TU Delft Neuro Challenge

Take your neurotech idea to the next level — and help shape the future of brain innovation.

Join a one-day, hands-on event where young scientists, clinicians, engineers, and students co-create startup concepts in neurotechnology. Whether you bring your own idea or want to contribute to someone else’s, everyone’s welcome.

What to expect

• Keynote: Nicolas Vachicouras (CEO & Co-founder, NeuroSoft Bioelectronics)
• Keynote: Dr. Stephen Rainey (ethics in neurotechnology)
• Startup crash-course: practical tools & mentoring
• Team sprint: build, iterate, and validate your concept
• Pitch to an expert jury: prize for the winning team 🎉

Event Summary

The TU Delft Neurochallenge at YES!Delft brought together a vibrant mix of young neuroscientists, medics, students, and interdisciplinary researchers — all with one shared mission: turn bold neurotech ideas into real-world solutions.

We kicked off with two inspiring keynotes:

• Nicolas Vachicouras (Co-founder & CEO, Neurosoft Bioelectronics) on building neuromodulation startups and translating innovation from lab to clinic.
• Dr. Stephen Rainey (Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Technology, TU Delft) on ethics and neurophilosophy — the responsibilities that come with technology interfacing the brain.

Fueled by those talks, participants jumped into a high-pressure innovation sprint. The energy, collaboration, and creativity of mixed-background teams (from engineering students to architects and entrepreneurs) really showed what’s possible when disciplines meet.

Winning concept: PrintXiety

PrintXiety proposed a beautiful fusion of empathy and engineering: use EEG to track mental-health progress (e.g., anxiety reduction) and translate those data into 3D-printed structures. The resulting objects make psychological change tangible — from chaotic to calm, rough to smooth — so patients and clinicians can literally see and feel progress.

This NeuroTechHub initiative was led by Francesc Varkevisser, Stijn Balk, Antonio Manuel Lozano Ortega, and Patricija Burgar — and we’re only just getting started. The event was part of the national Hersencampagne, supporting brain research and innovation across the Netherlands.

Special thanks to: Martine van Diepenbrugge, Fien Bosman-van Gelder, Janneke den Besten-van Ravenswaaij, Daan Kuitenbrouwer, Rick Bonants, Claire Visser, TU Delft | EEMCS, and — most of all — to all participants for your energy and creativity.

Want to help shape the future of brain-tech? Reach out — we’d love to hear from you.