Brain Rhythm Files IPO Prospectus: Xiaomi-Linked Veteran Launches Consumer-Grade In-Ear BCI Wearables

In 2024, news related to brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) frequently entered the public spotlight. From Neuralink, a company under Elon Musk, conducting its first human trial, to the successful clinical trial of Tsinghua University’s NEO system, which helped patients with high-level paraplegia achieve brain-controlled functions such as independent drinking, BCI technology has repeatedly reshaped public perception.

In September of the same year, Neurable, a U.S.-based brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, announced the launch of the MW75 Neuro, billed as the “world’s first smart headphones with BCI support,” aiming to bring brain-computer interface technology from research laboratories to the consumer market. Reportedly, the device takes the form of over-ear headphones suitable for daily wear; while worn, it converts neural activity signals into computer data for measurement and analysis.

The launch of MW75 Neuro has sparked controversy, with some commentators suggesting it may mark a pivotal moment for brain-computer interface (BCI) technology entering everyday life. Meanwhile, in China, teams are already sprinting toward this goal. In 2024,Participated inWang Chaoyang of Viomi Technology Listed on NasdaqTargeting the brain-computer interface sector, he and severalSenior EEG Researcher— Jointly established an innovative technology company with interdisciplinary capabilities —NAOYUN Brain Rhythm，Aimed at bringing non-invasive brain-computer interface technology directly to the public.

“High stress and internal friction” is a phrase frequently used by today’s young people, including adolescents. Whether in work, academics, or even social interactions, additional pressure can arise. Anxiety overload not only leads to adverse consequences such as excessive panic and poor sleep quality, but may also result in decreased attention span and depression, thereby affecting physical health and daily life.

Although various products on the market claim to alleviate anxiety and eliminate internal friction, most of them achieve stress reduction by indirectly improving users’ emotional or physical states through methods such as music therapy and psychological counseling. There is currently a lack of direct"Data Acquisition - Assessment - Neuromodulation"Closed-Loop Solutionfrom the perspective of, consumer products that can truly help users regulate their state in both psychological and physiological dimensions.

Wang Chaoyang keenly recognized this market demand. Building on in-depth exploration of how the brain responds to stress, he and his team of scientists and engineers are working to translate these research findings into practical applications, particularly by developing products that can effectively alleviate stress and other negative emotions at the neural level.

In theory, alleviating stress through cranial nerve stimulation holds immense potential, yet its implementation faces numerous challenges.Among these, the inconvenience of daily use of traditional non-invasive brain-computer interface devices is an urgent problem to be solved.Traditional devices not only feature bulky and cumbersome designs, but also require users to shave their hair and apply conductive gels in practical applications to ensure accurate electrode signal acquisition. These steps are necessary to guarantee close contact between the electrodes and the scalp, thereby achieving higher signal sensitivity. Such demanding operational requirements undoubtedly limit the widespread adoption of these devices in daily life.

Therefore, the team conceived ofEEG Headphonesby seamlessly integrating real-time EEG monitoring and closed-loop feedback into user scenarios, enabling daily brain health monitoring and closed-loop regulation. Thus, NAOYUN was born.

In daily life, brain-computer interface technology seems to be mentioned more frequently than ear-EEG.

In recent years, brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has attracted significant public attention due to its science-fiction-like concepts and potential revolutionary applications. However, ear-EEG technology is also quite mature, with a development history that can be traced back to the inception of electroencephalography (EEG).Due to the proximity of the ears to the brain and the ease of signal acquisition, ear-EEG technology is also widely applied in the fields of neural monitoring and modulation.

In terms of the accuracy of data acquisition, ear-EEG technology and brain-computer interface (BCI) technology are comparable. In 2023, Gert Cauwenberghs and colleagues published an article in Nature Biomedical Engineering, which found thatEar-EEG Technology Can Yield Results Comparable to Traditional Scalp Methods, and may hold significant value and application prospects in long-term health monitoring or in the detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases.

Leveraging the maturity of this technology, NAOYUN has integrated in-ear EEG technology with a headphone-style design, transforming brain-computer interface (BCI) devices—once confined to medical and laboratory settings—into wearable devices accessible for everyday use by the general public. Furthermore, this consumer-friendly form factor enables users to wear the device at any time, facilitating round-the-clock neural monitoring and thereby yielding more precise neural assessment results. This design allowsEEG headphones monitor brainwaves with the same convenience as smartwatches measure pulse.。

NAOYUN begins with electrode materials,Independently developed carbon-based flexible dry electrodes, it can perfectly address the variability in ear anatomy among different individuals, and has innovatively developedMiniaturized acquisition circuit.After the ear-worn EEG device collects precise neural data from the user, NAOYUN’s algorithm will employ active learning to automatically generate and deliver personalized sound waves based on the user’s state. This dynamic modulation of the user’s condition facilitates rapid energy restoration or emotional regulation.

The BrainRhythm algorithm is a model developed by NAOYUN based on big data, capable of analyzing users' neural data and providing personalized feedback.Wang Chaoyang explained, “The Naoyun algorithm can be described as the AlphaGo of the brain-computer interface field.” Just as AlphaGo learned from millions of chess games to train its algorithm—without knowing the basic rules of Go, yet able to predict winning moves by analyzing vast amounts of data—the Naoyun algorithm operates in a similar manner.

Ear-worn EEG devices feature high-precision acquisition capabilities, enabling real-time capture of five distinct frequency bands of brain activity. These band-specific data provide profound insights into the user’s current neural state. Subsequently, the device employs sophisticated acoustic generation technology to deliver a series of sound wave stimuli matched to the brainwave patterns, while closely monitoring their dynamic effects on brain states, such as anxiety levels or attentional focus.

When shifts in brain state toward a preset positive direction are observed, such effective acoustic stimulation patterns are precisely recorded and stored. As the dataset continues to accumulate, the Brain Rhythm algorithm leverages its powerful analytical capabilities,Intelligently adjust the frequency, intensity, and duration of acoustic wave stimulation based on the user’s personalized patterns of brain state changes, thereby achieving precise and personalized neuromodulation of brain activity.This process not only exemplifies the deep integration of brain science and artificial intelligence technologies, but also paves new avenues for developing efficient, customized neurofeedback therapies.

Currently, the NAOYUN algorithm has demonstrated its efficacy in experiments involving thousands of participants. The experimental results indicate that after the device emits personalized sound waves,Users' anxiety levels improved significantly within 15–20 minutes. As China's first big data model for ear-based EEG, the Naoyun Algorithm has established an irreplaceable technological moat for NAOYUN.

Next, the NAOYUN algorithm will also be applied toAttention Regulation, Sleep Monitoring and Adjustment, and Fatigue Monitoring and Intervention Stimulation in the Driving and Safety Fieldsfield. NAOYUN will also continue to explore the potential of its algorithms, seeking broader application prospects in neural monitoring and modulation.

The successful launch of MW75 Neuro marks the beginning of commercialization for ear-EEG devices in overseas markets. However, the application of ear-EEG technology in China is still in its infancy. NAOYUN is rapidly developing, striving to fill the gap in this field.

From a capital market perspective, Neurable, the company behind MW75 Neuro, recently successfully closed a $6 million Series A financing round, fully demonstrating the market’s recognition and expectations for the commercialization potential of ear-based EEG devices. This indicates that investors believe the field offers broad development opportunities and significant commercial value, with considerable room for future growth.

According to Wang Chaoyang,NAOYUN’s ear-based EEG products are currently in the engineering prototype phase and are expected to enter the market in the second quarter of next year., poised to become a pioneer in this field in China.

In the future, NAOYUN will integrate multimodal data fusion with other physiological signals to monitor certain brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. This approach enables patients to undergo disease monitoring in a natural, everyday manner, thereby reducing stigma and improving quality of life. By combining technological sophistication with engaging user experiences, NAOYUN aims to make brain-computer interface technology accessible to the general public.