Wisear
Wisear is a Paris-based deep tech company developing ear-based neural interface technology (EEG, EMG, EOG) and on-device AI that enables hands-free, voice-free device control for OEMs in consumer audio, AR/VR, gaming, and accessibility markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Wisear does
Wisear is a Paris-based deep technology company founded in 2019 that develops ear-based neural interface technology for integration into consumer audio and AR/VR hardware. The core platform uses tiny electrodes embedded in earbuds or wearables to record bioelectrical signals — EEG (brain activity), EMG (facial muscle activity), and EOG (eye activity) — and processes them through proprietary on-device AI algorithms to enable hands-free, voice-free device control with reported accuracy above 98% on its initial neural controls. The technology is protected by granted patents covering both the hardware miniaturization required to fit neural-interface components into an earbud and the AI pipeline that converts bioelectrical signals into control commands; all inference runs at the edge for privacy. Target use cases span consumer earphones, industrial AR for frontline workers, gaming headsets, professional communications, and accessibility/assistive applications.
Wisear operates a B2B licensing model. Revenue streams are technology licensing and royalties paid by OEMs integrating the neural interface into their products, plus limited sales of demo and development kits. The company does not publish pricing; commercial engagement is quote-based via "Request a Demo" and "Book a demo" calls to action, consistent with an enterprise sales motion. Customer-facing product surface includes the "Wisearphones" concept, the "Perceive" wireless-earphone prototype, a 2024 DevKit for AR/VR integrators, and the "WiseAR Pod" AR prototype unveiled at CES 2024. Named non-commercial touchpoints include Microsoft Research (Jan 2023 BCI presentation), Qobuz (Jul 2023 hackathon), and a set of unnamed "global clients under NDA" validated during 2020-2022.
The company was financed primarily by a €2M seed round in January 2022 led by Paris Business Angels and Kima Ventures, with BPI France DeepTech funding and strategic angels from Snips (Mael Primet, Stephen Bauer) and Cambridge Nanosystems (Jerome Joaug), plus earlier Techstars participation. Recognition includes CES 2022 (Wall Street Journal Best of CES), CES 2023 (CTA Innovation Awards Honoree and the inaugural Reviewed AccessABILITY Award), and CES 2024 (Android Authority Best of CES). On January 29, 2026, Wisear was acquired by Vancouver-based Naqi Logix and now operates as a wholly-owned European innovation subsidiary.
Wisear firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wisear
- Legal name
- Wisear, SAS
- Website
- https://wisear.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wisear is a Paris-based deep tech company developing ear-based neural interface technology (EEG, EMG, EOG) and on-device AI that enables hands-free, voice-free device control for OEMs in consumer audio, AR/VR, gaming, and accessibility markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wisear industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brain-Computer Interface Technology
- NAICS
- Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Computer Peripheral Equipment, Nec (3577), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Device Inference Runtimes & SDKs (mobile/embedded) (HDAAAJAB)
Keywords
Where Wisear is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wisear business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Licensing neural interface technology to device manufacturers (earphone makers, AR/VR headset companies) for integration into their products. Target is B2B customers who want to add neural-based controls to their devices.
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of neural sensing wireless earphone demo kits and development kits to partners and developers for integration testing and prototyping.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Wisear product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wisear develops and licenses a patented ear-based neural interface technology that reads bioelectrical signals (EEG, EMG, EOG) via tiny in-ear electrodes and processes them with on-device AI algorithms to enable hands-free, voice-free controls for wireless earphones, AR/VR headsets, gaming headsets, walkie-talkies, and assistive devices. The company primarily sells and licenses this technology to device manufacturers (OEMs) for integration into their products, supported by reference hardware (Wisearphones, DevKit, WiseAR Pod) and a developer documentation portal.
Product overview
Wisear is a deep tech company that develops neural interface technology for device makers to enable high-speed, private, and inclusive hands-free, voiceless device controls. The core offering consists of the Wisearphones (the world's first neural-interface-powered smart earphones planned for 2025 launch), supported by a DevKit for AR/VR ecosystem integration. The company also licenses its patented neural interface technology to third-party device manufacturers. Wisear's neural interface reads bioelectrical signals (EEG, EMG, EOG) from in-ear electrodes and uses AI algorithms to interpret user intent in real-time. The technology was acquired by Naqi Logix in January 2026 and operates as a wholly-owned European subsidiary.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Neural Interface Technology Licensing Licensing of Wisear's patented ear-based neural interface IP — including electrode design, signal processing, and on-device AI algorithms — to device manufacturers for embedding hands-free, voice-free controls into their products.
- Wisearphones Neural Sensing Wireless Earphones Reference-design wireless earphones embedding Wisear's neural interface, demonstrating EMG-based facial gesture control and (announced) EOG-based eye activity control for hands-free music, call, and device control. Used as a proof-of-concept hardware platform and demo unit.
- DevKit (Development Kit for AR/VR) A hardware and software development kit that enables AR/VR device makers to integrate Wisear's neural interface technology, with a reduced form factor suitable for AR/VR ecosystem integration.
- WiseAR Pod A neural-interface-enabled AR pod device unveiled at CES 2024, showcasing Wisear's neural control technology for AR workflows and industrial use cases.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 98% accuracy for two neural-based controls, performing similarly or better than physical buttons on everyday earphones
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wisear
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wisear technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
Wisear partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ThirdEye GencorePartnership announced October 2023 to bring neural interface technology to Mixed Reality devices. ThirdEye Gen X2 MR headset to integrate Wisear's hands-free neural controls for industrial and enterprise applications.
- QobuzminorCollaborative partnership announced July 2023 for a hackathon offering a new way to interact with Qobuz music streaming service using Wisear neural interfaces. Demonstrates hands-free music control use case.
- DigiLenscorePartnership announced May 2023 to deliver seamless AR control for frontline workers. DigiLens waveguide optics integrated with Wisear neural controls for industrial AR applications.
- PICOcorePartnership announced May 2023 to bring neural-based voice- and hands-free controls for more immersive VR experience using PICO VR headsets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wisear competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Naqi Logix: Vancouver-based neural interface company that acquired Wisear in January 2026. Naqi develops non-invasive neural control technology for earbuds and other wearables, operating in the same ear-based neural interface category as Wisear and serving overlapping accessibility, consumer electronics and XR use cases.
- NextMind (Snap Inc.): Paris-origin neural interface startup acquired by Snap in 2022, developing a brain-computer interface for AR/VR control. Comparable to Wisear as a non-invasive neural control technology targeting headset OEMs, with a focus on visual cortex signal decoding for spatial computing.
- Neurable: Boston-based neurotechnology company building EEG-based brain-computer interfaces integrated into headphones and other everyday wearables. Directly comparable to Wisear in using EEG biosignals from consumer-grade form factors to enable hands-free device control.
- Emotiv: Pioneer in consumer and research-grade EEG headsets with associated AI signal-processing software. Comparable to Wisear in commercializing EEG-based interfaces for non-medical applications, though Emotiv has historically focused on headset form factors rather than in-ear integration.
- OpenBCI: Open-source brain-computer interface hardware and software platform. Comparable to Wisear as a developer-facing BCI ecosystem, although OpenBCI focuses on multi-electrode research and education platforms rather than in-ear consumer integration.
Broad incumbents
- Apple (AirPods / Neural Engine team): Apple ships AirPods with extensive sensor suites and is widely reported to be working on health and biometric sensing features, including neural-interface patent filings. Represents the broad-incumbent threat to Wisear's earbud-licensing model if Apple embeds native neural controls in AirPods.
- Meta Reality Labs: Meta's Reality Labs runs one of the largest commercial BCI/electromyography programs following its CTRL-Labs acquisition, with neural interfaces intended for AR/VR control. Comparable to Wisear as a competitor in neural control for headsets, but operating at much greater scale and with vertically integrated hardware.
Emerging players
- Synchron: Developer of a minimally invasive brain-computer interface (stentrode) for medical and assistive applications. Comparable to Wisear on the neural-interface technology axis but addresses a different use case (implantable medical BCI for paralysis patients) rather than consumer in-ear controls.
- Neuralink: Elon Musk-founded company developing high-bandwidth implantable brain-computer interfaces. Listed by Wisear itself as a peer in the BCI space. Comparable as a neural-interface technology developer but addressing a fundamentally different (invasive medical) use case versus Wisear's non-invasive in-ear approach.
- Blackrock Neurotech: Utah-based brain-computer interface pioneer focused on implantable neural recording and motor-restoration applications. Comparable to Wisear as a peer in the broader neural-interface category but targeting clinical/research markets rather than consumer earbuds and AR/VR.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wisear social profiles
Digital presenceWisear financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wisear leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Wisear funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wisear 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 Wisear
What does Wisear do?
Wisear develops and licenses a patented ear-based neural interface technology that reads bioelectrical signals (EEG, EMG, EOG) via tiny in-ear electrodes and processes them with on-device AI algorithms to enable hands-free, voice-free controls for wireless earphones, AR/VR headsets, gaming headsets, walkie-talkies, and assistive devices. The company primarily sells and licenses this technology to device manufacturers (OEMs) for integration into their products, supported by reference hardware (Wisearphones, DevKit, WiseAR Pod) and a developer documentation portal.
Is Wisear a public or private company?
Wisear is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Wisear founded?
Wisear was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wisear based?
Wisear is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Wisear make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are hardware Product Sales.
Who are Wisear's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Naqi Logix, NextMind (Snap Inc.), Neurable, Emotiv and OpenBCI. Broad incumbents are Apple (AirPods / Neural Engine team) and Meta Reality Labs. Emerging players are Synchron, Neuralink and Blackrock Neurotech.
Does Wisear have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wisear.
What industry is Wisear in?
Wisear's product category is Brain-Computer Interface Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAJAB, On-Device Inference Runtimes & SDKs (mobile/embedded). Its NAICS code is 334118 and its SIC code is 3577.