Theta Neurotech is a Chicago-based medical device startup developing the first wearable EEG system designed to predict and alert epilepsy patients before seizures occur. Founded in 2022 by Truman Pierson (University of Chicago) and co-founders from Vanderbilt University, the company originated from the Polsky Center's College New Venture Challenge.

The system consists of small EEG sensor patches worn discreetly behind each ear that continuously stream brain signals to a mobile application. An onboard AI model analyzes the EEG data in real time to detect pre-ictal changes in brain activity that precede seizures by up to 30-60 minutes. Once a pre-seizure state is detected, the system sends an alert enabling the patient to take seizure rescue medication or move to a safe location before the seizure manifests.

Theta targets the approximately 30% of epilepsy patients whose seizures remain uncontrolled despite medication, representing a population for whom unpredictability itself is a major source of morbidity and psychological burden. The company is planning clinical trials at UChicago Medicine and has also begun developing algorithms for automated Alzheimer's detection from EEG signals. Theta has raised $1.9 million in pre-seed funding led by Vaark Ventures.