Inside the Tech Hacking Brain Health

This episode features Ana Maiques, CEO and co-founder of Neuroelectrics, a Barcelona-based neurotechnology company pioneering non-invasive brain stimulation for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Founded in 2011 as a spin-off from Starlab, Neuroelectrics has grown into a global digital brain health company operating in over 74 countries, with a presence in both Barcelona and Boston since 2014. Their tech enables clinicians to both read and influence brain activity in real time, offering applications in epilepsy, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and anxiety disorders. The conversation explores how the neurotechnology landscape has evolved over the past decade - from a niche research field into a rapidly growing sector attracting significant investment. Maiques also discusses Neuroelectrics’ collaboration with NASA, where its technology has been used to measure cognitive fatigue in pilots. The interview examines the structural challenges of scaling DeepTech companies in Europe versus the US, including access to capital, talent, and regulatory pathways. Maiques shares insights from her role as President of EsTech, an organisation representing leading Spanish scale-ups. Key Points: - Why Neuroelectrics was founded to address the lack of personalised, effective brain disorder treatments - How non-invasive brain stimulation works and why it offers advantages over surgical approaches - How COVID-19 accelerated adoption of remote brain treatment and telemedicine solutions - Challenges of scaling DeepTech companies in Europe and the funding gap compared to the US - The current state of gender diversity in STEM and where progress is still needed Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Sponsor 2:43 - Interview