Leiden FSW spin-off Axite receives UNIIQ investment for a home-based brain-monitoring platform
Axite, a start-up rooted in research at Leiden University’s Faculty of Social Sciences (FSW), receives €350,000 from UNIIQ for the further development of NeuroJournal: a platform that uses an EEG headband and smartphone app to provide long-term insight into brain activity outside the laboratory.
Axite is the first spin-off from FSW to receive an investment from UNIIQ. To mark the occasion, Axite received the symbolic UNIIQ Brick Award on Monday 15 December, presented by UNIIQ and the Province of South Holland. The funding demonstrates how social science research can lead to concrete applications with societal impact and marks an important milestone for the young company.
“No more separate diaries, but hard, reliable real-world data.”
What is NeuroJournal?
NeuroJournal enables long-term monitoring of brain activity in everyday living environments. By combining a simple EEG headband with smartphone-based analysis, patients, healthcare professionals and researchers gain access to objective data that make cognitive changes over time visible. The app translates these data into clear scores, such as attention and drowsiness: no more separate diaries, but hard, reliable real-world data.
In the short term, NeuroJournal will be used to collect and analyse brain data within the Reliance research programme, involving, among others, Leiden University, where the platform will be used for monitoring epilepsy. The next step is the launch of the app for daily use, with applications such as faster identification of suitable medication based on brain measurements. While the initial focus is on people with epilepsy, the platform is designed for a wide range of neurological conditions and is also suitable for anyone who wants accessible insight into their own brain.
“The brain continuously provides valuable information; the challenge is to make use of that data outside the hospital.”
From FSW’s CODELAB to Axite
Axite originated from CODELAB, a research laboratory within the Faculty of Social Sciences. The lab studies how everyday activities, such as smartphone use, relate to brain activity. CODELAB plays a key role in establishing spin-offs that address societal challenges using the science and technology developed within the lab.
From this role, Axite emerged, driven by a question that arose during Ruchella Kock’s PhD research: the brain continuously generates valuable information, but it is often difficult to use that data outside the hospital. This insight formed the basis of the NeuroJournal platform.
The next step
With the UNIIQ investment, Axite can expand its team, further develop the platform and, together with specialised epilepsy centres, launch a clinical study. The first product is already largely developed, and Axite has entered into a licensing agreement with Leiden University. Together, these steps lay the foundation for the next phase: preparing for and realising a successful go-to-market, making the platform available to a wider audience!
Axite and UNIIQ at a glance
Axite is an FSW healthtech start-up founded by Charlotte Franenberg (CEO) and Ruchella Kock (CTO). Drawing on backgrounds in psychology, neuroscience and entrepreneurship, they develop technology that translates scientific knowledge into practical healthcare applications.
UNIIQ is a proof-of-concept fund for South Holland that supports start-ups with seed funding and strategic guidance to further develop and apply innovative ideas with societal impact.
