Why We Invested in BrainCapture
A Critical Gap in Neurological Diagnostics
Electroencephalography (EEG) is an essential diagnostic tool for a range of neurological conditions, including epilepsy, encephalitis, sleep disorders, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and various dementias. However, access to EEG diagnostics is severely limited in emerging markets due to the high cost of equipment, the need for specialised training, and the scarcity of qualified neurologists. Traditional EEG machines can cost between $20K and $50K, making them unattainable for many healthcare providers in resource-limited settings.
This gap in access to neurological diagnostics has serious implications. Patients often face delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment, and worse health outcomes as a result.
For Verge, this investment hits particularly close to home. Joseph, our Managing Partner, founded his first startup in the EEG space. Through his journey, he experienced firsthand the challenges of this sector — how EEG technology, despite its importance, had seen little innovation for decades, especially on the hardware side. The high cost of the quality EEG amplifiers, combined with the cumbersome process of applying an EEG electrode montage, either manually using skull measurements according to the 10–20 System, or via a difficult to apply and wash electrode cap have long been barriers to widespread adoption, particularly in resource-limited settings. Without easy to use and highly prevalent systems, it is difficult to innovate in the more “exciting areas”, which includes data analysis, remote monitoring, and diagnostic algorithms.
Affordable and Accessible EEG Technology
BrainCapture is addressing these critical gaps with their BC-1 EEG system — designed specifically for low resource settings, combining affordability, ease of use, and portability. To ensure this, their first launch market was actually Kenya, despite having achieved a CE Mark under MDR.
The system consists of a low-cost amplifier, a user-friendly smartphone application, and innovative electrode caps that are optimised for use by non-experts. This makes it possible for nurses and other healthcare workers to perform high-quality EEGs with minimal training and make a huge difference for people suffering from epilepsy or other neurological conditions. As a bonus, the unique design of the cap permits high quality signal collection from patients with more voluminous hair — historically a challenge that sometimes required partial trimming or even shaving.
Moreover, the company is developing AI models to support semi-automated and remote EEG interpretation, which will further reduce the burden on local healthcare providers and improve diagnostic accuracy. This AI-assisted interpretation will be a game-changer, especially in regions where access to trained neurologists is limited. Up until now, the largest issue with EEG adoption has been the lack of trained personnel that could interpret the EEG recordings. With the company’s EEG-as-a-Service model, EEG will become more accessible than ever before.
A World-Class Group with a Mission
The success of any startup is deeply intertwined with the quality of its team, and BrainCapture’s team is outstanding — a very strong technical foundation, commercial grit, and in-house clinical and regulatory experience. Led by CEO Dr. Tue Lehn-Schiøler, a PhD in machine learning and former Chief Data Scientist at Denmark’s largest bank, he combines a deep background in data science and a proven track record in tech innovation. Paul Loomis, the Chief Commercial Officer, has extensive experience in emerging markets and his natural sales acumen has been crucial in navigating the complexities of business development. Radu Gătej, the CTO, brings a wealth of experience in software development, ensuring that BrainCapture’s technology is both cutting-edge and user-friendly.
Their diverse backgrounds and complementary skill sets give us great confidence in their ability to execute on their vision. It’s rare to find a team with such a strong combination of technical expertise, market knowledge, and unwavering dedication to their mission.
Looking Ahead
At Verge HealthTech, we are committed to investing in companies that not only have strong business potential but also a meaningful impact on global health. BrainCapture embodies this ethos perfectly. Their focus on providing affordable, high-quality EEG diagnostics to underserved markets aligns with our mission to support innovations that democratise healthcare.
We are excited to support BrainCapture on their journey to revolutionise neurological diagnostics. And if you’re building anything in the healthtech space that can impact millions, please reach out to us — we’d love to connect with you!
Sigvards Krongorns
Associate @ Verge HealthTech Fund
