SoftWheel Valuation, Funding & Investors
SoftWheel is valued at $136M as of August 2018.
Last SoftWheel valuation
$136M
Series C · Aug 2018
Last SoftWheel funding round
$120M
Series D · Nov 2019
Cumulative funding SoftWheel raised
$158M
across 4 funding rounds
Key investors in SoftWheel
About SoftWheel
SoftWheel is a Tel Aviv-headquartered developer of in-wheel suspension technology that integrates shock absorption directly into wheels for wheelchairs, bicycles, scooters, and automotive applications. The company's patented system replaces traditional suspension components, enabling smoother rides over rough terrain while reducing overall vehicle weight. SoftWheel serves the personal mobility market, including partnerships with NSK Ltd. for precision components and Linamar Corporation for manufacturing scale-up. Founded in 2012, it has expanded from Israel to global distribution, with products like the SoftWheel for wheelchairs improving user independence in urban and off-road environments. The technology also targets electric vehicles for enhanced range efficiency through lighter designs.
Founded
2011
HQ
Tel AvivWebsite
Status
Privately held
Customer focus
B2B & B2C
Revenue model
Product sales
Valuation
$136M (Aug 2018)
Sectors
SoftWheel Valuation
SoftWheel is currently valued at $136M, based on its Series C in August 2018.
The $25M round was led by Musashi Seimitsu Industry, with participation from Mitsubishi.
SoftWheel valuation by funding round
| Date | Stage | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2018 | Series C | $136M |
SoftWheel Funding History
SoftWheel has raised a total of $158M across 4 funding rounds.
SoftWheel's first fundraising round was a $3M Series A in January 2014. The most recent completed round was a $120M Series D in November 2019.
SoftWheel funding rounds
| Date | Stage | Investors | Raised | Valuation | Deal Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2019 | Series D | - | $120M | - | SoftWheel is an Israeli startup originally developing in-wheel motor technology for applications like bicycles and wheelchairs. The company raised a total of $35M across three funding rounds, with the latest being a Series C of $25M on August 20, 2018, led by investors including Rothschild Group, Mitsubishi, and Musashi Seimitsu Industry. A SEC filing states that in 2018, SoftWheel raised $25 million at a $140 million valuation. SoftWheel's investors also included the BIRD Foundation in an earlier grant round. The company's technology influenced REE Automotive, founded by SoftWheel's co-founders, which reached a $580M valuation in a late 2019 fundraising round. REE has since pivoted to modular EV platforms using similar in-wheel tech, employing 100 people with 60 patents by late 2019, highlighting the evolution from SoftWheel's original focus. |
| Aug 2018 | Series C | Musashi Seimitsu Industry (lead); Mitsubishi | $25M | $136M | SoftWheel is an Israeli startup based in Tel Aviv developing innovative wheel suspension technology aimed at revolutionizing automotive applications by providing shock absorption and improved ride quality. The company announced a Series C funding round on August 20, 2018, raising $25 million, with participation from Japanese auto parts manufacturer Musashi Seimitsu Industry (which invested $6 million), Mitsubishi Corporation, Rothschild Group as lead, and others. This round valued the company at NIS 500 million, equivalent to $136 million, according to the company's statements. Alongside the investment, SoftWheel signed a strategic R&D and manufacturing partnership with Musashi Seimitsu, a Tier 1 supplier partly owned by Honda with global manufacturing sites, to produce automotive systems including powertrain components for electric vehicles and support market penetration with OEMs. Musashi Seimitsu CEO Hiroshi Otsuka highlighted SoftWheel's unique solution for future automotive platforms. The partnership fuses technologies to accelerate development of decelerators, linkage, suspension products, and electrification solutions, with plans for global commercialization through OEM collaborations. SoftWheel had previously raised $15 million across earlier rounds and secured partnerships with major players like Ford and IVECO for next-generation wheels. The company expressed strong interest from automotive components manufacturers and OEMs valuing its revolutionary technology. |
| May 2017 | Series B | NSK | $10M | - | SoftWheel is an Israeli company founded in 2011 that develops shock-absorbing wheels with integrated in-wheel suspension systems for the bicycle, automotive, and wheelchair industries. The company's technology integrates the drivetrain, suspension, e-motor, steering, and brakes directly into vehicle wheels, reducing space, weight, and energy consumption—particularly valuable for electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and autonomous driving applications. NSK Ltd., a Tokyo-based bearing and automotive parts manufacturer, invested in SoftWheel in May 2017 as part of its broader strategy to increase involvement in the personal mobility industry, following its earlier investment in WHILL Inc. SoftWheel later raised $25 million in a third funding round in 2018 at a company valuation of $140 million, with Japan-based auto parts manufacturer Musashi Seimitsu investing $6 million and signing a strategic collaboration agreement. The company had secured partnerships with major automotive players including Ford and IVECO, and had signed a $4.5 million contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to supply wheels for 2,000 wheelchairs over three years. |
| Jan 2014 | Series A | - | $3M | - | - |
Who has invested in SoftWheel?
3 investors have backed SoftWheel across its funding rounds, including Mitsubishi, Musashi Seimitsu Industry and NSK.
Lead investors include Musashi Seimitsu Industry.
SoftWheel Investors
| Investor | HQ | Rounds | Role | First check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tokyo | 1 | Participant | May 2017 | |
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Benchmark 350K+ Funding Rounds and Disclosed VC Valuation Multiples
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Start Free TrialSoftWheel Competitors
SoftWheel competitors include listed companies like Kudan and Xtract One Technologies, and private ones like Neubility, AutoX, Homerun Smart and Qiangua Technology.
| Company | HQ | Status | Revenue | EBITDA | Valuation | Revenue Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Seoul | Private | - | - | $139M | - | |
 United States | Private | - | - | $132M | - | |
 Guangzhou | Private | - | - | $145M | - | |
| Beijing | Private | - | - | $145M | - | |
| Japan | Publicly listed | $8M | ($1M) | $105M | 13.3x | |
 Canada | Publicly listed | $10M | ($7M) | $101M | 4.0x |
SoftWheel Public Comps
SoftWheel is still privately-owned, but its public comps include Minieye Technology, Kudan, Xtract One Technologies, Innoviz, Safe Pro Group, Arbe Robotics, iMotion Automotive Tech, VenHub, Merlin and Palladyne AI.
| Last FY | EV/Revenue | EV/EBITDA | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | EBITDA | Last FY | LTM | 2027E | Last FY | LTM | 2027E | |
| $113M | ($57M) | 0.5x | 0.3x | (0.9x) | (1.4x) | |||
| $8M | ($1M) | 12.1x | 13.3x | (79.7x) | - | |||
| $10M | ($7M) | 9.1x | 4.0x | (12.9x) | (52.9x) | |||
| $55M | ($62M) | 1.5x | 1.3x | (1.3x) | (1.3x) | |||
| $607K | ($14M) | 136.5x | 16.1x | (5.9x) | (12.5x) | |||
| $1M | ($48M) | 68.7x | 22.0x | (1.5x) | (2.1x) | |||
| $149M | ($58M) | 0.7x | 0.5x | (1.9x) | - | |||
| $864K | ($62M) | 80.8x | - | (1.1x) | - | |||
This data is available for Pro users. Sign up to see all SoftWheel competitors and their valuation data. Start Free Trial | ||||||||
Common questions about SoftWheel
| When was SoftWheel founded? | SoftWheel was founded in 2011. |
| Where is SoftWheel headquartered? | SoftWheel is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. |
| Is SoftWheel publicly listed? | No, SoftWheel is a private, VC-backed company. |
| What is SoftWheel's valuation? | SoftWheel was last valued at $136M in its Series C in August 2018. |
| How much funding has SoftWheel raised? | SoftWheel has raised $158M across 4 funding rounds. |
| What was SoftWheel's last funding round? | SoftWheel's last funding round was a $120M Series D in November 2019. |
| Who are SoftWheel's investors? | SoftWheel's investors include NSK, Mitsubishi and Musashi Seimitsu Industry. |
| Which companies are comparable to SoftWheel? | Companies comparable to SoftWheel include Neubility, AutoX, Homerun Smart, Qiangua Technology, Kudan and Xtract One Technologies. |
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