NeoSapien: India’s AI “Second Brain” Wearable Revolution — From Shark Tank to $2M Seed Raise

“What if your wearable could think with you, not just track for you?”

In an era dominated by smartwatches and fitness bands that monitor heart rates and steps, NeoSapien is pioneering a fundamentally different approach to personal technology: AI-native wearables designed to augment human cognition. With fresh capital, ambitious founders, and a clear vision, this Bengaluru-based deep tech startup is rapidly emerging as a leader in India’s burgeoning wearable AI ecosystem.

Seed Funding Breakthrough — $2 Million Led by Merak Ventures

On December 11, 2025, NeoSapien announced it had raised a $2 million (approx. ₹18 crore) seed funding round led by Merak Ventures, a sector-agnostic early-stage VC fund. The round also included participation from prominent angel investors such as:

• Anupam Mittal (Founder, Shaadi.com)

• Awais Ahmed (Founder, Pixxel)

• Sameer Mehta (Co-Founder, boAt)

• Namita Thapar (Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals)

• Aprameya Radhakrishna (Founder & CEO, Koo)

This capital infusion will be directed toward accelerating product development, increasing market visibility, and strengthening the startup’s multi-disciplinary team.

From Pitch Stage to Real Product Vision

NeoSapien’s flagship device — Neo 1 — is marketed as India’s first AI-native wearable, a device that functions as a Personal AI Assistant (PAIA) or what the founders describe as a “second brain.” Instead of just recording data, Neo 1:

• Learns context over time

• Captures and organises everyday conversations and tasks

• Provides insights without constant user input

• Works across 100+ languages, from Kannada to Mandarin

The idea is to lift the cognitive burden off users — freeing them from remembering conversations, follow-ups, or scattered notes — and allow the device to actively support decision-making and memory recall.

Founders & the Journey So Far

Founded in 2024 by brothers Dhananjay Yadav and Aryan Yadav, NeoSapien attracted early attention through high-profile platforms. The startup first captured the public eye via Shark Tank India Season 4, where it secured ₹80 lakh (~US$ 100K) investment from Namita Thapar in exchange for equity — a key early validation of its vision and product concept.

Their journey reflects a blend of deep tech ambition with consumer lifestyle needs — an unusual but increasingly attractive mix in the Indian AI startup landscape.

A New Category of Wearable Intelligence

NeoSapien isn’t just building another gadget; it’s shaping a new product category:

Ambient Intelligence Devices (PAIAs)

Unlike traditional wearables that wait for interaction, Neo 1 is built for always-on context awareness, actively reasoning over time and offering insights when they matter most.

Multi-Modal Utility

By combing advanced AI, contextual memory and hardware innovation, the device offers:

• Real-time information recall

• Personal assistant features

• Automated context-based reminders

• Seamless organisation of personal data

This elevates wearables from passive trackers to active cognitive partners in daily life.

Beyond Neo 1 — Vision for the Future

The startup’s roadmap extends far beyond a single device:

• NeoOS — a proprietary operating system layer for future AI companions

• NeoCore SDK — a developer platform to enable third parties to build AI-augmented applications on the NeoSapien ecosystem

• Expansion into additional form factors like smart glasses, rings, and other wearable hardware

• Global partnerships and international expansion strategies

This positions NeoSapien not just as a product startup, but as a platform company at the intersection of AI, hardware and human augmentation.

Why NeoSapien’s Success Matters

NeoSapien’s growth reflects several broader trends in technology and consumer behaviour:

Shift From Tracking to Cognitive Assistance

Users increasingly demand devices that understand context and assist with real problems, beyond step counts and notifications.

Emergence of AI-Native Hardware

The integration of deep AI models directly into consumer hardware is a step beyond cloud-only solutions, enabling privacy, speed and real-time responsiveness.

India’s Role in Deep Tech

That a Bengaluru startup is leading an AI wearable category underscores India’s growing stature in hardware + AI innovation, a domain traditionally dominated by global tech giants.

Conclusion: From Idea to Intelligent Wearables

NeoSapien’s journey — from securing early investor backing on Shark Tank India to raising a $2 million seed round — is a testament to the promise of AI-enhanced everyday living. Their vision of augmenting human cognition through contextual AI wearables signals a shift in how we think about personal technology.

For investors, innovators and tech enthusiasts, NeoSapien stands as a compelling example of how Indian startups are defining next-generation intelligence devices, blending deep tech with practical human experiences.