Job Description

About the Company
A confidential startup at the cutting edge of neuromodulation is seeking a visionary CEO to lead its next phase of growth and innovation. The company has developed a patented technology for transplanting brain states, enabling the extraction of EEG signatures from optimal brain states (such as deep sleep, flow, or relaxation) and the noninvasive “playback” of these states in recipients using light and sound stimulation. This breakthrough is protected by a robust IP portfolio, validated by peer-reviewed research, and supported by positive pilot studies and grant funding. The initial commercial focus is on the sleep and insomnia market, with a broader vision for impact across neurological, psychiatric, and consumer health domains.

Role Overview

The CEO will serve as the architect and driver of the company’s evolution from breakthrough concept to commercial leader in neuromodulation and digital therapeutics. This is a rare opportunity for a proven leader to shape a new category in brain health, leveraging deep science, robust IP, and a world-class team to deliver life-changing solutions at scale.

Please note: As a pre-seed, early-stage company, this is an equity-driven leadership role. The CEO position is initially unpaid, with salary and cash compensation accruing and commencing upon the successful close of the company’s first institutional funding round.

Key Leadership Responsibilities

Strategic Vision & Execution

• Define and communicate a compelling vision for the company, aligning scientific, clinical, and commercial objectives to establish category leadership in neuromodulation and digital sleep therapeutics.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive business plan that spans product development, clinical validation, regulatory strategy, and go-to-market execution for both medical and consumer channels.

• Prioritize and sequence high-value applications beyond sleep, identifying the right inflection points for expansion into neurological, psychiatric, and consumer health markets.

Capital Formation & Investor Relations

• Lead all fundraising activities, including pre-seed and seed rounds, cultivating relationships with venture investors, strategic partners, and non-dilutive funding sources.

• Articulate the company’s value proposition to a range of stakeholders, including institutional investors, industry partners, and the scientific community.

• Ensure the company is resourced to accelerate product development, clinical trials, and regulatory milestones.

Product, Clinical & Regulatory Leadership

• Oversee the evolution of the neuromodulation platform, ensuring robust product development, clinical validation, user-centric design, and scalable manufacturing.

• Guide the design and execution of clinical studies to validate efficacy and safety, leveraging positive pilot data and published research to accelerate regulatory and market entry.

• Develop and execute regulatory strategy, including FDA clearance and international approvals, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards for both medical and consumer devices.

Team & Culture Building

• Attract, inspire, and lead a high-performance executive and technical team, fostering a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, and operational excellence.

• Establish efficient processes and systems to support rapid growth, while maintaining agility and a relentless focus on outcomes.

• Build a diverse, inclusive, and mission-driven organization that can scale with the company’s ambitions.

Market Development & Partnerships

• Develop and implement go-to-market strategies for both direct-to-consumer and B2B channels, including partnerships with sleep clinics, digital health platforms, and consumer electronics companies.

• Forge strategic alliances with key opinion leaders, academic collaborators, and industry partners to drive adoption and credibility.

• Identify and pursue licensing opportunities in adjacent markets such as VR, gaming, and education.

External Representation & Thought Leadership

• Serve as the public face of the company, representing it to investors, partners, regulatory bodies, media, and the broader scientific and medical communities.

• Position the company as a thought leader in the emerging field of brain state modulation, contributing to the scientific and medical discourse.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated leadership in early-stage medical device, neurotechnology, or digital health ventures, ideally as a CEO, founder, or C-suite executive with direct P&L responsibility.

• Proven ability to raise capital at the seed stage and beyond, with a track record of securing both dilutive and non-dilutive funding for deep-tech or medtech startups.

• Deep familiarity with FDA regulatory pathways for medical devices, and a history of successful product development, clinical validation, and launch in regulated markets.

• Strong network within the medtech, neuroscience, or digital health investment communities, with the ability to attract top talent and strategic partners.

• Outstanding communication skills, strategic vision, and the ability to inspire, build, and lead high-performance teams across scientific, technical, and commercial domains.

• Advanced degree in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or a related field preferred; additional business training (e.g., MBA) is highly advantageous.

• Passion for pioneering science, a commitment to evidence-based innovation, and the ambition to shape the future of brain health and human performance.

Key Milestones for Success

• Secure initial funding to support product development, clinical trials, and regulatory submissions.

• Build and empower an executive team capable of scaling the company through commercialization and expansion.

• Establish a clear and credible path to FDA clearance and clinical adoption for the initial sleep-focused device.

• Develop and execute strategic partnerships that accelerate market entry, technology adoption, and IP licensing.

• Create a sustainable competitive advantage in both medical and consumer neuromodulation markets.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a transformational leader to define a new category in neurotechnology, deliver life-changing solutions to millions, and create enduring impact across medicine, wellness, and human potential-all while operating in a highly confidential, fast-moving environment.

Note: Details have been intentionally limited to protect company confidentiality. More information will be provided to candidates advancing through the search process.

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