Overview

OpenBCI is an open-source BCI hardware company, providing accessible neural recording tools to researchers, developers, and hobbyists worldwide. Founded in 2014 and based in Brooklyn, the company has built a global community around democratized access to brain-computer interface technology.

Product Line

OpenBCI’s EEG recording products include the Cyton biosensing board (8 channels, or 16 with the Daisy expansion module) and the Ultracortex Mark IV, an EEG headset frame that supports up to 16 channels, with open-source firmware and software. The Galea platform combines EEG with eye tracking, EMG, EDA, and PPG in a single headset, enabling multi-modal biosensing for advanced BCI research.

Open-Source Philosophy

By making BCI hardware designs and software openly available, OpenBCI has lowered the barrier to entry for brain-computer interface research globally. The company’s tools are used in university laboratories, startups and independent research projects.

Market Role

OpenBCI occupies a unique position as both a commercial hardware vendor and an open-source community platform. Its products serve as the entry point for many researchers and companies entering the BCI field, creating an ecosystem that feeds into the broader neurotech industry.