UB spin-off Braingaze closes 1.5 million euro investment to bring cognitive health solutions to market
Braingaze, the University of Barcelona’s digital cognitive health spin-off, successfully closed a €1.5 million investment round. The funding will accelerate the clinical and business development of its diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease and autism spectrum disorder, among others. The investment has been led by London-based RYSE Asset Management, accompanied by global venture capital fund Orbit Startups and Australia-based Artesian.
Braingaze’s innovative technology leverages proprietary biomarkers of eye micromovements, casual video games and deep learning (AI) algorithms. The diagnostic solutions offer cutting-edge accuracy and objectivity, while its therapeutic solution improves cognitive function levels at the neurobiological level beyond behavioral training, which mimics the effects of pharmaceutical treatment without side effects.
Shabir Chowdhary, founder and managing partner of RYSE, valued the agreement with the UB spin-off: “We are delighted and proud to support Braingaze, which is addressing such a relevant and important health and social problem affecting children, adolescents and adults around the world. Mental health is a core tenet of the investment thesis of our recently closed fund. We believe that digital diagnostics and digital therapeutics are underserved and underinvested areas.”
On the other hand, Braingaze CEO Laszlo Bax commented, “We are ready to put the funds to work. We are 100% focused on delivering on the achievements ahead, including growing multi-market business traction and launching clinical solutions and bringing the business closer to consumers on mobile platforms.”
Orbit Start-ups managing general partner William Bao Bean said, “Digital therapeutics have the potential to drive treatments equal to or better than pharmaceutical-based treatments. We support Braingaze because we believe its ability to diagnose and treat ADHD and Alzheimer’s will be a game changer, especially for children and seniors.”
Braingaze’s ADHD diagnostic solutions have been used in clinical practice in the Spanish market for years by pioneering clinicians in Madrid and Barcelona. BGaze Therapy, the eye-tracking attention training game played with eye movements, has been tested as a therapeutic tool in different clinics and has obtained surprising results in a variety of patients suffering from attention-related cognitive disorders (ADHD and others).
About Braingaze
Braingaze emerged from the University of Barcelona (UB) to exploit more than 20 years of research on cognitive attention brain circuits in relation to the visual sensory system. The science (protected by several patents) enables more objective detection of the presence of attention-related neurodiversity, as well as therapeutic training solutions that combine attention concentration exercises controlled by eye movements. Braingaze currently has offices in Barcelona and London. For more information, visit their website.
About RYSE Asset Management
RYSE Asset Management is a healthcare, technology and impact investment firm building a global digital future for healthcare. RYSE has a unique relationship with the UK healthcare system to identify, support and invest in leading early stage digital health companies to help them scale globally. RYSE works with global distribution partners, public and private providers, pharma, insurers, medical device companies, etc.
Since 2015, RYSE has been supporting technology companies to achieve accelerated global growth and scale by connecting high-potential healthcare founders with established distribution partners. RYSE partners with founders with clinical expertise and innovative treatments, and investors who share RYSE’s ambition to transform the future of healthcare by improving its quality and access. RYSE’s partnerships with DigitalHealth.London – Europe’s largest healthcare technology accelerator – and with Novartis, Medtronic and the NHS (the UK’s healthcare system), aim to turn great ideas into real-world solutions.
About Orbit Startups
Orbit Startups scales innovative start-ups from around the world in emerging and frontier markets in Southeast and South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. Notable investments include VideoVerse, technology partner to the Olympics and the UK Premier League; financial technology pioneer BitMEX; ELSA Speak, Google Gradient’s first investment in Asia; MarketForce, Africa’s leading retail distribution system; and Dastgyr, Pakistan’s aspiring Alibaba Group.