Motif Neurotech Company Profile

Background

Motif Neurotech is a Houston-based neurotechnology company specializing in the development of minimally invasive bioelectronic devices aimed at treating mental health disorders. Founded through the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, the company's mission is to create neural devices that enable individuals to regulate their mood, attention, and cognition, thereby improving their quality of life. Motif's lead product, the DOT microstimulator, is a miniature, wireless, battery-free brain pacemaker designed to restore healthy brain circuit activity, with an initial focus on addressing treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Key Strategic Focus

Motif Neurotech's strategic objectives include:

Development of Minimally Invasive Bioelectronics: Creating devices that can be implanted through simple outpatient procedures, reducing patient risk and recovery time.

Targeting Treatment-Resistant Depression: Focusing on TRD, a condition affecting approximately 30% of individuals with major depressive disorder who do not respond to conventional treatments.

Advancing Home-Based Therapies: Designing devices that enable patients to administer therapy at home, enhancing accessibility and compliance.

Leveraging Proprietary Technologies: Utilizing wireless magnetoelectric power transfer technology to power devices without the need for batteries.

Financials and Funding

In January 2024, Motif Neurotech closed an oversubscribed Series A financing round, raising $18.75 million. The round was led by Arboretum Ventures, with participation from new investors KdT Ventures, Satori Neuro, Dolby Family Ventures, re.Mind Capital, and individual investor Max Hodak, as well as existing investors Divergent Capital, TMC Venture Fund, PsyMed Ventures, Empath Ventures, and Capital Factory. The funds are earmarked for advancing the development of the DOT microstimulator and initiating clinical studies for patients with TRD.

Pipeline Development

Motif Neurotech's primary product in development is the DOT microstimulator, a miniature brain pacemaker designed to stimulate the prefrontal cortex to restore healthy brain activity. Key milestones include:

First-In-Human Study: In September 2023, Motif conducted a proof-of-concept study demonstrating that their millimeter-sized implant could safely and effectively stimulate the human brain without contacting the brain surface.

Preclinical Animal Studies: The company has completed large animal studies lasting over 30 days, showing that the implants provided safe and effective brain stimulation.

Clinical Trials: Motif plans to begin clinical trials of their first chronic implants in 2025.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Motif Neurotech's innovation is centered around:

Wireless Magnetoelectric Power Transfer: Enabling battery-free operation of implants through external transmitters, allowing for a smaller device size and reducing the need for surgical interventions to replace batteries.

Minimally Invasive Implantation: The DOT microstimulator is designed to be implanted in a 20-minute outpatient procedure, making it more accessible and less risky for patients.

At-Home Therapy Capability: The device is designed to allow patients to administer therapy sessions at home, improving convenience and adherence to treatment protocols.

Leadership Team

Jacob Robinson, Ph.D.: Founder and CEO. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering at Rice University. Leads the strategic vision and technological development of the company.

Sameer Sheth, M.D., Ph.D.: Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer. Professor of Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Oversees clinical strategy and medical affairs.

Steven Goetz: Chief Technology Officer. Joined Motif in July 2023 after a 26-year career at Medtronic, where he led engineering and innovation initiatives for implantable device therapies. Responsible for leading all research and development activities.

Leadership Changes

In July 2023, Motif Neurotech appointed Steven Goetz as Chief Technology Officer. Goetz brings extensive experience from his tenure at Medtronic, where he held leadership positions in neuromodulation innovation and engineering.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The global mental health technology market was valued at approximately $4.6 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach around $12.6 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4%. This growth is driven by increasing awareness and demand for effective mental health treatments.

Competitor Analysis

NeuroSigma: Developed the Monarch eTNS System, a non-invasive device for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression.

Saluda Medical: Developed the Evoke System, a closed-loop spinal cord stimulation device for chronic pain management.

Synchron: Developed the Stentrode, a minimally invasive brain-computer interface designed to enable control of digital devices for patients with paralysis.

These companies, along with established players like Medtronic and Boston Scientific, contribute to a competitive landscape in the neurotechnology sector.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

In January 2025, Motif Neurotech was selected by the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) for a multimillion-dollar award to develop a therapeutic brain-computer interface technology aimed at treating cognitive and psychiatric conditions. This collaboration focuses on creating a network of millimeter-sized wireless implants designed to monitor and regulate mental and cognitive states without the need for brain surgery.