optohive - The Future of Everyday Brain Monitoring
Optohive is a Swiss deep-tech startup developing the next generation of wearable brain monitoring systems for neuroscience research and future clinical applications.
As an ETH Zurich spin-off, our mission is to make high-quality brain measurements simple, comfortable, and scalable. We have developed HiveOne, a new generation of wearable fNIRS technology based on proprietary sensor innovations, delivering exceptional signal quality while significantly improving usability compared to conventional research systems.
Our expertise combines neuroscience, hardware engineering, embedded systems, AI, and software development. Together with our strong scientific network and industry partners, we are translating cutting-edge neurotechnology into practical research tools.
To further expand multimodal brain monitoring, optohive is collaborating with ANT Neuro on OptoWave, a next-generation integrated EEG-fNIRS platform that combines complementary sensing modalities within a single wearable system.
This combination of breakthrough technology, scientific excellence, and industrial partnerships provides a strong foundation for developing the next generation of wearable multimodal brain monitoring systems.
Solution Concept for the BioSignal Challenge
Our vision is to enable continuous, real-world neurophysiological monitoring through a highly wearable, self-applicable multimodal headband that users can comfortably wear throughout daily life.
The proposed concept combines complementary sensing technologies within a lightweight and ergonomic wearable platform designed specifically for long-term use. The overall architecture emphasizes user comfort, reliability, and seamless integration into everyday routines while providing research-grade physiological data.
Rather than optimizing only individual hardware components, our concept focuses on the complete user experience. Comfortable wearability, intuitive application, robust signal acquisition, and an integrated digital workflow are considered equally important to ensure high compliance over extended recording periods.
The system is designed around a modular architecture that can be adapted to different study requirements while maintaining a common hardware and software platform. This enables future scalability and flexibility without fundamentally changing the user experience.
Complementary modalities are acquired together in one head-worn unit, synchronised on-device and streamed wirelessly to a smartphone, with raw, time-synchronised data available through a documented API. The channel layout balances usability and reliable brain data and can be adapted to a study's focus. The system is built for movement and all-day wear, with motion-based artefact handling, uninterrupted recording that recovers after connection loss, and a durable, splash- and sweat-resistant, washable design. It is self-applied without trained personnel, gel-free and comfortable, in several sizes. A single-piece design and our industry partners give a clear path from prototype to a large pilot series with a fitting cost structure, and a rechargeable battery supports full-day use.
