From Google X to NextSense: Building Brain-Sensing Smartbuds with Jonathan “JB” Berent

In this episode of The Open Loop, Chay Carter is joined by Jonathan “JB” Berent, Founder and CEO of NextSense. JB shares the story behind NextSense, from his early fascination with sleep and lucid dreaming to a Google X project exploring deep sleep enhancement, in-ear EEG, and brain-sensing wearables. We explore why the ear is such a compelling form factor for brain data, how NextSense is building smartbuds for sleep, focus and calm, and what it takes to turn advanced neurotechnology into a consumer product people actually use. We also discuss lucid dreaming research, acoustic stimulation, fundraising, product-market fit, manufacturing, ARPA-H’s REST programme, and future directions including more sensors, tVNS, and closed-loop sleep modulation. Key takeaways: 🔹 Why NextSense built around in-ear EEG and smartbud form factor 🔹 How a Google X sleep project evolved into a consumer neurotech company 🔹 Why longitudinal brain data could shape the next generation of wearables 🔹 What founders need to understand about product-market fit in consumer neurotech 🔹 How closed-loop sleep modulation, audio and future sensors could expand the platform Guest: Jonathan “JB” Berent Founder and CEO, NextSense LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-berent/ Host: Chay Carter Founder, Carter Sciences | Co-Founder, Reccy Neuro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chay-carter/ Key Chapters: 00:39 Introduction to NextSense and Brain-Sensing Smartbuds 01:40 From Stanford, Lucid Dreaming and Google to NextSense 04:56 Lucid Dreaming, EEG and Dream Communication 07:46 Learning Neuroscience and Building at Google X 11:56 Spinning NextSense Out of Google 14:54 Fundraising, Consumer Neurotech and Investor Challenges 21:53 Product-Market Fit and the Toothbrush Test 27:28 Why NextSense Chose Earbuds for Brain Data The Open Loop is a podcast exploring the people, companies, and ideas shaping the future of neurotechnology. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with the founders, researchers, operators, and industry leaders building what comes next in brain health, medicine, and technology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone interested in neurotechnology. New episodes of The Open Loop drop weekly. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Reccy Neuro — the home of neurotech. Jobs, companies, investors, events, Cortex industry intelligence, and specialist resources for the neurotech market. Learn more about Reccy Neuro here: https://neuro.reccy.dev/