Background

Naveen Rao bridges the worlds of artificial intelligence and neurotechnology, bringing deep technical expertise from executive roles at Intel (where he led the AI division after Intel acquired his startup Nervana Systems) and Databricks. He currently leads Unconventional AI, a company developing neuromorphic computing chips inspired by biological neural architectures.

Neurotechnology Substack

Rao publishes the Neurotechnology Substack, one of the most widely-read industry newsletters covering brain-computer interface markets, funding rounds, and technological trends. His biweekly reports on neurotech funding snapshots and industry analysis are referenced by investors, founders, and researchers across the BCI ecosystem.

Industry Convener

Beyond publishing, Rao serves as a prominent moderator and speaker at major BCI conferences and investment forums. His ability to translate between the technical neuroscience community and the investment world makes him a key connector in the growing BCI industry.

Perspective

Rao’s core thesis — “brain health is human health” — frames neurotechnology not as a niche medical device category but as a foundational platform technology with implications across healthcare, computing, and human augmentation.