Cousin duo builds India’s first AI necklace 'Neo 1' that acts as a second brain, turning daily conversations into searchable memory

Modern work is noisy. Days are filled with meetings, calls, and messages that blur into each other. Important points are forgotten, follow-ups slip, and mental fatigue builds quietly. 

NeoSapien started with this simple problem. 

The Bengaluru-based startup believes humans should not spend energy remembering everything. Instead, technology should do that job quietly in the background.

Meet the Founders of NeoSapien: Dhananjay Yadav and Aryan Yadav

NeoSapien was founded by cousins Dhananjay Yadav and Aryan Yadav. Dhananjay is the CEO, while Aryan leads technology and product. 

Both founders come from AI and product-building backgrounds and have spent years working on systems that learn from data and context.

While working in Bengaluru’s startup scene, the cousins noticed a shared problem among professionals. People were working harder than ever, yet missing details that mattered. Notes were scattered, memory was stretched thin, and apps demanded constant attention.

That insight shaped NeoSapien’s direction. As the founders said in a public quote,“We’re building technology that fades into the background so you can stay present in your life. Think about the cognitive load we carry, Neo 1 handles that seamlessly.” 

This belief remains central to how they build products today.

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About NeoSapien

Founded in 2024, NeoSapien is building an AI necklace called Neo 1 that listens with permission, understands conversations, and turns them into useful memory. The goal is not more screens or alerts, but calm support that helps people stay focused on their lives.

NeoSapien describes its product category as Personal AI Personal Assistant, or PAIA. These are devices that stay active in the background, build long-term memory, and bring up useful information when needed. 

The company is also building NeoCore, an intelligence layer that will power future devices and apps beyond the first product.

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India’s First AI Necklace That Works Like a Second Brain

Neo 1 is a small AI pendant worn around the neck. With user consent, it listens to conversations and turns speech into structured notes. These notes are stored in a timeline that users can search through the NeoSapien app.

The pendant can record meetings, pull out action items, track follow-ups, and help users remember past discussions. For example, users can search for what they agreed on with a client or what tasks came out of a meeting last week.

Neo 1 supports more than 100 languages, including Kannada and Mandarin. The device is priced between ₹9,999 and ₹14,999, usually including one year of AI service. After the first year, users pay about ₹499 per month to keep advanced AI features and cloud memory active.

NeoSapien on Shark Tank India

NeoSapien reached a wider audience after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 4. The founders pitched their AI necklace and asked for ₹80 lakh in exchange for 2.5% equity.

After discussions, Namita Thapar invested ₹80 lakh for 4% equity. Anupam Mittal was already an early supporter before the show. The on-air deal valued NeoSapien at around ₹20 crore.

The show gave NeoSapien more than funding. It helped the founders explain the second brain idea to a national audience and gave them confidence that people were ready for such a product. The funds were used for early production and product improvement.

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NeoSapien Financials, Funding, and Business Model

In December 2025, NeoSapien raised a $2 million seed round, roughly ₹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 plus subscription model. The pendant is the entry point, while the monthly AI service builds long-term value. 

The founders have shared plans to reach ₹16 crore in revenue within 18 months of launch and aim for ₹85 crore over five years. Actual revenue numbers have not yet been shared publicly.

The Road Ahead 

NeoSapien plans to grow beyond a single necklace. The team wants to open NeoCore so other developers can build apps on top of its memory system, including tools for work, coaching, and mental health.

Future products may include glasses, rings, and watches that run on the same system. Privacy remains a core focus, with users keeping control over their data and storage choices.

As Sheetal Bahl, Founding Partner at Merak Ventures, said, “Seldom has India had a chance to participate in a global, tectonic shift, but with PAIAs, it has a real shot at doing so. We believe NeoOS will power hundreds of millions of upcoming AI consumer wearables.”

For NeoSapien, the aim is clear: let AI handle memory, so people can focus on living.

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