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Embody

MaterialsNorfolk, Virginia, United StatesFounded 2014· One of 1019 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Embody developed collagen-based regenerative matrices for soft tissue repair using advanced biofabrication.

CEO / Founder
Jeff Conroy
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$34.5M
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
757 Angels, Black Forest Ventures, Horizon Technology Finance, Genesis Innovation Group cultivate(MD)

Technology & Products

Key Products

TAPESTRY and ActivBraid (collagen-based biointegrative solutions for soft tissue repair)

Technological Advantage

Developed under DARPA Atoms 2 Products program; molecular-scale assembly for superior strength

Differentiation

Value Proposition

High-strength biocompatible collagen repair materials with tailorable 3D structures.

How They Differentiate

Molecular-level assembly creating superior collagen structures; DARPA-validated technology

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine specialists, hospitals

Industry Verticals

Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Regenerative Medicine

Competitors

Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Stryker

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

$44.2M total funding raised; $14.35M DARPA non-dilutive funding; Acquired by Zimmer Biomet January 2023 for $155M

Major Milestones

2014: Founded in Norfolk, VA by Jeff Conroy and Michael Francis; 2018: $3.6M seed round; DARPA Atoms 2 Products funding ($14.35M total); Developed Tapestry biointegrative implant, Microbraid collagen suture, Microbrace; 2021: $20.5M funding round; 2022-09: $10.4M Series C; 2023-01-05: Acquired by Zimmer Biomet for $155M

Notable Customers

Orthopedic surgeons, Sports medicine practitioners, Medical centers using Tapestry implant and Microbrace products

https://embody-inc.com

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
7
Granted
2
Families
7

Leading domains: process (7), application (6), equipment (4)

Filings by year: 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3

  1. MICROFLUIDIC EXTRUSION03917756 · EP
  2. MICROPOST ARRAY APPARATUS AND BIOCOMPATIBLE SCAFFOLD04251217 · EP
  3. MICROFLUIDIC EXTRUSION2020160491 · WO
  4. Rotating frame apparatus and biocompatible scaffold construct12514956 · US
  5. MICROPOST ARRAY APPARATUS AND COMPOSITE BIOLOGICAL SCAFFOLD20220193302 · US

Funding rounds

  • Acquisition$155M (acquisition)2023-01Source: PitchBook
  • Series C$10.4M2022-09Lead: cultivate(MD) · Source: MedTech Innovator
  • Series B$20.5M2021-08Source: BioSpace
  • Seed$3.6M2018-01Source: Press Release

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

Embody develops collagen-based regenerative matrices for soft tissue repair, using advanced biofabrication techniques that assemble collagen from the molecular to product scale. This approach, developed under the DARPA Atoms 2 Products program, aims to produce biocompatible repair materials with tailorable 3D structures and superior mechanical strength compared to conventional collagen scaffolds.

The company's key products include TAPESTRY, a biointegrative implant, and ActivBraid, a collagen-based suture. These are designed for use by orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists in procedures such as rotator cuff repair and tendon augmentation. Embody's technology targets the soft tissue repair segment within orthopedics and regenerative medicine.

Embody was acquired by Zimmer Biomet in January 2023 for $155 million plus up to $120 million in milestone payments, and now operates within Zimmer Biomet's sports medicine portfolio. The company raised approximately $34.5 million in venture funding from investors including 757 Angels, Black Forest Ventures, and Horizon Technology Finance, supplemented by $14.35 million in non-dilutive DARPA funding.

A key open question is how Embody's collagen biofabrication technology will scale within a large orthopedic OEM and whether its molecular assembly approach can achieve broader adoption against established competitors like Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, and Stryker in the sports medicine implant market.