Nuada

What Nuada does

Nuada is a Portuguese medtech startup founded in 2014 by CEO Filipe Quinaz after he personally experienced a hand injury. The company has developed and patented a novel approach to exoskeleton technology centered on an artificial tendon mechanical support system, with its first commercial application being the Nuada Glove — a wearable glove-and-bracelet device weighing approximately 270 grams that augments grip strength and can hold objects up to 20 kilograms without active hand effort. The product preserves natural hand control and is targeted at individuals with hand weakness due to stroke, spinal cord injuries, arthritis, ALS, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and other neuromuscular or orthopedic conditions, as well as professionals performing repetitive gripping tasks. Nuada has accumulated a clinical evidence base from studies with health institutions in Portugal, the UK, and the USA covering over 100 participants, with results published in the peer-reviewed Cureus journal, and has received recognitions including the World Summit Award (Health & Well-being) and a TechCrunch Battlefield appearance.

Nuada's business model is a per-unit hardware sale (one-time license), distributed through both a direct Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront and a network of eight named channel partners across six countries: Neuro Rehab Recovery (exclusive US distributor), Rahana Life (UK), OrtoPed (Canada), Hjelpemiddelpartner (Norway), HBR Innovation (France, industrial exoskeleton integration), Europharma (Portugal, exporting to Lusophone Africa and North Africa), Handspring (US), and Spectrum Ergonomics (US occupational health). The company is sub-ten employees, has raised approximately $3.3M cumulatively across eight disclosed rounds between 2015 and 2019 (notable investors: SOSV/HAX and EISMEA), and is funded in part through EU/Portugal 2020 public programs. Nuada has publicly signaled plans to launch an industry/occupational version of the glove, expanding from its current healthcare-only positioning into industrial safety and ergonomics applications — a vertical for which it has already established a Renault Cacia testbed partnership.

Name

Nuada

Legal name

NUADA

Website

https://nuada.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nuada is a Portuguese medtech startup (founded 2014) that makes the Nuada Glove, a 270g wearable hand exoskeleton using patented artificial-tendon technology to assist grip in people with hand weakness from stroke, spinal cord injury, or arthritis, sold per-unit via e-commerce and clinical channel partners across six countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wearable Hand Exoskeletons

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Active Rehabilitation Devices (Adaptive Sports Mobility, Performance Prosthetics) (HLAHAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets) (HLAHAMAD), Hand & Upper Extremity Therapy (OT/CHT) (HSADAIAH)

Keywords

• Hand exoskeleton devices
• Wearable assistive technology
• Grip support systems
• Medical rehabilitation devices
• Neurological mobility aids

Headquarters

HQ city

Oporto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Nuada Glove Sales: Nuada sells its Nuada Glove product as a single unit (right or left hand). Customers purchase individual units and can select their preferred hand. The product is sold with a 12-month warranty covering defects in parts, materials, or manufacturing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nuada designs, manufactures and sells the Nuada Exo Glove, a wearable hand exoskeleton system consisting of a glove and bracelet with a mechanical support system driven by intelligent artificial tendons. The device enhances grip, allowing users to hold objects up to 20 kg without active hand effort while preserving natural hand movement. It is sold as a single unit (right or left hand) for individuals with hand weakness or limitations, and is distributed through healthcare partners for clinical and rehabilitation use, with an industry version planned for the future.

Product overview

Nuada offers a single unified product—the Nuada Glove—which is a wearable hand exoskeleton system designed to assist users with hand weakness or limitations. The product consists of a glove and a bracelet containing the mechanical support system with artificial tendons. The system provides grip support without replacing natural hand movement, enabling users to hold objects more effectively and securely. While currently focused on the healthcare market, the company plans to release an Industry version in the future.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nuada Glove: Innovative glove that enhances grip, allowing users to hold objects more effectively and securely, without active hand effort. Comes in the form of a glove and bracelet for the hand containing the mechanical support system with artificial tendons.

Products and services

• Nuada Exo Glove (Nuada Glove) A wearable hand exoskeleton consisting of a glove and bracelet with a mechanical support system driven by intelligent artificial tendons. It enhances grip so users can hold objects up to 20 kg effortlessly without active hand effort, while preserving natural hand control. Sold as a single unit (right or left hand) to individuals with hand weakness due to injury or medical conditions, and through healthcare distributors to rehabilitation clinics and occupational health providers for use in neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Holds objects up to 20 kg without active hand effort
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Neuro Rehab RecoverycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive U.S. distributor for the Nuada Glove. Neuro Rehab Recovery is a clinician-led company dedicated to providing innovative, accessible neurotechnology with comprehensive clinical support.
• Rahana LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based partner specializing in assistive technology for upper limb impairments, offering mobile arm supports and gesture-based powered wheelchair controls.
• HandspringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSA-based partner specializing in personalized upper and lower limb prosthetic rehabilitation using advanced expertise to optimize each patient's functional needs.
• Spectrum ErgonomicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSA-based partner offering broad array of services for business professionals including Human Resources, Occupational Health, Safety, Legal, Risk Management, Engineering, and Compliance.
• OrtoPedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanada's largest distributor of prosthetics, orthotics, and lower extremity care products, providing top industry products, materials, and expert support since 1981.
• HjelpemiddelpartnercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian supplier of welfare technology and innovative assistive devices, distributing Nuada products in Norway.
• HBR InnovationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrance-based partner specializing in integrating exoskeletons to improve workplace safety, comfort, and productivity while addressing musculoskeletal disorders.
• EuropharmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortugal-based partner exporting medicines and medical devices to various Portuguese-speaking African countries and North African countries.
• Associação NovamenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partnership between Nuada and the association to improve beneficiaries' everyday lives through assistive technology.
• Health Institutions (Portugal, UK, USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical validation partnerships with health institutions in Portugal, UK, and USA. Over 100 participants have tested the Nuada Glove in clinical studies.
• Renault CaciaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTestbed partnership with Renault Cacia for technology testing and industrial application development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bioservo Technologies: Swedish maker of the Carbonhand grip-strengthening glove, a direct competitor in the soft exoskeleton / assistive hand-grip category with overlapping clinical and industrial use cases.
• Saebo: US-based company specializing in hand and upper-limb rehabilitation devices (SaeboGlove, dynamic orthoses), directly competing for the same stroke and neuro-rehab clinical customers.
• Myomo: US-listed company offering myoelectric orthoses for the arm/hand; competes for similar neurological and orthopedic patient populations in clinical and home settings.
• Focal Meditech: Dutch developer of dynamic arm/hand supports (e.g., Aremo, Mobii) for users with limited hand/arm function, closely comparable in target users and reimbursement-driven EU sales motion.

Broad incumbents

• Ekso Bionics: Listed exoskeleton company focused on rehabilitation and industrial applications; competes in adjacent body segments but addresses the same clinical buyer and exoskeleton category.
• ReWalk Robotics: Public exoskeleton company with FDA-cleared personal and rehabilitation devices; serves the same neuro-rehabilitation clinical channel and could expand into upper-limb.
• Cyberdyne: Japan-based HAL exoskeleton developer with both medical and industrial/worker-safety products, a strong incumbent in the broader exoskeleton space Nuada also targets.
• Ottobock: Global prosthetics, orthotics, and rehabilitation-device leader with extensive clinical distribution that overlaps with Nuada's hand-function niche and customer base.
• Hocoma: Swiss rehabilitation robotics company (part of DIH) selling Armeo and other upper-limb therapy devices to the same hospital and neuro-rehab customer base.
• Tyromotion: Austrian rehabilitation-technology vendor with robotic and sensor-based upper-limb therapy devices, addressing the same neuro-rehabilitation clinics and patients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nuada-handfunction
• Facebookfacebook.com/NuadaTech
• Instagraminstagram.com/nuada.pt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nuada-lda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nuada