NextSense

NextSense is a brain health company focusing on developing biosensing earbuds that can capture electroencephalogram (EEG) data to study and monitor various neurological conditions. Their innovative earbuds are designed to comfortably collect longitudinal EEG data during the day and night, allowing for continuous monitoring of brain activity.

The company's technology uses miniaturized electronics and conductive coatings to amplify and capture brain signals through the ear canal. In November 2019, NextSense successfully detected a seizure for the first time using their earbuds during a study at Emory University, accurately logging 16 out of 17 seizures identified by implanted electrodes.

NextSense's approach offers a non-invasive and portable alternative to traditional EEG machines, which require patients to stay overnight in clinical settings for monitoring. By correlating EEG data with environmental and behavioral patterns from smart devices, the company aims to identify triggers, enable early seizure detection, and tailor treatments for conditions like epilepsy, sleep disorders, and depression.

In June 2020, NextSense spun out as an independent company from Alphabet's X moonshot factory after initially being incubated there. The startup has raised USD 5.3 million in funding and plans to submit its earbuds for FDA approval in 2024. NextSense has partnered with universities like Emory and UC San Diego, as well as pharmaceutical companies like UCB and Otsuka, to explore the medical applications of its technology.