SeedBlink Blog

Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or learning and sensory processing challenges affect millions of children across Europe and the US. An estimated 12 to 13 million children in the EU alone, approximately 15% of the under 18 population, are neurodivergent.

Despite growing awareness, families continue to face significant barriers to accessing timely, affordable, and effective therapy. Long waitlists, high costs, and a shortage of trained specialists, especially outside urban centers, contribute to an overwhelmed healthcare system.

The challenge in pediatric neurotherapy

Despite progress in research and awareness, families face serious barriers:

• Wait times often exceeding two years
• High out-of-pocket costs for private care
• A shortage of trained specialists, especially in rural areas
• Rigid, clinic-based models that don’t fit real family lives

While digital health solutions are emerging, most lack clinical validation, medical certification, or therapeutic depth. There’s a growing gap between what families need and what systems can provide.

Brainhero’s solution: clinically validated, home-based neurofeedback therapy

Brainhero, an Austrian HealthTech startup, offers a Class IIa certified EU medical device designed to deliver frequent, structured neurofeedback therapy at home. This hybrid model combines clinical rigor with accessibility, enabling children with autism and ADHD to engage in therapy sessions three or more times per week under remote supervision by trained therapists.

Key differentiators of Brainhero’s approach include:

• Regulatory certification: class IIa medical device status under the EU MDR, ensuring compliance with stringent safety and efficacy standards.
• Scalable therapist model: therapists spend approximately 1.5 hours per month per patient, focusing on onboarding, guidance, and progress monitoring, enabling them to manage larger caseloads efficiently.
• Rapid onboarding: professionals can be trained on the system in about 45 minutes, while families require only 20 minutes to begin therapy.
• Data-driven personalization: the system collects and analyzes session data to adapt neurofeedback protocols to individual symptom profiles, such as differentiating between hyperactivity and inattention in ADHD.
• Affordability and accessibility: by shifting therapy into the home, Brainhero reduces reliance on physical clinic visits and lowers costs compared to traditional EEG-based neurofeedback systems.

Clinical impact and partnerships

Since its initial SeedBlink funding round in 2022, Brainhero has delivered over 35,000 therapy sessions with measurable improvements reported in attention (78%), self-regulation (72%), and social interaction (65%) among participating children. The company has secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator, which supports product development and scaling efforts.

Brainhero currently collaborates with 12 active clinics and institutions across Germany and Austria and has launched a pilot project with Evangelisches Johannesstift Berlin, a care network serving over 2,500 children. Additionally, the company is engaging with public payers and youth welfare offices to explore systemic reimbursement pathways, which could facilitate broader adoption.

What’s next and why now?

The pediatric neurology device market is seeing rapid expansion, rising from $2.8 billion in 2021 to a projected $5.8 billion by 2031. Brainhero’s focus on neurofeedback therapy for pediatric autism and ADHD positions it to address a critical unmet need in a large and growing segment.

Funds raised in the current SeedBlink round will support:

• Scaling production and expanding partnerships in Germany and Austria.
• Preparing market entry into the UK.
• Developing next-generation EEG hardware to enhance scalability.
• Laying the groundwork for a larger Series A round planned for 2026.

Brainhero is led by Christof Goetz, a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in technology and healthcare. The company is backed by investors including XISTA and Arax Capital Partners, alongside public institutions.

As Brainhero advances its mission to transform pediatric neurotherapy, investors can support a scalable, clinically validated solution addressing one of the most pressing challenges in pediatric healthcare. Brainhero’s combination of regulatory certification, data-driven personalization, and a hybrid home-therapy model exemplifies the future of accessible, effective neurotherapy.

Explore the opportunity.