Alphabet X and Arc’teryx Partner to Release Everyday Exoskeleton

Skip’s “Powered Pants” Get the Grand Canyon’s Backing: A Sneak Peek Into the Future of Hiking

What’s up with this new tech?

Skip, the stealthy startup that grew under the Alphabet umbrella, finally broke its encryption and teamed up with Arc’teryx. The result? “MO/GO” Pants—think soft exoskeletons that actually help you walk.

MO/GO 101

• Hybrid Design: Combines soft-gel support with a tiny rigid frame.
• Energy Assistance: Gives the leg muscles a 40 % boost, so you don’t feel the burn.
• Low Knee Strain: Offloads a lot of the “heavy lifting” from your knees.
• Named for the “Mountain Goat”—because who else would be the ultimate off‑trail booster?

How It Works (and Why You’ll Love It)

When you put on the MO/GO pants, a lightweight exoskeleton quietly nudges your quadriceps and hamstrings. The result? You walk faster, feel less fatigue, and can skip the slump your regular hiking boots would usually leave you with.

Release & Availability

Reservations opened this week, with shipments expected later in the year. The soft launch, scheduled for late summer/early fall, will start as a rental program near adventure hotspots, including the Grand Canyon.

Why It Matters

FYI: TechCrunch first tipped off the world about this project back in 2021 while it was still a closed‑door experiment inside Alphabet’s X Labs moonshot factory. Now the tech is finally out in the real world—and it’s cooler than a cucumber.

Feel the mountain in your strides—don’t miss out on the first “powered pants” that promise to turn hiking from a workout into a breeze.

Alphabet’s Shake‑Up: X Takes a Hard Hit in 2023‑24

When year‑end 2023 rolled around, Alphabet thought it was time to tighten its belt—especially on the X division. In a move that sent ripples through the tech world, the parent company trimmed resources across the board, and the boom‑town “Other Bets” unit, which houses X Labs, took a hefty bite of its own throat, bleeding a shocking $1.19 billion out of its coffers in Q3 last year.

Behind the Numbers: Kathlit’s “Almost‑Rocky” Road

Founder and CEO Kathryn Zealand told TechCrunch that by late 2023 it had become blatantly clear that X was no longer a viable project for Alphabet.

“In the final stretch of ’23, it plainly emerged it didn’t truly belong in Alphabet’s family tree,” she said. “The world was tightening budgets, and X was a looming headache. So we had to pivot and get ready to raise funds.”

From a Spin‑Out to a Dream‑Start

When Alphabet refused to sell Skip’s foundational IP to Zealand on a personal basis, the ex‑Google gem‑hunter went straight to venture capital. The aim? To carve out a fresh, independent venture.

• Seed funds of $6 million have already found their way into Skip, combining investor money and grants.
• The journey is far from over—each funding round brings the startup closer to its hard‑earned autonomy.

Why the Shake‑Up Matters

It’s more than just a headline. It’s a test of how big tech companies can jettison projects that don’t fit the portfolio and how younger founders can pivot fast, scraping together crowdsourced capital to keep buzzing forward.

Stay Tuned

The raw undercurrent of Alphabet’s internal realignment is still unfolding. Watch this space for more updates on Skip’s climb from a spin‑out to a headline‑making venture.

Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.

Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.

Skip’s San Francisco Sprint

When & Where

October 27‑29, 2025, right in the heart of the Tech Capital.

Why You Should Join

• Meet the crew turning tech into textile.
• See how Skip is rewriting the playbook for go‑to‑market.
• Discover the new muse: a fashion partner that’s breaking the mold.
• Grab exclusive swag and get a sneak peek at the next big thing.

The Big Punchline

Once Skip started doodling on its own, the next step was clear: snag a fashion partner—because a killer style partnership isn’t just a nice idea, it’s the secret sauce.

From Lab to Life: Skip’s New Mobility Marvel

“I’ve never gotten over my fashion faux‑pas,” Zealand laughs, a hint of mischief in his voice. “But when we added the jaw‑dropping tech into the mix, the possibilities became anything but ordinary.”

Lab‑sweet Beginnings

• Kick‑off moment: A senior woman, in her 25th year of skipping stairs, slipped into Skip’s prototype and wowed everyone by scaling one flight—twice—within minutes.
• From wonder to realism: “The lab was brilliant,” Zealand notes, “but turning that into a product that’s comfortable everyday wear? That’s the real challenge.”

Choosing the Right Partner

Skip tested a handful of apparel brands before locking eyes with Arc’teryx. “They ticked every box,” Zealand explains: premium clothing, hard‑goods like harnesses, and a sweet spot that marries form with function.

Real‑World Testing on the Trail

• Hiking rentals will play the arena for anonymous data collection, ensuring the tech holds up under rugged conditions.
• Yet the ultimate dream? Everyday, everyday life wear—not just for occasional adventures.

Cost & Clinical Outlook

With a launch price of $4,500, the product sits comfortably within the budgets of those with mobility challenges. Should the device clear medical‑device classification, Skip plans to put it under the FSA’s umbrella to bring costs even lower.

Clinical trials, currently underway, focus on conditions like Parkinson’s, aiming to prove the system’s real‑world efficacy.

Scaling & Future Prospects

• Mass manufacturing will drive the price down—quite literally, a ground‑breaking approach.
• Alphabet’s “spin‑out” strategy: Big names get deep backing; smaller projects are set free to grow independently.

Case in Point: Iyo

CEO Jason Rugolo recounts how Alphabet bet early on his generative headphones yet stayed out of the board room. “It’s about giving the start‑up room to innovate,” he says.

In a nutshell, Skip’s journey from a lab prototype to a potential everyday tool is already pioneering. And if you’re tempted to think technology can’t have a touch of humor, just imagine a knee‑migrating staircase—turns out, a little technology makes the world a bit easier to navigate.