I recently got the opportunity to attend the Tough Tech Summit 2023 (hosted by The Engine, some of the most impactful companies in deep tech). I like how Commonwealth Fusion Systems’s CEO started off the conference by putting the climate problem as “not just moving bits, but moving atoms.” Some of the most impactful solutions come from breaking the barrier of small change. This exponential thinking is what I saw from every bright mind in the room during the conference. The range of ideas I learned about were out of my conception, learning about the the next generation of transport (think flight for humans, like birds) at Rise Robotics, to making carbon-free cement at Sublime Systems.
First, for those who might be wondering, what is a deep tech company?
Honestly, I had mixed definitions of what this was before coming to the conference. Now, I think of deep tech as people building something radically different from what exists, with a high engineering advancement. A simple example (that is anything but simple) is Commonwealth Fusion Systems, helping build fusion systems to power our energy grid.
interest disruptions from The Engine portfolio companies
Axoft — Neurotech company (The Engine)
Building a bioelectronic invasive BCI (Brain-Computer Interface) that is implantable and captures high signal quality. Invasive BCIs currently exist for R&D, but they either damage the brain or cannot capture high-quality data. Axoft solves both of these issues through something they call a bioelectronic system that mimics the soft tissues of the brain while having an ultra-high neural bandwidth.
Why is this significant?
The main issue with current invasive BCIs is the risk associated with implantation and the inability to capture high-quality neural data.
- Safety: Unlike traditional invasive BCIs that can potentially damage brain tissue during implantation, Axoft’s bioelectronic system mimics the soft tissues of the brain. This minimizes the risk of tissue damage, reducing the potential for harm to the patient.
- High-Quality Data: By providing an ultra-high neural bandwidth, Axoft’s BCI can capture neural signals with high precision. This high-quality data is crucial for various applications, such as decoding neural intentions, restoring motor function, or conducting neuroscientific research. This results in improved patient outcomes as there is a reduced risk during implantation and the ability to capture high-quality data increases.
- Scientific Advancements: The availability of a safe and high-quality invasive BCI system can significantly advance our understanding of the brain. Researchers can use this technology to delve deeper into neural functions, paving the way for breakthroughs in neuroscience.
Mori — Foodtech
Mori is building a type of protective layer for food (think food coating) that slows the rate at which produce gets spoiled. They are using a particular type of coating made of silk protein…yes, SILK. For context, most coating currently used for food preservation is synthetic or chemical-based. However, Mori’s innovation lies in harnessing the natural properties of silk protein to create a sustainable and highly effective protective layer for food.
sounds really amazing right…here is how it will affect us:
- Reduced Food Waste: Mori’s technology will help extend the shelf life of fresh produce, reducing the amount of food that goes to waste due to spoilage. This not only economically benefits us, but contributes to global efforts to combat food waste and improve food security (SDG 12).
- Supply Chain Improvements: Mori’s silk protein-based protective food coating extends product shelf life, enhances product quality, reduces supply chain costs, and increases availability.
this is all cool, but…. how do I solve problems in Climate Tech?
Ideas come from unexpected places, from Ph.D. labs to career pivots. During a fireside talk, Leah Ellis shared her remarkable journey into the world of Sublime Cement, a journey far from the conventional path. She was initially doing her doctorate, working with battery research for Tesla. Then, she took a break and explored Africa entirely, during a bike expedition. This experience resulted in exposure to the amount of waste that is produced in 1st world countries. When she returned back to America, she lived in a house with a few others who lived minimalistic. During that time, she stumbled upon a lab at MIT, and the rest is history. This journey was anything but linear, so one takeaway I got, again and again, is don’t force a solution but keep note of the problems you face every day.
Note: This is purely my opinion, and may change over time
Most change is happening in the physical realm, rather than digital. Essentially, building more software isn’t going to make as much impact, since this is an issue we face in our physical world, and software can only optimize so much. Yes, there are cases, like genetic engineering and understanding molecules, that software is great at modeling, but many issues stem from areas that cannot be modeled, like food waste.Some of the best ideas come from analyzing entire supply chains and seeing inefficiencies. For example, General Electric (GE) leveraged this approach to revolutionize the aviation industry. Don’t overthink them, and try to avoid technologies that are “hot” at the moment.
what I’m working on
As per my journey, I will continue exploring Neurotech and attempting to add a new layer to human communication. My current startup, NeuroSentry, aims to help us understand our minds and how we operate using BCIs (Brain-Computer Interfaces). These devices have EEG (electroencephalogram) sensors that measure our brainwaves.
Currently, we are in R&D, building solutions for understanding productivity and focus. Our central goal is to develop practical solutions that offer insights into productivity and focus. We’re working on improving the precision and efficiency of EEG sensors, creating advanced algorithms to interpret brainwave data, and designing user-friendly applications to help individuals enhance their cognitive performance. Our aim is to provide customized solutions that improve users’ quality of life by understanding cognitive patterns.
Wanted to give a sincere thank you to the entire Engine team for giving the opportunity to attend!
Feel free to connect with me via email: anant.k1226(at)gmail(dot)com
