Unicorn MindMaze Acquires Neuro Cognitive Rehabilitation Company NMI to Expand Therapeutic Portfolio

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that MindMaze, a neurocognitive rehabilitation company headquartered in Switzerland, recently announced in a press release its acquisition of Neuro Motor Innovations (hereinafter referred to as “NMI”), a similar medical technology company based in Maryland, United States. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As the U.S. population ages, a growing number of people face the threat of neurological disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Following this acquisition, MindMaze has strengthened its therapeutic portfolio with new complementary products and established a new partnership with a leading academic research center—Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

Image source: MindMaze official website

According to the announcement, MindMaze will obtain perpetual rights to use NMI’s rehabilitation technology and appoint Dr. John Krakauer, co-founder of NMI, as its Chief Medical Advisor and Chief Scientific Advisor. NMI was originally established in 2017 as a spin-off from Johns Hopkins University in the United States by Dr. Krakauer and his colleagues, and it continues to maintain a close and collaborative relationship with the university. Following the acquisition of NMI, MindMaze expressed its commitment to sustaining this positive partnership.

In its announcement, MindMaze stated that it would continue to develop NMI’s existing technologies, including an AI-driven video game. This technology aids stroke patients through body-motion control capabilities and is commonly applied in the treatment of acute and chronic neurological diseases and injuries. According to NMI, the technology also benefits older adults in maintaining healthy cognitive function.

MindMaze is a developer of medical-grade virtual reality products, founded in 2002 with the aim of enhancing patients’ cognitive and motor functions through gamified rehabilitation therapies. It is also one of only 376 unicorn companies worldwide. Previously, the company raised approximately $110 million in its Series E funding round from its investors.

Dr. Krakauer stated, “The scientific community has long recognized that in animal models, stimulating the brain through enhanced physical activity and enriched social environments has a significant impact on neural recovery. However, there is currently no equivalent intervention available in human clinical settings. Our vision is to design a novel, universal platform capable of accelerating brain repair by creating immersive environments with rich sensory stimuli, thereby providing effective cognitive and motor therapies for a broader range of patients with neurological disorders and injuries.”

MindMaze, founded in 2002 and headquartered in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, is a unicorn enterprise in the field of neurocognitive rehabilitation. Its flagship product is a medical-grade virtual reality platform designed to build intuitive human-computer interfaces that integrate VR, computer graphics, brain imaging, and neuroscience. The company also provides motion capture technology and analytics, immersive virtual reality scenarios, as well as solutions for neurophysiological measurement and analysis.

NMI, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, is a neurocognitive rehabilitation technology company dedicated to improving cognitive and motor outcomes for individuals during the aging process. NMI has developed an AI-driven, body-motion-controlled video game therapy solution that simultaneously stimulates cognitive and motor functions in stroke survivors and older adults.