Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions

I n this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Ladan welcomes Javier Schandy and Nicolas Barabino from Focus, an engineering services company based in Uruguay. They discuss their work in firmware, hardware, and software development for medical devices, emphasizing their specialization in wireless communications and test automation.  They also explain the benefits of contract engineering, the challenges they face, and highlight an exciting project involving an injectable neurostimulator. The conversation covers the history of neurotechnology development in Uruguay, the process and dynamics of working with clients, and the adaptability and innovative spirit of their company. 00:00 Introduction to the Neural Implant Podcast 00:18 Meet the Guests: Javier Shandy and Nicholas Barabino 01:05 Focus: Engineering Services in Medical Devices 02:58 Project Onboarding and Development Process 06:06 Specialties and Expertise in Neurotechnology 09:38 The Journey into Medical Devices 13:41 Uruguay's Legacy in Medical Devices 20:37 Challenges and Advice for Startups 23:05 Flexible Project Management and Cost Considerations 27:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today's guest is Stephen Ho from Blackrock Microsystems. While we've featured Blackrock guests before, Stephen's appearance today is driven by his podcast, Neurratives, where neurotech-inspired movies are reviewed and discussed.     Top 3 Takeaways: "Our goal for the podcast isn't necessarily to be overly technical, requiring a neuroscience degree to understand. We're often deep in the subject matter and may get a bit jargony, but broadly, we aim to be accessible without pretending to be accomplished neuroscience researchers." “Due to the subject's nature, movies dealing with neuroscience themes often lean heavily towards science fiction. So, I make a conscious effort to seek out romantic comedies, medical dramas, or family dramas as a palate cleanser between sci-fi films.” “I tend to be relaxed regarding accuracy in science and technology in movies, though I do point out inaccuracies when I notice them. However, I don't always see this as detrimental to the movie itself. Some tropes bother me, like percutaneous connectors seen in "The Matrix" and "Ghost in the Shell." They seem impractical and unsanitary.”   2:00 Let’s hear about the Neurratives podcast 4:14 What does a normal podcast episode look like? 7:30 What are some notable movies? 10:30 What are your qualifications to talk about neurotech movies? 12:15 Did you ever feel imposter syndrome? 14:00 Will you ever run out of movies? 16:00 Would listening to Neurratives be better before or after watching the movie? 16:45 What should movie directors either start or stop doing for neurotech movies?  21:15 Anything else that we didn’t talk about that you wanted to mention?

Eugene Daneshvar is a University of Michigan PhD graduate working on thin film neural implants but has since transitioned into the legal side of things having passed his bar exam and working with Wilson Sonsini as a patent attorney. This interview took almost 2 years to get done but we're glad we were able to do it!     Top 3 Takeaways: "I think the main thing I'll say is you don't undermine your valuation by not having an informed and intentional patent strategy, and you don't have to go cheap. You know, I feel that you have to bootstrap, but if you work with certain law firms that are very entrepreneurial friendly, and my firm is not the only one, but I think that is a general statement, which is, you know, work with somebody who understands your business model. But then, secondly, work with somebody who understands your technology as well." "I want my clients to understand that I'm building something valuable for them. Let's ensure all that value is captured in the application. If not, it risks not just their business, but also their motivations for it. They aim to translate this information and idea to help a certain subset of the patient population." "Some people cut corners without considering the broader strategy implications. I suggest working with individuals who are willing to learn about the process. We're all part of the same community, and if you're listening to this podcast, you're part of mine. I want the best for you, so don't hesitate to reach out."   0:45 Can you introduce yourself better than I just did?  5:15 Was it your idea from the beginning to do both a PhD and law school? 7:15 Why are patents important in the neurotech field? 11:30 What are some big mistakes you’ve seen in the neurotech entrepreneur field? 17:30 Is it better to have a strong lawyer or one that knows your field? 21:00 What is the process for a student wanting to spinoff a technology? 28:00 Have you seen deals go badly because of legal issues? 32:45 Is there anything that we didn’t cover that you wanted to mention?  

 "Welcome to today's episode! Our guest, Paul Le Floch, co-founder and CEO of Axoft, brings innovation to neural implants. With roots in France and a Harvard PhD, he's leading groundbreaking work. Welcome, Paul!"  Top 3 Takeaways: "It's a good time to ask the question: What if we could develop solutions tailored for this problem instead of borrowing from the semiconductor industry? That's what Axsoft is about. We emphasize developing soft materials that offer better long-term biocompatibility. Additionally, these materials are suitable for micro and nano fabrication and remain stable inside the brain." "The advantage is that when we identify something that doesn't work well, we can modify it because we designed the materials. The key is that we've developed an innovation that functions effectively, but we also acknowledge that it's not the final version of the system. The difference is that we can revisit it at the polymer chemistry level and alter the material's composition, structure, or introduce additives to enhance stability or mechanical properties." "At early stage, there is iteration. There is improvement over time. And at some point you need to take this leap of faith that your technology actually has a good edge, that you have enough, you will have enough resources to make it competitive. And I think we were confident enough about that and about our approach."   0:30 Can you introduce yourself better than I just did? 1:00 Is Axoft a spinoff? 5:00 How do you know your material is better? 9:00 Why did you go the startup route vs the academia route with this technology? 12:30 How do you let investors know that this is a long term startup? 14:00 Why did you choose the dilutive vs nondilutive route? 15:30 What indication is the material best for? 17:00 Where are you guys in terms of the lifecycle? 19:45 How big is the team and what are current challenges? 22:30 Where do you see neurotech in 10 years? 23:45 Anything that we didn’t talk about that you wanted to mention?