The Seoul National University of Science and Technology's Startup Support Group assists promising startups by providing them with space, mentoring, networking, and commercialization support through its Business Incubation Center. 'Startup in Science and Technology University' shares the stories of startups aiming to leap forward with the university's Business Incubation Center as their base.

Smart Dream has developed a weight management device called 'NeuroShape' that stimulates the brain with microcurrents to suppress appetite. NeuroShape consists of a headband and a dedicated app. By wearing the headband and setting the stimulation intensity, pattern, and time through the app, microcurrents stimulate the brain to alleviate false hunger or stress-induced appetite. Smart Dream explains that NeuroShape is more affordable, has no side effects, and is convenient compared to existing weight management solutions.

Smart Dream released a beta version of NeuroShape in December 2024 and plans to launch an official version with enhanced features and a customized AI algorithm in the first half of next year.

CEO Son Il-soo of Smart Dream, who aims to provide an easy and safe weight management solution through NeuroShape, shared insights about Smart Dream and NeuroShape.


Commercializing Research Achievements through Faculty Entrepreneurship

IT Donga: Hello, CEO Son Il-soo. Please introduce yourself.

CEO Son Il-soo: Hello, I am Son Il-soo from Smart Dream. I majored in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University and have been a professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Seoul National University of Science and Technology since 2013, after starting at Gachon University. My main research areas are digital healthcare and wearable medical devices. Smart Dream was founded in 2017.

IT Donga: What prompted you to decide on faculty entrepreneurship?

CEO Son Il-soo: While researching the IT field and publishing related papers, I wanted to turn my research achievements into products that could be used in everyday life. I wanted to participate directly in the commercialization process and verify the business potential. Fortunately, the government was promoting a startup-leading university project based on university-owned technology, and I was selected for this project, which led me to start a startup in earnest.

IT Donga: What kind of company is Smart Dream?

CEO Son Il-soo: Smart Dream is a company that provides creative and smart products that do not exist in the world to users. The company name combines 'Smart,' meaning smart IT devices, 'Dream,' meaning the products we dream of, and 'Dream,' meaning to give to users.

Initially, we started with a lost item tracking device. Although we completed commercialization and launch at the time, we did not achieve satisfactory results. It was a useful product, but it did not attract consumer purchasing intent. Eventually, we decided to change the business item and considered items with high consumer interest and market expansion potential. As a result, we developed NeuroShape in 2023.


Alleviating Appetite with Microcurrent Brain Stimulation

IT Donga: Could you tell us what led to the development of NeuroShape?

CEO Son Il-soo: I came across news that the obese population has been rapidly increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic. In North America, it is projected that by 2030, the obese population will account for nearly half of the total population. Obesity not only adversely affects individual health but also causes significant losses to the national economy and society. As a result, interest in the obesity treatment market and weight management is increasing.

However, existing obesity treatments have several limitations. Surgical treatments are risky, and treatments with drugs or injections can cause side effects, posing a considerable burden on patients.

To address these issues, we developed the weight management solution NeuroShape using bio-IT technology in collaboration with the obesity research team at Seoul National University Hospital. The research team provided medical evidence and advice, while I was responsible for device development. The product name was inspired by the slim image of 'NeuroShape' and the way the product is worn on the head.

IT Donga: Please introduce NeuroShape. What principle does the product use?

CEO Son Il-soo: NeuroShape uses microcurrents to stimulate the brain, weakening the impulse for food. This alleviates false hunger, which is the sensation of hunger despite not being hungry, and stress-induced appetite. It does not eliminate appetite itself. By alleviating appetite through brain stimulation, it helps users manage their weight more easily, without side effects. Additionally, brain stimulation helps stabilize the psychological state and improve sleep.

The usage is simple. NeuroShape consists of a headband and an app. By wearing the headband and connecting the terminals to a smartphone, the app launches, allowing users to set the stimulation intensity, pattern, and time. Microcurrents flow to the brain for the set duration. When the device operates, it feels slightly ticklish.

The intensity can be selected in two levels, and the time can be set to 10, 20, or 30 minutes. Since appropriate stimulation varies for each person, various options are provided. Users can choose the stimulation that suits them by changing the settings. The simple usage allows it to be easily used at home. It connects to a smartphone, so no battery charging is required.


IT Donga: How effective is NeuroShape?

CEO Son Il-soo: The method of weakening the impulse for food through brain stimulation has already been proven effective through various research results and papers. There are also hospital-grade devices. NeuroShape is a portable, home-use device that allows these hospital-grade devices to be easily used at home. We plan to conduct clinical trials within the year to accurately measure the effects of NeuroShape.

Beta Version Released Last Year, Official Release with AI Features Planned

IT Donga: Please tell us about the progress of the business so far.

CEO Son Il-soo: After completing product development, we released a beta version in December 2024 to gauge market response. The price was set in the high KRW 200,000 range, which is relatively affordable compared to existing weight management solutions. Actual consumers have responded positively, saying it is 'easy to use' and that it has improved sleep quality along with appetite suppression.

IT Donga: You are currently receiving support from the Seoul National University of Science and Technology's Business Incubation Center. What kind of support have you received?

CEO Son Il-soo: We have received affordable office space, information on exhibitions and support programs, and IR opportunities from the Business Incubation Center. Programs such as global competency training, mentoring, and consulting for companies hoping to expand globally have been very helpful. The Business Incubation Center provides a lot of support to help startups like us grow more smoothly.


IT Donga: Lastly, please tell us about your future plans and goals.

CEO Son Il-soo: We are currently enhancing the product while gathering consumer feedback on NeuroShape. We are also developing a customized AI algorithm that learns user patterns to automatically set device options to optimal conditions. We plan to launch an official version with this feature in the first half of next year.

Currently, we are focusing on weight management, but we plan to expand into the sleep market in the future. As mentioned earlier, brain stimulation also has a sleep-inducing effect. We are also preparing for clinical trials and medical device certification to verify the effects.

Next year, we plan to focus on widely promoting NeuroShape. Until now, we have faced many difficulties due to a lack of know-how in promotion and marketing. We are preparing for an investment round, through which we plan to secure professional personnel and conduct full-scale promotion and marketing activities.

We aim to contribute to personal health improvement and the reduction of national economic and social costs by providing an easy, affordable, and safe weight management solution through NeuroShape.

IT Donga Reporter Han Man-hyuk (mh@itdonga.com)

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