Hyprlift, Inc. Receives US$1 Million Grant for Development of Elevator Technology

Silicon Valley-based tech startup Hyprlift, Inc. has been awarded a US$1 million federal grant to design and build a next-generation elevator from concept. Given by the National Science Foundation upon successful completion of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project — in which the company built and tested a proof-of-concept prototype — the grant is a SBIR Phase II award. Hyprlift’s cab concept is self-propelled by an onboard dynamic-tractive drive that engages with the shaft’s guide rails and propels the cab without the use of ropes. This drive makes it possible for multiple Hyprlift cabs to travel within the same shaft, enabling greater transport capacity and shorter wait times using fewer shafts than traditional elevator systems.