What are neuroscience startups?

Earable

Founded in 2018, Earable has created a smart ear-worn device that can track important health data. It is designed to be worn comfortably inside the ear all day and night, continuously monitoring metrics like body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate.

The motivation behind Earable was to have a less obtrusive wearable sensor that could catch emerging health issues early. By locating sensors in the ear, a very central point of the body, Earable can get accurate core readings of temperature, pulse rate, and respiration. Even small changes can signify oncoming illness, fatigue, stress, or fitness improvements.

Kernel

Kernel is pioneering safe, non-invasive methods to decode brain activity for advancing neuroscience discoveries and medical treatments. Bringing together experts across engineering, neuroscience, and physics, the company is developing innovative technologies to capture brain signals without surgery.

Kernel’s core offering, Kernel Flow, uses light-based sensors to measure blood flow dynamics related to neural activity at high speeds and resolution. By applying new sensing techniques for imaging brain function, Kernel aims to unlock capacities to diagnose disorders earlier and open new frontiers in therapies tailored to individual brains. With versatile, wearable scanning of neural signals, Kernel strives to make reading and responding to the brain’s shifting needs widely accessible to both researchers mapping cognition and doctors enhancing care.

AviadoBio

Founded in 2020, AviadoBio is pioneering precision gene therapies that target root causes of neuron death in the brain. Using AAV gene delivery, their treatments aim to rescue function, restore lost connections, and regenerate dying cells.

Initial programs show promise in reversing motor and cognitive decline in preclinical models. AviadoBio’s viral vector and delivery platform enables therapies to cross the blood-brain barrier at scale.

Flow Neuroscience

Flow Neuroscience’s products enable research-backed brain stimulation treatments conveniently at home as part of an affordable subscription plan. Their goal is providing drug-free depression relief and tools for emotional wellbeing.

Verge Genomics

Verge Genomics uses computational approaches to uncover novel therapeutic targets and viable lead treatments for hitherto untreatable nervous system diseases. Their AI solutions enhance R&D capabilities.

BrainCo

By making therapeutic neurotechnology accessible, BrainCo aims to enhance cognitive capabilities and overall wellbeing. Their innovations blend ancient wisdom around mental states with modern biofeedback.

Brain.fm

Brain.fm aims to harness the brain’s neuroplasticity through engineered sound environments that entrain neural oscillations. Their technology leverages music’s effects on cognition and mood.

Neuralink

Potential applications include restoring motor function, treating neurological conditions, and merging artificial and human intelligence. Neuralink’s neurotechnology promises a future where disabilities are remedied and human potential is expanded.

Motorica

By closing the loop between intent and action, Motorica aims to revolutionize prosthetics with bionic limbs that emulate natural feel and dexterity for improved quality of life. Their advances help amputees seamlessly regain abilities.

Cala Health

Cala’s wrist-worn stimulator called Cala Trio can override nerve signals causing involuntary muscle contractions to control essential tremor with personalized neurostimulation algorithms. Further target indications are in their pipeline.

Arctop

Backed by investors like Google Ventures, Arctop is scaling scientific brain decoding for mainstream applications. Their solution leads commercial neuromonitoring into an ethical new era focused on elevating end-user experiences versus manipulation.

Neurotrack

With clinical trials validating capability to detect pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s, Neurotrack is partnering with providers, Medicare networks and pharma to make state-of-the-art pre-screening widely accessible. Early cognitive intervention is now possible.

Hippoc

Early adopters spanning major consumer brands, ad agencies, and platform partners validate demand for media effectiveness measured by actual human responses versus proxies like clicks or surveys. Hippoc leads design into a new data-centered era.

HRL Laboratories

Major past inventions include chemical gas lasers, atomic clocks, night vision systems and advanced sensors. Ongoing research spans materials, energy, neurotech, microchip fabrication, AI and more. Their discoveries build the technological edge of their parent companies.

Neurofenix

With continued refinements towards commercialization, the Neurofenix system heralds a new generation of rehabilitation where technology doesn’t just assist recovery but accelerates it by optimally engaging neuroplasticity. Their breakthroughs restore real hope for the future.

Braingineers International

CoMind aims to first enable new independence for patients through their research-grade platform, then bring their innovations to mass-market devices enabling brain-based interactions. Investors include Andreessen Horowitz and Meta.

CoMind

Early clients spanning major consumer brands to ad agencies validate the competitive advantage gained from optimizing based on customers’ true biological responses rather than superficial proxies. Braingineers leads experience design into the future.

Imaginostics

Backed by GE Healthcare and AI chipmaker Kneron, Imaginostics pairs clinical expertise with engineering excellence to drive a new era of diagnostic and predictive imaging. Their innovations unlock an untapped wealth of biomedical intelligence contained within routine scans.

Alpha Fiber

By providing real-time detection, Alpha Fiber aims to improve concussion screening across youth, school, and professional sports. Their unobtrusive system promises more comprehensive monitoring during games and practices.

Brainovative Labs

Current offerings include speech generation devices, switch interfaces, and eye gaze technologies. By creatively applying technology, Brainovative enables simpler navigation of smartphones, computers, and more based on each user’s abilities.

Connecta Therapeutics

By applying new scientific insights around neural pathways, Connecta aims to translate emerging biology into transformative medicines that improve treatment outcomes.

Axorus

By creating a channel for bidirectional communication with nerves, Axorus’ implants hold potential to restore lost function and modulate disease signals. Their disruptive approach promises new options for unmet needs.

emoty.AI

By automating emotion analytics, emoty.AI aims to help companies extract insights from customer behavior effortlessly. The data promises to aid creative development, design iteration, and campaign optimization.

Conclusion

What are identity and access management (IAM) startups?

Identity and Access Management (IAM) startups create modern security tools to protect digital identities and control who can access what in an organization. They focus on making sure the right people can reach the resources they need while keeping unauthorized users out. Think of them as digital security guards who check IDs, manage permissions, and protect sensitive information, but with smarter, automated systems that work better.

Top identity and access management (IAM) startups

Complete list of the most identity and access management (IAM) startups that are worth knowing:

Okta

Founded in 2009, Okta provides cloud software that helps companies manage and secure user identities and access across many apps, websites, and databases. Their solutions make it simple to authenticate employees and customers while protecting corporate information and systems.

The Okta platform gives IT teams one centralized interface to add and configure multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and access permissions for a company’s various digital tools and assets. This saves time while enforcing consistent security policies everywhere.

Auth0

Founded in 2013, Auth0 offers identity and access management platforms that allow organizations to securely manage employee and customer identities. Their product is an enterprise-level system for user authentication and authorization to applications.

The Auth0 platform enables passwordless login so users can easily access accounts without remembering countless passwords. It centralizes identity management across an organization’s apps and devices with a unified dashboard.

RSA

Founded in 1982, RSA provides cloud-based governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software to help enterprises manage their information security. Their solutions empower companies to identify and respond to cybersecurity threats while also adhering to industry regulations.

RSA’s platforms streamline processes like consumer identity verification, access controls, encryption key management, and security monitoring. This helps clients apply appropriate safeguards across their digital environments using automation. Core focus areas span fraud prevention, data protection, user access controls, and compliance readiness.

Imprivata

Founded in 2002, Imprivata provides secure access and communication platforms for healthcare, finance, and other regulated enterprises that handle sensitive data. Their cloud-based solutions manage user and device authentication across company networks along with encryption to protect confidential information flows.

By consolidating identity management and security workflows, Imprivata simplifies compliance with privacy rules like HIPAA and PCI DSS. Their OneSign platform offers single sign-on convenience while still enforcing multifactor authentication to meet verification requirements. Detailed audit logging also supports mandated reporting needs.

IDnow

Founded in 2014, IDnow is a company that provides identity verification and anti-fraud services to banks, financial institutions, and other businesses. Their platforms use AI and automation to securely confirm real users during digital transactions.

IDnow offers a range of verification tools including automated ID checks, biometric facial recognition, and video-calling services. These let clients screen customers to prevent money laundering, meet KYC regulations, and reduce transaction risks.

Cerby

Founded in 2020, Cerby offers a secure access service that solves “shadow IT” challenges for companies. Shadow IT refers to apps and software that employees use without official approval, often exposing security risks.

Cerby allows workers to safely access websites and tools they need, even if not formally sanctioned. At the same time, Cerby checks that unsanctioned apps meet security standards to prevent potential data leakage or threats. This balances flexibility for employees with oversight for IT departments.

Apono

Founded in 2021, Apono offers cloud security solutions that help companies manage user access and identities across their systems and applications. Their platforms bridge the gap between security teams, IT staff, and developers to reduce access risks.

Many organizations struggle with too many manual processes to govern identities and privileges as they move business operations to the cloud. Apono provides automation to enforce policies across cloud environments using one centralized platform. This saves security and IT teams significant time while optimizing access controls.

Permit.io

Founded in 2021, Permit.io is a company that builds cloud infrastructure for managing permissions and access controls. Their full-stack authorization framework simplifies how products and services handle user identities and data access.

Permit.io’s solutions make it easier for organizations to assign roles and rights across their systems and workforce. Granular policies automate who can access what resources under specific contexts. These guardrails streamline compliance.

Right-hand cybersecurity

Founded in 2019, Right-Hand Cybersecurity provides software to help businesses manage cybersecurity and compliance risks caused by employees. Their AI-powered platform does real-time monitoring to identify unsafe behavior or policy violations before data breaches occur.

The Right-Hand system tracks all employee digital activity across devices, apps, and networks. Using behavioral analysis, it flags risky actions that indicate potential threats. Security teams also get risk severity assessments and mitigation recommendations customized to their infrastructure.

P0 Security

Founded in 2022, P0 Security is a cloud cybersecurity company that offers solutions for managing access in cloud environments. Their services give full visibility into user identities and privileges. They also automate access control so users only get temporary permissions when needed to reduce risk. A key P0 Security feature is a Slackbot that enables teams to quickly request, approve and revoke cloud entitlements within their collaboration platform.

This brings easy control of privileges into daily workflows. Along with the Slackbot, P0 provides single sign-on, multi-factor authentication and zero-standing privileges to secure the cloud. Their just-in-time access tools remove persistent credentials that attackers often steal. Activity monitoring detects unusual behavior, while robust access controls lower risk.

Hydden

Founded in 2022, Hydden is a cybersecurity company that helps organizations find and fix overlooked identity risks that make them vulnerable to attacks. Their platform focuses on detecting accounts that get around security controls, managing employees and systems with excessive access rights, and reducing the impact when breaches do occur.

By analyzing complex employee and service account relationships across an organization’s entire digital ecosystem, Hydden exposes hidden threats stemming from risky identities and permissions. Their attack surface management brings visibility to decrease the blast radius if a hacker gains entry.

ZTX

Founded in 2022, ZTX is a blockchain project building on the success of ZEPETO, one of Asia’s largest metaverse platforms with over 430 million users. ZEPETO is a virtual world where users can create avatars, explore environments, and connect with others.

ZTX aims to take ZEPETO’s user-generated content ecosystem to the next level by incorporating blockchain technology. This would allow users to truly own their virtual creations, trade them freely, and monetize their contributions to the metaverse.

Axiom security

Founded in 2021, Axiom Security offers a platform that helps organizations properly manage user identities and access permissions across cloud services and SaaS applications. Their IAMOps solution coordinates teams working on identity management, like developers, security, and IT operations.

The Axiom platform automatically detects configuration risks and access issues across cloud tools. It enforces correct policies and privileges to prevent breaches due to misconfigurations. Reporting also helps demonstrate security and compliance.

Stack Identity

Founded in 2020, Stack Identity is a cloud security company that focuses on identity and access management (IAM) solutions. Their technology detects “shadow access”, unauthorized, unmonitored, or invisible access paths that represent security risks.

Stack Identity’s patent-pending Breach Prediction Index algorithm analyzes activity to uncover potential breach points. Combined with data insights and machine learning, it can reveal shadow access pathways created by misconfigurations or access policy gaps.

Azure Active Directory

Founded in 2000, Azure Active Directory is a cloud service from Microsoft that handles identity and access management (IAM) for organizations. It is fully integrated with Microsoft 365 apps like Office 365.

Azure AD allows employees to use one login for all Microsoft business apps. It handles password authentication along with more secure forms like multi-factor and biometric verification.

Ping Identity

Founded in 2002, Ping Identity is a company that provides identity and access management (IAM) services to organizations. Their solutions help IT teams control and secure access to applications and resources across on-premises data centers and cloud environments.

Some of Ping Identity’s core offerings include single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), access controls, and data governance capabilities. Employees can conveniently access authorized apps and accounts without constantly re-entering passwords. Admins get centralized visibility and policy control across hybrid infrastructure.

SailPoint

Founded in 2005, SailPoint is an identity and access management (IAM) technology company. Their IAM solutions secure enterprise access and governance of confidential company data in both structured and unstructured form.

SailPoint helps organizations govern user access across sensitive systems that store data files, formatting to either text-based documents or databases that map specific data points to pre-defined fields and tables. Their security tools control who has permission to view, edit, and share data stored across both these structured repositories as well as document files or emails that have unstructured data formats.

Conclusion

Looking at these IAM startups, one thing’s clear, protecting digital identities is changing fast. These companies aren’t just patching up old systems, they’re building new ones that actually make sense for how we work today. Whether it’s making logins smoother or spotting fishy behavior before it causes trouble, they’re showing us that better security doesn’t have to be more complicated.

What are DTC startups?

DTC startups are working on solutions that are helping brands and manufacturers sell their products directly to their end customers easily.

Misfits Market

Founded in 2018, Misfits Market is an online grocer that sells discounted fresh produce, some with minor cosmetic imperfections. They offer this surplus of oddly shaped but perfectly good fruits and vegetables to reduce food waste while saving shoppers money. Shoppers can order discounted mystery boxes of this rescued produce shipped right to their doors. You might find bumpy tomatoes, undersized oranges, and overripe bananas – all at deep discounts compared to traditional grocery pricing.

Misfits Market aims to limit on-farm food waste by finding consumers who welcome fruits and veggies focused more on flavor than uniform looks. It also makes organic produce more affordable for the average shopper. For the customer, it means big savings. For the farmer, it provides a market for edible produce that would otherwise get plowed under.

Lovevery

Lovevery creates enriching play experiences for early childhood development through subscription-based Play Kits. These curated learning activity kits are tailored for children from newborn through early toddlerhood and delivered every two to three months. Each stage-specific kit includes games, books, and multi-sensory manipulatives designed by experts to nourish healthy development in domains like motor skills, sensory processing, cognition, language, and social-emotional intelligence.

Lovevery kits offer parents helpful guidance and inspiration for nurturing quality time and neural connections during their child’s foundational years. By combining thoughtful design with research-backed learning frameworks, Lovevery’s unique subscription model aims to promote bonding while laying the foundations for blossoming creativity and confidence during the crucial early learning window.

Prose

Launched in 2017, Prose patented an optimization engine that identifies ingredient combinations optimized for hair characteristics like curl pattern, scalp condition, and color-treated. Bottles are custom blended on-demand.

By providing bespoke formulas based on individual traits and customization, Prose aims to make salon-quality haircare without harmful chemicals accessible to the masses. Their personalization platform scales artisanal quality.

Function of Beauty

Launched in 2015, Function of Beauty utilizes a patented combination algorithm to create customized formulas containing only key ingredients a customer needs. Bottles are made fresh after orders.

By providing bespoke haircare based on individual traits and customization, Function of Beauty aims to help every customer achieve their ideal hair. Their personalization platform scales artisanal-quality to the masses.

Hungryroot

Launched in 2015, Hungryroot features prepared produce, grains, sauces and snacks along with step-by-step recipes optimized to customer preferences for calorie count, diet types, and flavor profiles. Boxes ship weekly nationwide.

By tailoring nutritious grocery deliveries around personalized AI recipe recommendations, Hungryroot aims to make maintaining a healthy diet simple and sustainable. Their algorithm gets smarter with feedback over time.

Hero Cosmetics

Founded in 2017, Hero taps into hydrocolloid’s proven medical versatility through consumer-friendly formats meeting specific skincare pain points. Their novel delivery evolves a little-known specialty material into easy acne fixes.

Now a top Amazon skincare seller, Hero demonstrates demand for innovations advancing skincare’s possibilities. While thinking small about targeted patches, Hero still manages to disrupt a whole industry.

by Humankind

Launched in 2019, by Humankind tapped into growing anti-consumerism sentiment by providing ethical essentials compatible with low-waste lifestyles. Their refillable bottles and capsules reduce landfill plastics by over 50% versus mainstream brands.

With investments from environmentally-focused funds, by Humankind meets demand for sustainable options from conscious consumers. As expectations grow for businesses to cut waste, their leadership provides a blueprint for brands to align values with practices.

Magic Spoon

Launched 2018, Magic Spoon modernizes cereal by upgrading flavors from childhood into functional nutrition for today’s health-conscious adults. Despite ultra-low sugar, their cereals famously still taste just as good as people remember.

With overwhelming viral buzz and subscriptions selling out instantly, Magic Spoon is mainstreaming healthy cereal alternatives for modern lifestyles. Their product development shed new light on reinventing craveable foods.

Justo

Founded in 2019, Justo addresses economic barriers to essential nutrition exacerbated by limited grocery options in many Mexican neighborhoods. Their e-grocer brings affordable abundance to doorsteps by cutting print ads and retail store costs.

With backing from top Mexico-focused consumer investment firms, Justo is scaling town-by-town guided by a mission to enrich lives by making quality groceries economically accessible nationwide. Their growth reflects strategic social impact.

Little Sleepies

Founded in 2017 by a husband and wife, Little Sleepies pioneered exceptionally crafted matching family sleepwear as premium heirloom pieces versus disposable garments. Their fabric even becomes softer over time.

With year-round offerings in an array of ever-trending prints, Little Sleepies fosters deeper family bonds through the shared joy of cozying up in matching PJs night after night, year after year. Their story celebrates traditions through timeless quality.

Lola

Founded in 2015, Lola offers women a convenient way to have period, ovulation, and personal care products regularly delivered. Subscribers complete a profile quiz to receive customized product recommendations from Lola’s line.

By providing a tailored, discreet subscription service, Lola aims to enhance education, access, and convenience around intimate health. Their model promises a modern experience designed thoughtfully around women’s needs.

The Farmer’s Dog

Founded in 2014, The Farmer’s Dog formulations and portions are customized based on age, breed, activity level, sensitivities. Their food uses human-grade ingredients like beef, vegetables, and supplements.

By personalizing recipes and cadence, The Farmer’s Dog provides precision nutrition conveniently. This aims to make daily pet meals healthier, easier, while reducing waste.

Rowing Blazers

Founded in 2017, Rowing Blazers designs preppy apparel and accessories inspired by vintage collegiate rowing styles. Their clothing playfully remixes classic Americana and Ivy League influences.

By breathing new life into heritage fashion, Rowing Blazers created an appealing lifestyle brand championing timeless styles with modern irreverence. Their growth demonstrates the universality and longevity of classics thoughtfully reimagined.

Appointedd

Founded in 2011, Appointedd offers an easy-to-use cloud-based booking system enabling businesses to schedule appointments, classes, and events, process payments, track attendance, and manage customers.

By automating the scheduling process and centralizing client data, Appointedd aims to simplify business operations and maximize revenue opportunities. Their customizable solution integrates with business’ workflow needs.

Vinebox

Founded in 2013, Vinebox aims to make discovering new wines fun, approachable, and affordable by allowing customers to sample premium and rising star wines without committing to full bottles. Subscribers get to taste and rate 9 different wines each quarter.

By focusing on 50ml trial size pouches, Vinebox encourages exploration without waste. This caters to millennial wine enthusiasts eager to branch out without intimidation or snobbery. Their model spreads wine culture.

Hera

Launched in 2018, Hera creates skincare routines combining cleansers, toners, moisturizers, masks, and spot treatments with natural ingredients targeting problem skin issues like oiliness and breakouts.

By specializing in gentle, effective formulas catering to specific skincare struggles, Hera provides tailored solutions without irritating ingredients. Their sensitive approach aims to provide confidence and care.

 Warby Parker

Founded in 2010, Warby Parker offers stylish eyewear starting at just $95 including prescription lenses. Their innovative direct-to-consumer model cuts out traditional retail markups. The brand is also known for donating a pair for every pair sold.

By reinventing the eyewear shopping experience through e-commerce accessibility, trend-driven styles, and social good, Warby Parker attracted a loyal following and grew rapidly. But their success extends beyond fashion to transforming entire industries through innovation.

Conclusion

The direct-to-consumer (DTC) model has exploded in popularity in recent years, with over 27,000 DTC subscription startups now operating in the US alone. DTC represents the future of commerce, and DTC startups that embrace this model will be well-positioned to capitalize on this seismic shift in the retail landscape.