Neo 1, India’s first AI necklace, was born out of the chaos of modern work life. Meetings blur into calls, messages never stop, and important details quietly slip away. It is not forgetfulness that causes this, but the constant demand to remember everything at once. Over time, this invisible pressure builds mental fatigue. This shared daily struggle is what led to the creation of NeoSapien.
Founded in 2024, NeoSapien is a Bengaluru based startup built on a simple belief that humans should focus on thinking and living, while technology should quietly take care of memory. The company’s answer to this challenge is Neo 1, India’s first AI necklace designed to function like a second brain.
The Minds Behind NeoSapien
NeoSapien was founded by cousins Dhananjay Yadav and Aryan Yadav. Dhananjay serves as the Chief Executive Officer, while Aryan leads technology and product development. Both founders come from strong backgrounds in artificial intelligence and product building, and they have spent years creating systems that learn from data and context.
While working in Bengaluru’s startup ecosystem, they noticed a common pattern among professionals. People were working harder than ever, yet still missing important details. Notes were scattered across multiple apps, memory was stretched thin, and digital tools demanded constant attention. This observation shaped NeoSapien’s vision. As the founders explained publicly, they are building technology that fades into the background so people can stay present in their lives.
What Is Neo 1
Neo 1 is a small AI pendant worn around the neck. With user permission, it listens to conversations and converts speech into structured and searchable notes through the NeoSapien app. Users can revisit meetings, track action items, recall follow ups, and search past discussions by time or context.
The device supports more than 100 languages, including Kannada and Mandarin, making it accessible to a wide user base. Neo 1 is priced between Rs 9,999 and Rs 14,999, usually including one year of AI service. After the first year, users can continue advanced features and cloud based memory for around Rs 499 per month.
NeoSapien defines this product category as Personal AI Personal Assistant, or PAIA. These devices operate quietly in the background, build long term memory, and offer support without adding screens or distractions.
NeoSapien on Shark Tank India
NeoSapien reached a national audience after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 4. The founders pitched for Rd 80 lakh in exchange for 2.5 percent equity. After discussions, Namita Thapar invested Rs 80 lakh for 4 percent equity, valuing the company at around Rs 20 crore. Anupam Mittal was already an early supporter before the show.
The exposure helped NeoSapien explain the second brain concept to a wider audience and strengthened confidence in market demand. The funding was used for early production and product improvements.
Funding and the Road Ahead
In December 2025, NeoSapien raised a two million dollar seed round, roughly Rs 18 crore, led by Merak Ventures. The round included angel investors such as Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, Sameer Mehta from boAt, Awais Ahmed from Pixxel, and Aprameya Radhakrishna.
NeoSapien follows a hardware and subscription based business model. The company plans to expand beyond a single necklace by developing NeoCore, an intelligence layer that will power future wearables such as rings, glasses, and watches. Privacy and user control remain central to its vision.
For NeoSapien, the goal is simple. Let artificial intelligence handle memory, so people can focus on living.
