Bastien Didier has developed a patented proprietary technology that allows connected objects to be controlled by thought. With his start-up Mentalista, he had already amazed his world a few years ago at shows like VivaTech or Paris Games Week.
From the age of 18, he plunged into the world of neuroscience. Bastien Didier, aka Gille de Bast, a true autodidact, is now 28 years old. And here it is attacking the global market for brain-environment interfaces, a market that still weighs 11.5 billion dollars. The one whose start-up was “detected” by EDF at VivaTech in 2019 thanks to its system that makes you play football with your mind, has developed a patented technology that allows you to take control of an object by thought. A story of brain waves, you will understand, which turns into a real entrepreneurial adventure.
Mentalista harnesses the cerebral abilities of the brain
A few years ago, Bastien Didier set himself the challenge of creating the first French start-up specializing in the research and development of brain-environment interfaces, Mentalista. He then surrounded himself with a team made up of experts in engineering, design and computer science. In 2017, it was able to develop its proprietary technology (hardware AND software) which simultaneously collects, secures, analyzes and activates brain waves in order to control connected objects by thought.
For this, Mentalista uses the technique of electroencephalography (EEG), known to collect electrical impulses from the brain through electrodes placed on the head. The start-up has developed a new language that helps analyze mental images from the visual cortex. To do this, it has developed a web interface that includes real-time data processing, APIs, access to demos and even an SDK for creating applications.
More than a hundred customers and partners have already been won over by Mentalista’s capabilities, such as Alpine F1, KPMG, Airbus, Google, AXA, Legrand, Inria, CNRS, Polytechnique and Havas. The start-up was also able to convince thanks to what is called hyperscanning, the simultaneous measurement of the brain activity of several individuals, and a better understanding of their environment using equipment such as a camera, a GPS, a microphone or eye-tracking.
The “Mentalista Club” makes its technology available and focuses on market development
The adventure has become, as we said, entrepreneurial. Mentalista now hopes for long-term success by turning to the health, well-being, communication, connected home, entertainment, sports, banking or industrial markets. In a few years, they will see the brain-environment interfaces extend to them, with uses that will have a definite influence on their daily lives.
Bastien Didier and his teams have just decided to open their proprietary technology to manufacturers, but also to integrators and laboratories through the Mentalista Club. The latter allows its members to access both the technology and the algorithms developed by the start-up. They can also take part in training, debates, events and calls for projects.
Subscriptions of 9,000, 20,000 and 60,000 euros are offered to support members in their design, research and marketing phases. Mentalista bets on the fact that no truly universal standard exists for collecting and analyzing data generated by the human brain. The young company sees market opportunities and promising future applications, particularly in terms of helmets (control, audio, security, VR, etc.).
Mentalista, who has managed to seduce business angels like Gotaga, Alain Thibault, Marc Michel or Stéphane Distinguin now intends to significantly accelerate its growth, starting this year.
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