Background

Naveen Rao is an independent neurotechnology industry analyst, writer, and ecosystem builder. He studied biology and public health at Johns Hopkins and has worked at the intersection of technology and human health for about 20 years. He is a Forbes contributor and advises public and private interests on bringing next-generation neurotechnology into society responsibly.

Neurotech Futures

Rao is the founder and publisher of Neurotech Futures, an independent research and analysis platform covering the brain-computer interface and broader neurotechnology industry. Rao describes it as a resource for leaders navigating neurotechnology and for anyone curious about its impact on society. Much of the analysis is free; the paid tier adds two further newsletters, Signals and Insider, covering markets, technology and commercial strategy for founders, investors and business leaders.

Neurotech Notables

Rao publishes Neurotech Notables, a biweekly roundup of commercial news, views and curated resources from the neurotechnology field, on the Neurotech Futures Substack. The series tracks funding rounds, regulatory decisions, clinical milestones and policy developments; issue 62 appeared on 16 September 2026.

Rao also publishes annual neurotech funding snapshots through Neurotech Futures, breaking down deal flow across implanted BCI, transcranial neuromodulation, focused ultrasound, consumer neurotech, neuroAI, cognitive assessments, and non-invasive devices. His 2024 snapshot tracked $2.3 billion across 129 deals across the broader neurotech category. His 2025 snapshot, published in January 2026, tracked $4.8 billion across 140 deals.

Perspective

Rao uses “neurotech” as an umbrella term for hardware and software tools that change how people understand and interact with the brain and nervous system. He sets out three aims for the publication: to anticipate where business, policy, technology and advocacy collide; to help founders, investors, operators, job seekers and students succeed; and to imagine a positive future for neurotechnology’s impact on society.