NextMind

Pioneer in consumer-accessible brain-computer interface hardware for AR/VR and developer experimentation, acquired by Snap to bolster AR input research.

NextMind was a Paris-based neurotechnology startup founded in 2017 that developed a real-time brain-computer interface (BCI) device capable of translating neural signals into digital commands. The company's flagship product was a wearable neural sensing device worn on the back of the head that used electroencephalography (EEG) to detect visual cortex activity, enabling users to control digital interfaces through thought alone — without any physical movement. NextMind positioned itself at the frontier of human-computer interaction, targeting developers and researchers with a dev kit that allowed experimentation across gaming, AR/VR, and productivity applications. In March 2022, Snap Inc. acquired NextMind, integrating the Paris-based team into Snap Lab, Snap's hardware research and development division. The acquisition was widely seen as a strategic move to accelerate Snap's ambitions in augmented reality, where hands-free, thought-driven interaction could become a transformative input modality for AR glasses and wearables. Following the acquisition, NextMind ceased operating as an independent entity and its developer kit was discontinued for public sale. Though NextMind no longer exists as a standalone brand, its legacy lies in pioneering consumer-accessible BCI hardware and demonstrating the viability of visual-cortex-based neural interfaces. The team's expertise now contributes to Snap's longer-term AR hardware roadmap, making NextMind a notable chapter in the convergence of neurotechnology and spatial computing.