Sleep disorders and cognitive fatigue impact millions worldwide, yet traditional wearables focus mainly on physical health and miss critical brain metrics. Many who struggle with sleep remain underserved by consumer technology, which has lacked comfortable devices that both monitor and actively improve brain health.
NextSense, a Mountain View-based startup, is changing this landscape with Smartbuds, he world’s first truly wireless earbuds equipped with built-in clinical-grade EEG sensors. Smartbuds continuously monitor real-time brain activity and use adaptive audio to enhance sleep quality, deepen restoration, and boost focus.
After securing $16 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round led by Ascension Ventures, alongside Satori Neuro, Corundum Neuroscience Fund (CNS), and individual backers such as Dr. David Eagleman (Stanford neuroscientist), Esther Dyson (Wellville founder), and Bradley Horowitz (former Google VP, now General Partner at Wisdom Ventures), NextSense is gearing up to launch Smartbuds by Q4 2025.
“We started NextSense to democratise brain health, to give people the same visibility into their minds that wearables gave their bodies. This round is the next step toward that reality, and we’re excited for the next chapter in bringing science-backed brain health tools to everyone,” said Jonathan Berent, CEO and founder of NextSense.
Bringing brain health to the everyday user
Jonathan “JB” Berent, founder and CEO of NextSense, brings strong technology leadership from Google X. Berent founded the company to democratise brain health, aiming to provide people with the same intuitive insights into their minds that wearables have given them into their bodies.
His vision is for brain sensing to become as ubiquitous and actionable as fitness tracking, empowering users to optimise sleep, relaxation, and cognitive performance. NextSense’s mission is to deliver science-backed brain health to everyday consumers through comfortable, clinically validated, user-friendly wearables.
NextSense Smartbuds integrate six EEG sensors, flexible conductive electrodes, and premium audio drivers into an ergonomic, all-night wear form factor designed for maximum comfort. The device blends low-energy Bluetooth, body movement sensors, and AI-driven algorithms to deliver unique closed-loop neurofeedback experiences.
Relax and Focus modes adapt real-time audio to brain states, providing personalised soundscapes that calm the mind or sharpen attention. The earbuds automatically pause or adjust audio when sleep is detected and relay detailed sleep insights through the NextSense app.
Unlike BrainBit, Neuphony, EMOTIV, IDUN Technologies, and Bittium, NextSense stands out with wireless earbuds, which combine clinical-grade EEG sensors with adaptive audio for sleep and focus.
How does it work?
Beyond consumer wellness, NextSense plans to expand medical applications by 2027 through partnerships with universities and pharmaceutical companies, targeting treatments for sleep disorders and cognitive impairments.
The company envisions integrating brain sensing into broader wearables and wearable clothing, aiming to make brain health monitoring an everyday part of life.
”We share NextSense’s vision that closed-loop wearables are the next frontier for human flourishing when it comes to consumer wellness. Their combination of academic research, user-focused design, and scalable technology uniquely positions them to have a transformative impact on human well-being,” said Dr Amy Kruse, General Partner at Satori Neuro.
