In this episode of Startup Show, host John Biggs sat down with Dr. Christoph Guger, the founder and CEO of g.tec medical engineering, a company that has been at the forefront of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for the past quarter-century.

BCI devices, which translate brain activity into control signals for external devices, have evolved from experimental tools to powerful medical applications that are changing the lives of patients around the world. g.tec has pioneered innovations that not only help patients regain lost functions but push the boundaries of what technology can achieve by tapping directly into the human mind.

BCIs were initially developed to aid patients with severe physical limitations, such as those suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), by providing them with a means of communication when traditional methods failed. Early applications allowed users to control cursors on a screen, offering a lifeline to those who were otherwise locked inside their bodies, unable to speak or move. Over the years, the technology has expanded dramatically.

One of g.tec’s most notable products in the space is Recoverix, a BCI-based rehabilitation tool for stroke patients. After a stroke, patients often face severe mobility challenges, with many left unable to use their hands or legs effectively. Recoverix addresses this by using EEG electrodes to monitor brain activity while patients imagine moving their paralyzed limbs.