U-M Startup Neurable Raises $2M Seed Funding for Brain Wave Control Technology

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A brain-computer interface technology created by Neurable, a University of Michigan startup, has raised $2 million to bring the software platform to market. Neurable’s non-invasive, patent-pending technology interprets a person’s brain activity to enable real-time control of software and connected devices.

By using sensors to track brain activity, Neurable offers a hands-free method for control while avoiding the limitations of other technologies such as eye-tracking or voice commands. With Neurable, users can control menus and options in AR displays, or create magic and cast spells in VR games, all through the power of their brains.

The company is also developing a software development kit for the integration of its technology with virtual/augmented reality content and headsets, which it says will solve current problems with the user experience.
“Our goal is to build a new platform for human-computer interaction,” says Ramses Alcaide, co-founder and CEO of Neurable. “Our investors share our vision for the broad potential of our technology and for creating a world without limitations. We appreciate their confidence.”

Alcaide developed the technology while working on his doctorate at U-M’s Direct Brain Interface Laboratory under Dr. Jane Huggins, a leading researcher in brain-computer interfaces. Alcaide’s innovation is based on new insights into how certain brainwaves work. Neurable performs complex data analyses using novel machine learning approaches, which provide significant advantages in speed and accuracy when determining user intent.

Because Neurable is platform agnostic, the company will license a software development kit to AR/VR headset manufacturers and content developers, including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Microsoft HoloLens, in the second half of 2017.