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In March 2025 we added one new startup to the Access EIS portfolio, investing in MindSpire alongside a member of our super angel network (for more on our super angels, and our co-investment model, see our angel page.) You can read about our new portfolio company below.
If you're interested in making an investment and building your own portfolio of promising startups, you can read more about how to get started, or if you'd prefer to speak to our team about the benefits, angel co-investors, tax reliefs and potential for returns, you can use this link to schedule a call.
MindSpire: pioneering personalised vagus nerve stimulation for neurological health
MindSpire is a UK-based health technology company developing an innovative solution to address chronic neurological conditions through personalised vagus nerve stimulation. Their flagship product, SONA, represents a breakthrough in non-invasive neuromodulation technology.
The global challenge
The world is facing a growing crisis of chronic neurological conditions that profoundly impact quality of life. In the UK alone, 28 million people suffer from chronic pain, 7.8 million experience anxiety and depression, and seven million live with tinnitus. The annual cost to healthcare systems and lost productivity amounts to a staggering £120 billion.
Patients with conditions like Parkinson's disease and tinnitus often find current treatments focus only on symptoms rather than root causes. The lack of personalised, non-drug options leads to emotional distress, sleep disturbances, impaired daily functioning and social isolation.
The MindSpire solution
MindSpire has identified the common denominator behind many neurological conditions: disrupted neural pathways and faulty brain networks that impair the brain's ability to adapt and recover. Their solution leverages the vagus nerve - often called the body's "master switch" - which can be stimulated through the ear to activate neural pathways linked to stress regulation and adaptation.
Their product, SONA, delivers personalised vagus nerve stimulation through comfortable headphones. The system offers several compelling benefits:
Drug-free treatment requiring just 10 minutes daily.
Convenient, non-invasive application.
Fast relief with lasting effects.
Clinically validated approach.
Seamless integration into daily life.
Technological innovation
SONA is powered by NeurosphereTM, MindSpire's proprietary data engine that enables AI personalisation through three key components:
Sense: Monitors physiological responses through integrated sensors.
Stimulation: Delivers precise stimulation to the vagus nerve via the ear.
Sync: Coordinates with audio input for enhanced effectiveness.
Proven clinical results
MindSpire has conducted impressive research with promising outcomes:
Stress management: Studies showed increased vagal activity with 64% improvement.
Tinnitus: Preclinical studies demonstrated reduced distress with zero side effects.
Parkinson's disease: Improvements in heart rate variability, cognition and gait, with some patients regaining sense of smell after 20 years.
Chronic pain & mental health: Studies beginning in 2025 with strong patient interest.
Market opportunity
The company is targeting multiple billion-dollar markets:
Stress management: $10 billion.
Tinnitus: $2.6 billion.
Parkinson's: $3 billion.
Chronic pain: $78 billion.
Anxiety/depression: $11 billion.
What distinguishes MindSpire from competitors is their unique combination of AI-driven real-time personalisation, integration with other modalities like VR, consumer availability, scalability across clinical domains, and user-friendly design.
World-class team
MindSpire is founded by an impressive team with expertise in neurotechnology, AI and sales:
Jane Ollis (Co-Founder and CEO): Medical biochemist, NASA trained.
Dr Tony Steffert (CTO & Co-Founder): 20+ years in neurotech research.
Dr Amir Konigsberg (Chairman): Founder of Israel Brain Technologies with multiple successful exits.
Plus specialists in AI, engineering, sales and clinical advisors in various medical specialties.
Strategic roadmap and investment opportunity
MindSpire is launching SONA as a CE-marked wellness solution initially focused on stress and focus applications. Their five-stage growth plan progresses from pre-seed to Series A funding, expanding from wellness into regulated medical applications with distribution across multiple geographies.
Mindspire’s targets following its recent raise are:
Expanding partnerships
Growing their team with data analysts, software engineers and sales support
Finalising design for manufacture with CE certification and first production run
Launching NeurosphereTM and securing funding for clinical trials
Conclusion
MindSpire represents an extraordinary opportunity at the intersection of neuroscience, AI and consumer health technology. Their solution addresses widespread conditions affecting millions worldwide with a non-invasive, drug-free approach that has demonstrated clinical effectiveness. With non-dilutive funding already secured through Innovate UK, strong preliminary research results, and a clear path to market, MindSpire is positioned to transform neurological healthcare while generating significant returns for early investors.
Their vision of "helping people take back control and bring their best to life" has the potential to improve millions of lives while creating substantial value in multiple billion-dollar markets.
Invest in companies like Mindspire with Access EIS
The Access EIS Fund employs a unique model to gain access to some of the most promising new startups in the UK.
By co-investing with carefully vetted angel investors who have demonstrated their expertise in making profitable investments, we are able to back the UK’s best companies earlier in their lifecycle, and win greater potential return multiples for our investors.
We build large, diverse portfolios to optimise growth potential and minimise risk. Investing in startups is risky, and many fail. But with a broad holding of top quality businesses, your chance of investing in one of the UK’s next success stories is increased.
We invest in new companies each month, so the sooner you make your investment, the sooner you can start building your portfolio of promising new startups.
