Dynamic Neurotech Podcast

Key Moments

0:00 Introduction

6:25 Master of Surgery Degree

7:57 Initial Interest in Neuroscience/Neurotechnology

9:37 Bionic Vision Technologies 

13:56 BVT Clinical Trials

16:27 BVT Compared to Other Visual Prosthetics and Solutions

21:12 Patient Experiences: Regaining Vision and Confidence

23:11 Ties Between Cochlear and BVT

26:23 What’s Next for BVT?

28:37 Neurotech CEO: Day-to-Day Picture

30:16 How to Get Involved in Neurotech

32:57 The Future of Neurotech

34:07 Conclusion and Contact Info

Host: Robert Murcko

Recorded: January 16, 2024

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Key Moments

0:00 Lee Sidebottom Introduction: Director of Concept Applications at NeuroTracker

5:29 Initial Interest in Neuroscience

12:14 Brain Imaging Technologies Utilized: Currently qEEG. fMRI in Future?

14:55 Early Technology Transfer and Living with CEO

19:52 What is NeuroTracker Working On? Closed-Loop EEG, AR/VR

23:43 NeuroTuner - Exclusive Details - Never Publicly Mentioned Before

32:37 Study with US Air Force: Pilot Training Next

34:28 Learning Curves of Various Populations

37:05 Study with Stock Market Traders

37:53 Longitudinal Study NFL/NHL Combines

39:05 Study with Special Forces

40:10 Studies with French Rugby Team: Blood-Based Biomarkers & Fatigue

42:31 Studies in E-Sports

44:50 Is NeuroTracker Customized for Different Uses and Domains?

50:32 Predictions for Neurotechnology Over Next 20 Years

55:18 Conclusion and Contact Info

Host: Robert Murcko

Recorded: January 12, 2024

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Neurotracker: https://www.neurotrackerx.com/

Lee Sidebottom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-neurotracker/

Dr. Faubert’s Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=PDodkWEAAAAJ&hl=fr

3D-Multiple Object Tracking training task improves passing decision-making accuracy in soccer players (Paper): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029215000631

Critical Review of NeuroTracker (Paper): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33821464/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Nao Yukawa is a founder of the startup DeMind. Their main product is an app called Lifestack which helps you “Schedule Your Day with Energy in Mind” by using physiological data from your wearables and contextual data from your calendar and other sources.  Nao and his cofounders at DeMind have had an exciting journey so far - they pivoted away from their original idea, are finding some solid traction with this one, raised an investment round to help super charge their growth, and even pitched to legendary angel investor Jason Calacanis.  Regarding whats next: in the future, Lifestack may support neural signal data as one of the app’s inputs.  They are also looking to further expand the contextual data they utilize for a more seamless and intuitive experience.  Those interested in the neurotech and wearable startup scene should keep an eye on Nao and his team.  Recorded: July 25, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments

0:00 Introduction

2:41 Initial Interest in Wearables and Neurotechnology

4:32 Pitching to Jason Calacanis and Founder University

7:02 Juggling Attending Two Universities at Once

8:42 Founding Story Behind DeMind

10:37 Previous Projects and Pivot to Lifestack

13:09 Future Directions: Incorporating Neural Signals into Lifestack

15:33 Lifestack Competitors

16:08 Integrating with Existing Calendar Apps

17:35 Long-Term Goals: Combining Physiological and Contextual Data

19:37 Advice for Getting Involved with Wearables and Neurotech

21:05 Predictions: The Future of Neurotechnology and Wearables

22:17 Book Recommendation: “The Mom Test” and Neuroscience Textbooks

24:42 Where to Find the Lifestack App

25:28 Conclusion and Contact Information

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Lifestack App: https://lifestack.ai/download

Lifestack on Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/products/lifestack

Nao Yukawa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naoyukawa/

Nao Yukawa Twitter: https://x.com/nyneurotech

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Dr. Iris Brunner (PT, PhD) is an Associate Professor and Researcher at the University of Aarhus’ Hammel Neurocenter in Denmark.  She works in the domain of physiotherapy and neuro-rehabilitation. She is both a researcher and a clinician. Her areas of interest include upper limb motor recovery after stroke, technology-assisted rehabilitation, and life after stroke. Current projects include brain-computer interface training for patients, digital monitoring, and high intensity gait training. She also has a deep interest in clinical translation of research.  Our conversation mainly centers on the use of technology in neuro-rehab and stroke recovery. We also discuss what the future of neuro-rehab may look like and what aspects of various tools and technology are most useful for patients and clinicians. Recorded: March 14, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments: 

0:00 Introduction

1:38 Initial Interest in NeuroRehabilitation

3:20 What is NeuroRehabilitation?

6:22 Examples of Tech Applied to NeuroRehab

9:38 Spatial Neglect

12:01 Precision NeuroRehabilitation

17:23 Current State of Technology in NeuroRehab

19:50 Co-Design: Scaling Up Technology in NeuroRehab

24:00 BCI Research for Upper Limb Paresis After Stroke

28:15 Not There Yet with BCI: Future Directions

29:13 Regulators & Payment

30:40 Predictions for Applications of Technology to Clinical NeuroRehab

34:00 Focus on the End Users

34:50 Conclusion and Contact Info

Links:

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Dr. Brunner's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-brunner-83b91b73/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Interview with Dr. Joern Rickert. He is the CEO of Neudio, a non-invasive neurotechnology company focused on brain wave modulation and generating music from brainwaves, with the goal of improving mental well-being through personalized music experiences. This episode covers a wide range of interesting topics, where Dr. Rickert and I discuss: his background in neurotechnology and entrepreneurship from Cortec, the challenges and advantages of non-invasive vs. invasive neurotechnologies, the differences in signal processing, Neudio's 'closed-loop' approach to brain activity modulation, comparisons with other neurotechnology companies like Neurable, and future outlook for the company and the broader neurotechnology field. Recorded: May 2024. Host: Neil Raman

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

0:57 Beginnings of Neudio + Transition from Cortec

3:18 Advantages of Non-Invasive Technologies

5:12 Drawbacks with Invasive Technology

8:48 Non-Invasive Advantages with Neudio

13:06 Evolution of Signal Processing and Effects in the Neurotech Field

15:30 Signal Processing with Neudio

17:44 Future Impacts with Neudio

19:48 Differentiating Neudio from Alternative Solutions/Companies

24:42 Next Steps with Neudio

Links:

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Joern Rickert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joern-rickert-3386231a/

Neil Raman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-raman21/

Neudio: https://www.neudio.com/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Kaustubh Deshpande is the Co-Founder of Eywa Neuro. He previously spent time as an engineer at Neuralink and NeuroNexus. In our conversation we discuss clinical translation, the neurotech startup space, running your own company, India’s neurotech ecosystem, the founding of Eywa Neuro, the future of Eywa Neuro, how to break into neurotech, and more! Recorded: January 15, 2024. Hosts: Robert Murcko and Yuqing Wang.

Key Moments:

0:00 Intro

8:13 Initial Interest in Neurotechnology

13:07 Clinical Translation Wisdom

16:39 Polyimide Trade Space

22:17 Building Your Own Company vs Working at a Startup

27:14 India’s Neurotech Ecosystem

32:07 Future of Eywa Neuro

34:47 Does neurotech need more experts from a certain domain?

38:58 How to break into neurotech

44:34 Future of Neurotech

50:27 Conclusion

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Kaustubh Deshpande LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaustubh-deshpande-3931b8157/

Eywa Neuro: https://eywaneuro.com/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

James Hamet has been working in AI and neurotech since his undergrad days.  He is a serial neurotech founder and has been deeply involved with both Neurable and Vistim Labs.  Our interview covers a range of topics: his early days in neurotech, lessons learned from his time at Neurable, an overview of Vistim’s products/tech, his vision for the future of the space (both short term and long term), the differences between going bootstrapped vs VC-funded, advice for founders, and more.  Recorded: March 7, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko.

Key Moments:

0:00 Intro

3:45 Initial Involvement in Neuroscience/Neurotech

7:29 Founding of Vistim Labs

10:30 Learnings from Neurable Inform Current Work

13:25 Venture Funding Pros/Cons

19:00 Vistim Labs Tech/Product

22:47 Vistim Labs Involvement w/ Research & Academia

25:47 Researchers are kind of like investors

26:23 Vistim Labs Competitors

31:01 Vistim Labs Short-Term Future

33:23 The Secret of All Business

35:10 Vistim Labs Long-Term Vision

40:50 Advice for Breaking Into Neurotech

44:50 The Future of Neurotech

48:57 Conclusion

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

James Hamet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchamet/

Ridge Neurotech: https://ridgeneurotech.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Interview with Yacine Achiakh.  He is the CEO and co-founder of Wisear, a company working on building the neural interface and human-machine interface platform technology of the future.  Their goal is to enable people to have seamless, voiceless, and touchless control over their everyday devices.  Their first application of this technology is earbuds outfitted with electrodes that can pick up biosignals (EEG, EMG, EOG, etc.) and convert them into control signals for various devices.  This episode is jam-packed with interesting and useful information from start to finish. 

Yacine and I talk for over an hour discussing a range of topics like: his career journey before founding Wisear, quitting his job to start the company, inspiration from Neuralink, scrappy early stage building & prototyping, development of Wisear’s technology stack, techniques to reduce electromagnetic noise, strategic decisions to get their product into more hands, the value of collecting data, hardware agnostic technology frameworks, possible research partnerships, neural interfaces & human-machine interfaces of the future, the changing form factors of our devices & interactions with technology, advice for students, advice for founders, the interconnected neurotech community, why its hard to bootstrap in neurotech, why its useful to raise a large first round of venture capital funding in neurotech, short term future of neurotechnology, long term future of neurotechnology, and neurotech’s upcoming eventual “GenAI moment.”

At the conclusion of the episode, Yacine gives a brief demonstration of Wisear’s technology and discusses opportunities to become part of Wisear’s alpha testing group, beta testing group, or the broader community that they are working to build. Recorded March 28, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

3:00 Initial Interest in Neurotechnology/Neuroscience

4:04 Inspiration from Neuralink (SF Soccer Game)

7:55 Wisear’s Founding

8:49 Quitting Job and Scrappy Tinkering

10:24 Human-Machine Interface: Control

11:42 Early Prototype

12:47 Early Funding and Hiring a Small Team

13:54 Product and Technology Overview

20:32 Neural Interface Platform Tech: Form Agnostic (Earphones, Glasses, etc.)

21:47 A Community of Users

23:02 Wisear Silent Speech Controls

25:51 Use Cases of Wisear’s Existing Products and Technology

30:18 Wisear Applications in Augmented Reality

33:15 Neurotech CEO: Day-to-Day

38:02 Background in AI and Management at Criteo Informing Wisear

43:07 Wisear’s Competitors and the Vibrant Neurotech Community

46:37 Next Steps and Future Vision for Wisear

50:25 Advice for Breaking Into Neurotech

54:49 Advice for Neurotech Founders

58:13 Neurotechnology Predictions

1:00:52 Wisear Demo

1:03:38 Conclusion

Free Neurotechnology Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Wisear Website: https://www.wisear.io/ 

Yacine Achiakh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yacineachiakh/

Robert Murcko’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-murcko/

Interview with VCU Bioengineering Research Scientist Dr. Geetanjali Bendale.  Some of the topics we discuss include her current work in nerve repair and regeneration, her past work in bioelectronics/neurotechnology, translating basic science into the clinic, partnerships with surgeon scientists, the future of neurotech, and advice for students looking to get into this space. Recorded January 15, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

6:38 Initial Interest in Neuroscience?

7:18 Dreams of Being a Surgeon

9:53 Amazed by the Details of Neurobiology

12:43 Neuromodulation w/ Miniature Wireless Stimulator for Small Peripheral Nerves

16:18 Direct Vagus Nerve to Spleen Communication Discovered

20:56 Nerve Tape: Sutureless Coaptation Device to Repair Peripheral Nerve Defects

29:43 Neuromuscular Repair - Current Research Focus and Future Directions

34:20 Autograft vs Allograft

37:05 Predictions for the Future of Neurotechnology

43:57 Tips for Students Looking to Build a Career in Neurotech

47:44 Conclusion and Contact Information

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Dr. Bendale’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetanjali-bendale-1844a834/

Interview with Greg Alden. He is the CEO of Diagnostic Biochips – a company providing high fidelity research tools to neuroscientists for electrophysiology and more.  He spent the early years of his career optimizing data communications to solve big problems in the domains of broadband and mobile communications.  He now brings this set of useful expertise to the neurotech world.  We have a conversation talking about everything from the future of neurotechnology innovation, Greg’s journey into the field (in part sparked by his diagnosis with a neurological condition), management principles for a technical organization, and more! Recorded January 16, 2024. Hosts: Robert Murcko and

Key Moments

0:00 Intro

1:54 Parkinson’s Diagnosis

3:06 Applying Tech to Neuro Problems

4:08 Brain as a Distributed Computing Networking Function

5:03 Interest in Neuroscience

7:14 Involvement with Diagnostic Biochips

9:46 Commercialization of Diagnostic Biochips’ Products

11:30 Transitioning from Telecom to Neurotech

14:03 Market Landscape and Diagnostic Biochips’ Place In It

17:21 From Idea Stage through Go-to-Market

21:20 Advice for Academics Looking to Translate Their Technology

23:59 Technical vs. Business Priorities

26:29 Diagnostic Biochips’ Products and Offerings

29:28 Cloud-Based Analysis Platform

35:24 Diagnostic Biochips Contributions to the Field of

40:03 Advice for Getting Involved with Neurotech

42:23 The Future of Neurotechnology

46:42 Conclusion and Contact Information

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter:

https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Diagnostic Biochips: https://diagnosticbiochips.com/

Greg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregjalden/