Robinson Lab

What Robinson Lab does

Robinson Lab is an academic neuroengineering research laboratory at Rice University, established in 2012 and led by Professor Jacob T. Robinson within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Bioengineering. The lab develops miniature technologies to manipulate and monitor physiological and neural circuit activity, with research concentrated in three core areas: next-generation brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), translational bioelectronics, and NeuroAI. Currently staffed by approximately 21 lab members including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research staff, the lab has produced over 70 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals including Nature, Science, Nature Nanotechnology, and Nature Biomedical Engineering, and has trained more than 30 PhD students and over 40 undergraduate researchers since 2012. Robinson Lab is also a primary training ground for the next generation of neuroengineers, with alumni dispersed across major technology companies (Meta, Google, Apple, Intel, Micron), startups, and academic institutions (Caltech, University of Pennsylvania, Rice, Vanderbilt).

The lab's core technology is built on magnetoelectric materials and wireless power transfer, enabling pea-sized, battery-free, implantable bioelectronic devices that can be powered and controlled through the skull and dura membrane via external magnetic transmitters. Key product platforms include the DOT (Digitally programmable Over-brain Therapeutic) miniature brain stimulator, the MagNI magnetoelectric neural implant, distributed bioelectronic implant networks, hybrid bioelectronic systems combining electronics with engineered living cells, and lensless microscopy platforms (FlatScope, FlatCam, DeepDOF, Bio-FlatScope). The DOT device was demonstrated in humans in April 2024 as the smallest implantable brain stimulator, targeting drug-resistant depression and other psychiatric disorders. In November 2024, the lab launched a minimally invasive neural interface developed with the University of Texas Medical Branch, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Robinson Lab is not a commercial entity and does not generate traditional product revenue. Its funding model is grant-based, with primary support from competitive government research awards including DARPA (the $18M N3/MOANA program plus $8M follow-on, and the $22M BETR program), NIH, NSF (including a $1.5M EDGE award), and private foundations (Keck, Welch). Technology is commercialized through Rice University's Biotechnology Launch Pad program, with Motif Neurotech — co-founded by Robinson — emerging as the principal spinout, closing an $18.75M Series A in January 2024 to advance the DOT device. Clinical validation occurs through direct collaborations with Baylor College of Medicine (Dr. Sameer Sheth) and UTHealth Houston (Dr. Sunil Sheth), with no commercial product sales, pricing model, or commercial customer base in place.

Name

Robinson Lab

Legal name

Robinson Lab

Website

https://robinsonlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Robinson Lab is an academic neuroengineering research laboratory at Rice University that develops miniature, battery-free, wireless brain-computer interfaces and implantable bioelectronic devices using proprietary magnetoelectric power transfer technology for clinical and research applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Research Grants: Primary revenue from competitive government research funding including DARPA contracts (N3 program, MOANA project), NIH grants, NSF awards, and private foundation funding (Keck Foundation, Welch Foundation)
2. Technology Commercialization via Startups: Commercializing research through spinout companies; Motif Neurotech (founded by Robinson) closed $18.75M Series A financing for miniature brain stimulator development
3. Licensing Royalties: Technology transfer through licensing of patents and know-how to industry partners

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Robinson Lab is an academic neuroengineering research laboratory at Rice University that develops miniature technologies to manipulate and monitor physiology and neural circuit activity. Its core offerings include next-generation brain-computer interfaces using magnetoelectric wireless power transfer, translational bioelectronics for therapeutic neural stimulation, and NeuroAI platforms for cross-species brain and behavior data collection. Research outputs are transferred to commercial partners through startup spinouts (Motif Neurotech) and licensing agreements.

Product overview

Robinson Lab operates as a neuroengineering research laboratory at Rice University developing a portfolio of neurotechnology products centered on three core areas: Next-Gen Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) using magnetoelectric wireless power transfer technology; Translational Bioelectronics including the flagship DOT (Digitally programmable Over-brain Therapeutic) device for brain stimulation; and NeuroAI platforms for scalable neural recording and behavioral tracking. The lab has spun out Motif Neurotech to commercialize its therapeutic BCI technology. Key products include FlatScope lensless microscopy systems, miniature battery-free bioelectronic implants, and distributed sensor networks. The technology portfolio emphasizes wireless, battery-free, minimally invasive devices for neural recording, stimulation, and bioelectronic medicine applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Minimally Invasive Neural Interface New minimally invasive neural interface using endocisternal interfaces for neural stimulation and recording, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering in November 2024. Developed for diagnosing, managing, and treating neurological disorders with minimal surgical risks.
• DOT (Digitally programmable Over-brain Therapeutic) The smallest implantable brain stimulator demonstrated in human patients. Pea-sized device powered wirelessly via magnetoelectric power transfer through an external transmitter. Targets drug-resistant depression and psychiatric disorders through dural stimulation.
• Motif Neurotech (Spinout Company) Therapeutic brain-computer interface startup commercializing miniature implantable stimulators for treatment-resistant neuropsychiatric conditions. Spun out from Robinson Lab through Rice Biotech Launch Pad.
• DeepDOF Lensless Microscope Deep-learning enabled extended depth-of-field microscopy platform for fast, slide-free histology without traditional optical components.
• FlatScope Lensless Microscope Ultra-miniature lensless 3D fluorescence microscope using phase mask technology for computational image reconstruction without traditional optics. Enables single-frame 3D imaging in small animal studies.
• Bio-FlatScope Lensless microscope optimized for biological imaging, designed to capture useful data from deep within intact biological specimens.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• University of Texas Medical Branch (Peter Kan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2024Collaboration with Dr. Peter Kan on minimally invasive neural interface development. Joint research published in Nature Biomedical Engineering (November 2024) on technique for diagnosing, managing and treating neurological disorders with minimal surgical risks.
• Motif NeurotechflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2024Motif Neurotech is a Rice Biotech Launch Pad startup co-founded by Jacob Robinson. The company is developing the DOT (Digitally programmable Over-brain Therapeutic) miniature brain stimulator based on Robinson Lab's magnetoelectric technology. The lab collaborates directly with Motif for clinical translation of wireless brain stimulation devices. Robinson serves as CEO and co-founder.
• Baylor College of Medicine (Dr. Sameer Sheth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2024Clinical collaborator for first-in-human demonstration of miniature brain stimulator. Dr. Sameer Sheth, neurosurgeon at Baylor College of Medicine, collaborated on implanting the DOT device in human patients for treatment of neurological disorders.
• UTHealth Houston (Dr. Sunil Sheth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2024Clinical collaborator for miniature brain stimulator human trials. Dr. Sunil Sheth, neurologist at UTHealth Houston, partnered on the demonstration of the pea-sized wireless brain stimulator.
• Rice University (Biotechnology Launch Pad)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2024Robinson Lab is part of Rice's Biotechnology Launch Pad, a technology transfer and startup incubator supporting commercialization of faculty research. The lab has spun out Motif Neurotech through this program.
• Kaiyuan Yang Lab (Rice University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2020Collaborative research with Kaiyuan Yang's lab at Rice developing programmable millimeter-sized bioelectronic devices based on magnetoelectric effect for neural stimulation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Paradromics: Neurotechnology company building high-bandwidth brain-computer interfaces with implanted electrode arrays. Competes for the same neuroscience research and eventual medical device opportunities and was a 2024 alumnus of Cyclotron Road-adjacent neurotech accelerator ecosystem.
• Precision Neuroscience: Developer of a minimally invasive cortical interface (Layer 7) for BCI applications. Direct competitor in minimally invasive implanted BCI category with overlapping target indications in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
• Synchron: Clinical-stage BCI company developing a stent-based minimally invasive brain-computer interface (Stentrode). Direct competitor in the wireless/implanted BCI space and one of the few peers with regulatory progress comparable to Robinson Lab's first-in-human DOT demonstration.
• Blackrock Neurotech: Utah-array based implanted neural interface company serving neuroscience research and clinical applications. Overlaps Robinson Lab's neuroscience research and BCI missions, though Robinson's wireless magnetoelectric approach differs from Blackrock's wired electrode arrays.
• Motif Neurotech: Rice Biotech Launch Pad spinout founded and co-led by Jacob Robinson, commercializing the DOT miniature brain stimulator for treatment-resistant depression based directly on Robinson Lab's magnetoelectric IP. Closest possible comparable — same core technology and team origin.
• Iota Biosciences: Ultrasound-powered millimeter-scale neural implant spinout (originating from UC Berkeley) using wireless power for distributed neural interfaces. Robinson Lab alumni logos and technology philosophy — wireless, battery-free, miniature neural interfaces — make it a close peer.

Emerging players

• FlatCam Inc. First commercial spinout from Robinson Lab (Cyclotron Road fellowship 2019) commercializing FlatCam ultra-thin lensless camera technology. Peer in the lab's computational imaging portfolio rather than neurotechnology; illustrative of the lab's broader IP pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Neuralink: Well-capitalized (>$500M raised) commercial BCI company developing coin-sized implantable brain-computer interfaces. Competes with Robinson Lab's DOT in the minimally invasive implanted neuromodulation category but uses a different (battery-tethered) power architecture.
• Magstim: Established manufacturer of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) systems and clinical neurophysiology equipment. Indirect competitor in non-invasive neuromodulation and a relevant incumbent for clinical adoption pathways, though distinct from Robinson Lab's implanted approach.

Others

• ClearPoint Neuro: MRI-guided neurosurgical navigation and drug delivery company. Listed by Robinson Lab as an alumni employer; provides the surgical delivery infrastructure that complements the lab's minimally invasive implant work but does not directly compete on the implant itself.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JTRobinsonLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/robinson-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Robinson Lab