xStep, a Bengaluru-based neurotechnology startup featured on Shark Tank India, has raised funding from Titan Capital to expand its non-invasive neurorehabilitation platform. The investment will support manufacturing, clinical collaborations, evidence generation and wider access to its spinal neuromodulation technology.
xStep raises fresh funding from Titan Capital
Shark Tank India-featured neurotech startup xStep has secured investment from Titan Capital, marking the company’s entry into the venture firm’s portfolio. The investment amount has not been disclosed.
The Bengaluru-based company is focused on non-invasive neurorehabilitation for people living with neurological conditions including cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. Its technology combines spinal neuromodulation with structured rehabilitation, with the broader goal of helping patients improve movement and functional recovery.
The funding comes as xStep moves from a research-focused business towards broader commercial deployment. According to reports, the company plans to use the capital to expand manufacturing, strengthen clinical collaborations in India and overseas, generate additional clinical evidence and undertake regulatory work in domestic and international markets.
The development is significant for India’s emerging medical technology ecosystem because neurorehabilitation remains a specialised area where advanced technologies can be difficult for patients to access.
What xStep does and how its neurotechnology works
xStep is built around non-invasive spinal neuromodulation, a technology that uses electrical stimulation to influence neural pathways involved in movement and function.
Unlike invasive spinal stimulation procedures that require surgical implantation, xStep’s approach delivers targeted electrical stimulation through electrodes placed on the skin over specific areas of the spinal cord. The stimulation is combined with rehabilitation rather than being positioned as a standalone replacement for conventional therapy.
The company says its platform is designed for use in rehabilitation programmes tailored to an individual’s condition, functional goals and response to therapy.
Its target conditions include spinal cord injuries, stroke, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. These conditions can affect movement, balance, muscle control and other functions, creating long-term rehabilitation requirements for many patients.
Importantly, the technology should not be interpreted as a guaranteed treatment or cure for neurological disorders. Its role is within neurorehabilitation, where outcomes can vary according to the patient’s condition and other clinical factors.
Parag Gad built xStep on years of neuroscience research
xStep’s origins go back nearly two decades to research led by founder Parag Gad at the University of California, Los Angeles, commonly known as UCLA.
Gad, a neuroscientist and biomedical engineer, worked on spinal neuromodulation research exploring how targeted electrical stimulation could potentially support the restoration of movement following neurological injury or disease. He later returned to India with the aim of translating that research into rehabilitation technology that could be used by patients and healthcare providers.
That research background is one of the factors that distinguishes xStep from many consumer-focused startups that appear on televised entrepreneurship programmes.
The company’s development has involved moving technology from an academic research environment into a commercial medical technology setting. This transition requires more than building a working device. Clinical evidence, manufacturing, regulatory requirements and relationships with healthcare professionals all become important as a medical technology company expands.
Shark Tank India brought xStep to a wider audience
Before securing backing from Titan Capital, xStep appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, where its technology was demonstrated to the show’s investors.
The official Shark Tank India channel published footage of the xStep pitch and demonstration, describing the product as a non-invasive neuromodulation solution aimed at helping people regain movement and motor function after neurological injuries or conditions.
The television appearance helped introduce neurotechnology and spinal neuromodulation to a much wider mainstream audience.
However, the company’s latest investment comes from Titan Capital and should be viewed separately from its television appearance. Shark Tank exposure and venture investment are different events, and the latest funding represents a new stage in xStep’s business development.
The company has also continued building its operations beyond the television pitch, working with clinicians, hospitals, researchers and rehabilitation centres in India and overseas.
xStep One centre expands its rehabilitation model
As part of its expansion, xStep has launched xStep One, an integrated neurorehabilitation experience centre in Bengaluru.
The centre brings together xStep’s spinal neuromodulation technology with rehabilitation services. The company has also collaborated with Trexo Robotics to bring its wearable robotic gait trainer for children to India.
According to xStep’s reported plans, the combination is intended to create an integrated rehabilitation programme rather than relying on a single technology. The company says xStep One is among the first centres in India to offer both xStep spinal neuromodulation and Trexo robotic gait training within one rehabilitation programme.
This approach reflects a broader shift in medical technology towards combining devices, therapy and clinical expertise.
For patients and families, however, availability is only one part of the equation. Affordability, clinical suitability, access to trained professionals and evidence of effectiveness remain important considerations when adopting specialised rehabilitation technologies.
Where Titan Capital funding could take xStep
The financial details of Titan Capital’s investment have not been publicly disclosed. What has been made clear is how xStep intends to use the funding.
The company plans to scale manufacturing, expand clinical collaborations, generate additional evidence across neurological conditions and continue regulatory work in India and international markets.
xStep also plans to deepen its relationships with clinicians, hospitals and rehabilitation centres.
The next 12 to 24 months could therefore be important for the company as it attempts to move from a relatively specialised neurotechnology business into a larger healthcare platform.
For Titan Capital, the investment adds a medical technology company to its portfolio and represents backing for a founder with a long research background. Titan Capital said the combination of scientific research, clinical evidence, patient benefit and a commercial plan were among the factors that attracted it to xStep.
India sees growing interest in deeptech healthcare startups
The xStep investment also highlights the wider opportunity for Indian deeptech startups working at the intersection of science, engineering and healthcare.
Medical technology companies typically face different challenges from conventional consumer startups. Developing hardware can require significant research and development spending, while clinical validation and regulatory processes can take substantial time.
For neurotechnology in particular, the path from laboratory research to patient use requires careful evidence generation.
xStep’s strategy is therefore not simply about selling a device. Its expansion involves manufacturing, clinical partnerships, regulatory compliance and rehabilitation programmes.
The company says it is currently involved in more than 25 clinical studies, investigator collaborations and real-world evidence programmes involving neurological conditions across 20 countries. These claims come from company statements reported by The Economic Times and should be distinguished from independent clinical validation of every application of the technology.
That distinction matters when assessing medical startups. Funding is an indicator of investor confidence, but it is not itself proof that a medical technology works for every patient or condition.
What the xStep funding means for patients and the startup ecosystem
For xStep, Titan Capital’s backing provides capital for the next phase of expansion. For India’s startup ecosystem, it is another example of investors showing interest in specialised technologies that address healthcare problems rather than only consumer markets.
The bigger challenge will be execution.
Scaling a neurorehabilitation platform requires maintaining manufacturing quality, generating credible clinical evidence, meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring healthcare professionals can use the technology appropriately.
The company has said its broader objective is to make advanced neurorehabilitation more accessible in India and internationally.
Whether that ambition translates into wider patient access will depend on factors including clinical outcomes, pricing, healthcare partnerships and the company’s ability to scale responsibly.
For now, the Titan Capital investment gives xStep additional financial backing as it attempts to take its research-driven neurotechnology into a larger commercial and clinical market.
Key Takeaways
- Bengaluru-based xStep has raised funding from Titan Capital, although the investment amount has not been disclosed.
- The startup develops non-invasive spinal neuromodulation technology combined with structured rehabilitation for neurological conditions.
- xStep plans to use the funding for manufacturing expansion, clinical collaborations, evidence generation and regulatory work.
- The startup previously appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5 and has since expanded its clinical and commercial activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is xStep?
xStep is a Bengaluru-based neurotechnology startup focused on non-invasive neurorehabilitation. Its platform combines spinal neuromodulation with structured rehabilitation for people affected by conditions including stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
Who invested in xStep?
Titan Capital has invested in xStep, bringing the startup into its investment portfolio. The amount invested has not been publicly disclosed.
Was xStep featured on Shark Tank India?
Yes. xStep was featured on Shark Tank India Season 5, where its neurotechnology was demonstrated to the show’s investors. The official Shark Tank India channel published footage of the pitch and product demonstration.
What will xStep do with the new funding?
The company plans to expand manufacturing, increase clinical collaborations, generate additional evidence across neurological conditions and undertake regulatory work in India and international markets.
