The Future Is Now: “Better healthcare has direct and immediate benefits” With Caesar Winebrenner and
Fotis Georgiadis
Better healthcare has direct and immediate benefits, but Neuhelm’s advanced human interface has a plethora of future applications. They could allow people to better consolidate and rapidly distribute knowledge. The hope is that this will enable a more seamless integration with our digital selves, an evolution of sorts where we enhance and accelerate human intellect and enable it digitally.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Caesar Winebrenner: Architect, Engineer, CEO and Founder of Neuhelm.
Caesar is an inventor, architect, and well-known technical project manager. He’s delivered multiple, successful and recognizable products while collaborating with talented teams for major corporations both globally and in Seattle, Washington, the city he calls home.
Caesar founded Neuhelm — a company where he and a team of subject matter experts conduct brainwave analysis technology while leveraging advances in machine learning and Electroencephalogram (EEG) technology — to unlock new capabilities such as an instant audio and visual concussion test.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed with the ability to create electronic solutions for all forms of everyday problems. A few of my colleagues and I were challenged by an Elon Musk interview for Recode where he discussed “neural lace” technology — an ultra-thin mesh that is implanted in the skull, and forms a body of electrodes which are able to monitor brain function. “Neural lace” is an idea from science fiction that people think is impossible until someone seeks to make it a reality. We could revolutionize the world with modern brain-computer interfaces. However, the industry has been slow to make progress with the concept aside from something such as a toy.
I ruminated over the Elon Musk interview for days, and decided the time was now to heed the opportunity. We rationalized, if our team was able to figure out how to develop almost anything else, then why not “neural lace”? In our quest to uncover this technology, we realized not only its plausibility but discovered breakthrough capabilities that were directly beneficial to people.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
While the team at Neuhelm was working to raise funds for a project we were testing with our concussion technology, a friend engaged us with another project in need of software and electronics assistance — our sweet spot. We were hired shortly after intervening and created a prototype including the hardware and software in just three months. It’s currently being tested and readying for production launch.
Can you tell us about the “Bleeding edge” technological breakthroughs that you are working on? How do you think that will help people?
Instant concussion detection and recovery monitoring is the first thing that comes to mind. It could assist in athletics and the military. Then, there’s Alzheimer’s detection. Neuhelm created a method for delirium detection and Artificial Intelligence (AI) intervention. Also, we have developed an advanced human interface device called Neural Link. This will allow humans to communicate much faster than today. There are many other opportunities as investigating this new technology has just begun. The applications of this technology will allow people to stay healthier and more informed about their brain health.
How do you think this might change the world?
Better healthcare has direct and immediate benefits, but Neuhelm’s advanced human interface has a plethora of future applications. They could allow people to better consolidate and rapidly distribute knowledge. The hope is that this will enable a more seamless integration with our digital selves, an evolution of sorts where we enhance and accelerate human intellect and enable it digitally.
Keeping “Black Mirror” in mind can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?
For concussions, the risk is inaction. Will athletics team owners embrace or fear a technology that can show brain injury in their players? Will players want to know the truth and what is done with what is learned?
With, Alzheimer’s, the concern is about the ethics of human care. While AI provides the possibility of better care for people, it may result in others choosing to solely rely upon software to avoid the personal and financial costs of patient care.
As far as “neural lace”, there is a risk that people’s inner thoughts and intentions could be revealed in a telepathic-like understanding of relational human behavior. There is concern this could be used to manipulate and control people.
Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this breakthrough? Can you tell us that story?
The “tipping point” was the aforementioned interview with Elon Musk in Recode. The words that resonated with me were, “someone has to do it,” and I realized he wasn’t talking about an existing company. He was approaching the tech industry as a whole. It would likely have to come from us, other developers and inventors.
We collaborated, created some hypotheses, and then, went to work. Three weeks later, Neuhelm filed for its business license. Not only did we find what we were looking for, but realized we were onto something even more significant than we imagined.
What do you need to lead this technology to widespread adoption?
For concussion, we need access to people such as athletes who are at risk or have experienced injuries in order to refine our research. In addition, research funding and licensing partnerships are of interest. The concussion technology is already useful, but more testing and refining is required because the research we’re in need of hasn’t yet been done. However, we will have to find ways to get it done. Our Alzheimer’s project is at the same stage, where research and development funding are critical. Finally, for “neural lace,” additional research and development to ascertain its many features for use are still needed.
What have you been doing to publicize this idea? Have you been using any innovative marketing strategies?
We have been documenting much of the journey with a group of producers from Hollywood, California who are a part of the Top Gear USA/UK production crew, but are in the early stages of publicizing and marketing them.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
This entire journey has been fueled by so many friends’ desires to help each other succeed. I would like to thank Elon Musk for his call to arms. Without it, I may not have been so inspired to assemble my team or made some of our discoveries.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Throughout my life, I have produced numerous (and fun) inventions. If it saves time or makes life better in general, then I proceed with it. The team at Neuhelm is often tasked with creating possibilities out of what may appear to be the impossible. It has been an honor to hold this responsibility.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why.
1. There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. — Morpheus, The Matrix
Understanding what needs to be done and the reality of doing it can be very different. Planning, anticipating risks and coming up with contingencies in advance are valuable, but knowledge gained along the way has its own value as well. The journey is worth taking, and you learn unexpected things. For us, the ability to detect a concussion was one of those unexpected and valuable things that came about as we were working on another project.
2. When you’re doing the right things, the right people seem to find you.
The more we share what we have learned, the more doors have opened for us. Capable people and influential organizations seem to appear when it’s clear you’re on the right track.
3. The usual view is that you can’t have all three when it comes to speed, quality, and cost, but I believe this can be overcome with skill. It’s something I have seen. With the right group, the results can be astonishing.
4. There are more important things than money. — Unknown
Everyone on our team had previously been pursuing high-paying development jobs, but decided to take a step back. Our desire was to take on more while experiencing the creative liberty to pursue those concepts, which was a financial risk.
Even with the variety of challenges we face, there is a degree of satisfaction from independence that eases some of that trepidation; we shouldn’t fear guiding our own horizon.
5. Do or do not. There is no try. -Yoda
When we embark on something — individually or as a team — we know without hesitation that we can count on each other to deliver high quality work in a short period of time.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would inspire a global awakening for the developers and innovators to inspire others to do the same. People are empowered greater than they realize. The meaning of life is to create.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
During one of my final conversations with my mother, she said, “Maybe someday you will invent something important.” Having followed my career, she witnessed my friends and me effortlessly innovate a number of fun and useful things. The gravity of what we were capable of creating had yet to sink in. Combined with her passing, now, more than ever, I heeded the message: Life is short. You have the chance. Do something important. I began to accept that maybe I was in some ways different from others, and that was alright, because it could be a positive attribute. I was convinced and determined to prove her right.
Some very well known VCs read this column. If you had 60 seconds to make a pitch to a VC, what would you say? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
As a self-funded company, we have developed authentic and ready solutions for some broad-reaching problems. We are seeking the right partner to complete the last mile and delivering this technology to the market.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caesar-winebrenner-7873117
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuR1DyyQxRy1WdDrz0lG0KA
https://www.facebook.com/caesarw72
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
The Future Is Now: “Better healthcare has direct and immediate benefits” With Caesar Winebrenner… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
