Dhananjay Yadav has developed a unique wearable device, dubbed his 'second brain', which hangs from his neck and listens to every conversation, providing alerts and reminders for tasks.
This lightweight gadget, resembling a USB drive, is India’s inaugural wearable AI assistant, named Neo 1. The device captures verbal communications to generate notes, transcripts, and reminders, positioning itself as a productivity enhancer.
Founded by Dhananjay and his cousin Aryan Yadav, NeoSapien launched in 2024 and gained traction after appearing on Shark Tank India. The startup made headlines again during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 when some of its devices were reportedly stolen during a high-profile visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Recently, NeoSapien secured $2 million in seed funding, attracting investment from notable figures, including Sameer Mehta of boAt and Anupam Mittal of Shaadi.com. Despite not disclosing exact sales figures, the company reports selling thousands of units monthly since Neo 1's launch.
Dhananjay’s entrepreneurial journey began with experience at companies like Razorpay and ClearTax, leading to the creation of NeoSapien following the rise of generative AI technologies. His vision, shared with Aryan, was to innovate hardware in the evolving tech landscape.
Neo 1 is designed to enhance user experience through continuous interaction, aiming to provide a more personalized approach than traditional AI assistants. The device listens actively, allowing it to understand context better and offer tailored responses.
While facing initial hardware challenges, the founders creatively marketed their prototype in popular cafes, which helped generate interest and funding. The global market for AI wearables is rapidly expanding, with NeoSapien positioned to capitalize on this growth.
With a competitive price point of around ₹10,000, Neo 1 serves as a practical productivity tool, unlike some other AI wearables that have struggled in the market. The device features a companion app that processes conversations, generates transcripts, and creates actionable reminders.
NeoSapien aims to become a comprehensive platform for wearable technology, with plans to license its operating system to other manufacturers. The founders aspire to create a significant user base in India and beyond, with ambitions for future product launches and brand events akin to major tech unveilings.
