensors that compete with Bend Labs' bend-sensing approach in many of the same end markets.
- STMicroelectronics (Motion MEMS): STMicroelectronics produces a broad portfolio of MEMS motion and environmental sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, IMUs) widely used in wearables, smartphones, and industrial applications. They represent the dominant incumbent against which any new motion-sensing technology must compete.
Others
- Nitto Denko Corporation: Nitto Denko is the Japanese conglomerate whose 'New Business' segment now houses the flexSensing product line. As the apparent parent/distribution partner for Bend Labs, they are the most important commercial relationship shaping Bend Labs' go-to-market and global reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bend Labs social profiles
Digital presenceBend Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bend Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bend Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bend Labs 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 Bend Labs
What does Bend Labs do?
Bend Labs designs and manufactures flexible, stretchable silicone-based angular displacement sensors under the flexSensing brand, sold as 1-axis and 2-axis sensors as well as BLE-enabled evaluation kits. The sensors deliver real-time measurement of bending and elongation for human motion monitoring, structural deformation, robotics, and wearable/VR applications. The company offers standalone sensors and developer evaluation kits that bundle the sensor with a BLE module and lithium-ion battery for prototyping.
Is Bend Labs a public or private company?
Bend Labs is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bend Labs founded?
Bend Labs was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bend Labs based?
Bend Labs is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bend Labs make money?
One revenue line is on record: sensor Hardware Sales.
Who are Bend Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are StretchSense, XSENS / Movella, SynTouch, Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Tekscan and Interlink Electronics. Bota Systems is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Bosch Sensortec and STMicroelectronics (Motion MEMS). Nitto Denko Corporation is listed as an others.
Does Bend Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bend Labs.
What industry is Bend Labs in?
Bend Labs's product category is Flexible Motion Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAA, Industrial Sensors (Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Proximity, Vibration), with a secondary code of HDAHALAA, Inertial & Motion Sensors (Accelerometers/Gyroscopes/IMUs). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.