Nudge
Nudge is a private neurotechnology company building a non-invasive, MRI-guided focused ultrasound brain-computer interface (the Nudge Zero device) to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions, with a long-term roadmap toward consumer brain-health products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nudge does
Nudge is a private neurotechnology company developing non-invasive brain-computer interfaces based on focused ultrasound technology. The company is building a vertically integrated platform combining proprietary phased-array ultrasound hardware, MRI-guided delivery, and acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) to stimulate and image deep brain structures with millimeter precision — areas previously accessible only through invasive surgery.
Its core product, the Nudge Zero device, is a high channel count ultrasound phased array built into an MRI-compatible helmet that enables electronic steering of the ultrasound focus without physical transducer movement. Nudge is currently running parallel feasibility studies across essential tremor, chronic pain, tinnitus, substance use disorder, and healthy volunteer cohorts, with early reported signals including substantially reduced chronic pain within seconds of ultrasound application and persistent reductions in opioid cravings out to 90 days.
Commercially, Nudge is pre-revenue and pre-product. The business model is intended to be hardware sales of FDA-approved focused ultrasound devices to healthcare providers for neurological and psychiatric indications, with a longer-term roadmap toward consumer-grade, at-home brain interface devices for mood, focus, and memory applications. The company raised a $100M Series A in July 2025 co-led by Thrive Capital and Greenoaks and is led by co-founder and CEO Fred Ehrsam and co-founder, President and CTO Jeremy Barenholtz.
Nudge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nudge
- Legal name
- Nudge Corp
- Website
- https://nudge.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Nudge is a private neurotechnology company building a non-invasive, MRI-guided focused ultrasound brain-computer interface (the Nudge Zero device) to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions, with a long-term roadmap toward consumer brain-health products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nudge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brain-computer interface medical devices
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- NDT/NDE Inspection Equipment (Ultrasonic, eddy current, radiography, thermography) (IMAGAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Home Diagnostic & Self-Test OTC Kits (HLAIADAO)
Keywords
Where Nudge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nudge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Medical Device Revenue: Future revenue from FDA-approved focused ultrasound devices for treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions including addiction, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and essential tremor. Revenue model expected to follow medical device sales to healthcare providers and potentially direct-to-consumer for wellness applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Nudge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nudge develops non-invasive brain-computer interface technology based on focused ultrasound. Its core product, the Nudge Zero device, is a high-channel-count ultrasound phased array helmet designed for use inside an MRI machine, enabling precise, image-guided stimulation and imaging of deep brain structures. The company is currently conducting clinical feasibility studies for conditions including essential tremor, chronic pain, tinnitus, and substance use disorder, with a longer-term vision of consumer brain-interface products.
Product overview
Nudge is a neurotechnology company developing non-invasive brain-computer interfaces using focused ultrasound technology. The company's primary product is Nudge Zero, an MRI-guided ultrasound phased array helmet device that enables targeted neuromodulation of deep brain structures. Nudge operates feasibility studies across multiple therapeutic areas including essential tremor, chronic pain, tinnitus, and substance use disorder, with the longer-term vision of creating consumer-grade brain interface products for both medical treatment and cognitive augmentation applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nudge Zero A high-channel-count ultrasound phased array device packaged into a helmet structure designed for use within an MRI machine. It enables targeted delivery of low-intensity focused ultrasound to deep brain structures with millimeter precision, supporting neuromodulation research and future clinical treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Substantially reduced chronic pain within seconds after ultrasound application (double-blind, randomized, controlled trial)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Nudge
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nudge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Nudge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nudge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- BrainCo: BrainCo builds non-invasive EEG-based brain-computer interface products for education, wellness, and prosthetics. While focused on a different sensing modality and use cases, it overlaps with Nudge's long-term consumer brain-interface vision and adjacent BCI commercialization efforts.
Direct peers
- Neuralink: Neuralink is developing high-bandwidth invasive brain-computer interfaces via implanted electrodes. Although invasive versus Nudge's non-invasive ultrasound approach, it competes for the same ultimate goal of large-scale brain interfacing and attracts comparable founder-led, venture-backed capital.
- Insightec: Insightec is the leading commercial developer of MR-guided focused ultrasound for the brain, with FDA-approved Exablate Neuro system for essential tremor and Parkinson's tremor. Nudge competes in the same MR-guided ultrasound neuromodulation category, though Insightec currently uses high-intensity thermal ablation while Nudge targets low-intensity neuromodulation.
- Paradromics: Paradromics is building high-data-rate invasive neural interfaces for medical and future consumer use. It is a direct competitor in the brain-computer interface category and shares Nudge's long-term vision of consumer-scale brain interaction.
- Synchron: Synchron is developing a minimally invasive vascular brain-computer interface (Stentrode) for patients with paralysis. It is a leading BCI competitor with FDA breakthrough designation and represents the minimally-invasive alternative to Nudge's non-invasive approach.
- Blackrock Neurotech: Blackrock Neurotech manufactures invasive brain-computer interface arrays used in academic and clinical research for motor and communication applications. It is a long-standing BCI peer pursuing similar clinical and eventual consumer applications through a different modality.
- Magnus Medical: Magnus Medical developed the SAINT protocol, an FDA-cleared MRI-guided focused ultrasound system for treatment-resistant depression. It is one of the most direct competitors to Nudge in the focused-ultrasound brain modulation space, particularly for psychiatric indications.
Broad incumbents
- Medtronic (Neuromodulation): Medtronic is a global leader in implantable neuromodulation devices including deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's, tremor, OCD, and epilepsy. It represents the incumbent invasive neuromodulation paradigm Nudge aims to disrupt non-invasively.
- Kernel: Kernel develops non-invasive brain-interface technology using optical methods (TD-fNIRS, Kernel Flow) for cognitive monitoring and neuromodulation. It is a broader non-invasive brain technology incumbent and a competitor for the long-term consumer brain-interface market Nudge is targeting.
- Abbott (Neuromodulation): Abbott, through its St. Jude Medical heritage, sells deep brain stimulation systems (Infinity DBS) and spinal cord stimulators. It is an established neuromodulation incumbent competing for the same clinical indications Nudge targets, using an invasive surgical modality.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nudge social profiles
Digital presenceNudge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nudge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nudge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nudge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nudge
What does Nudge do?
Nudge develops non-invasive brain-computer interface technology based on focused ultrasound. Its core product, the Nudge Zero device, is a high-channel-count ultrasound phased array helmet designed for use inside an MRI machine, enabling precise, image-guided stimulation and imaging of deep brain structures. The company is currently conducting clinical feasibility studies for conditions including essential tremor, chronic pain, tinnitus, and substance use disorder, with a longer-term vision of consumer brain-interface products.
Is Nudge a public or private company?
Nudge is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nudge founded?
Nudge was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nudge based?
Nudge is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nudge make money?
One revenue line is on record: medical Device Revenue.
Who are Nudge's main competitors?
BrainCo is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Neuralink, Insightec, Paradromics, Synchron, Blackrock Neurotech and Magnus Medical. Broad incumbents are Medtronic (Neuromodulation), Kernel and Abbott (Neuromodulation).
Does Nudge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nudge.
What industry is Nudge in?
Nudge's product category is Brain-computer interface medical devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAI, NDT/NDE Inspection Equipment (Ultrasonic, eddy current, radiography, thermography), with a secondary code of HLAIADAO, Home Diagnostic & Self-Test OTC Kits. Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3845.