Neural Drive: Singapore Startup's AI Brain-Computer Interface Gives Voice to Paralyzed Patients

Date: April 18, 2026

In a breakthrough that could transform the lives of thousands of Singaporeans with severe movement and speech impairments, a local startup has developed an affordable AI-powered brain-computer interface that allows patients to communicate through blinking and focusing their thoughts. Tan Tock Seng Hospital is set to trial the device starting June 2026.

The Communication Barrier That Inspired Innovation

The inspiration for Neural Drive came to 22-year-old co-founder Khambhati Mohammed Huzefa during his national service with the Singapore Civil Defence Force. "A large number of calls I was on involved stroke patients, and the same communication problem kept popping up," he recalled. "The patient would be fully aware of everything happening around them, but the families would be standing around and desperate to understand if they were in pain. Doctors in critical care also faced the same barrier."

This experience drove Khambhati and his co-founders—Kaushik Manian, Nyan Lin, and Raymond Loong Ng—to create a solution. Founded in early 2025, the startup brings together graduates and current students from Singapore Polytechnic, combining their expertise in AI and engineering with knowledge of neuroscience.

How the AI Neural Device Works

The Neural Drive device is a type of brain-computer interface that detects eye blinks and brainwaves through electrodes placed behind patients' ears and above one eye. The system then uses an AI model to interpret the user's intent by analyzing these signals.

Users can shuffle through menu selections by blinking twice, and make a selection by concentrating on something for a few seconds. The device connects to laptops and tablets, allowing patients to perform tasks like asking for food, watching television, turning on lights, or sending pre-written messages through WhatsApp.

"The goal was to create something that is portable and affordable, and feels as seamless as putting on a headset," explained Khambhati, who is now a first-year undergraduate at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

Affordable Alternative to Expensive Solutions

Currently, advanced assistive technology alternatives like Tobii Dynavox's eye-gaze systems can cost up to $15,000 each. Other options like intracortical interfaces—like Neuralink's brain chips—require surgical implantation with associated risks.

Neural Drive's device will be sold to hospitals at just $2,500—a fraction of the cost of existing solutions. "This allows hospitals to buy units without specific funding, unlike pricier systems that require more careful budget planning," said TTSH's senior principal speech therapist Zenne T'ng.

18-Month Clinical Trial at Tan Tock Seng Hospital

The 18-month clinical trial, starting in June 2026, will involve approximately 30 TTSH patients—including stroke survivors with speech and physical difficulties, individuals with motor neurone disease, and those with cerebral palsy.

"Our goal is to integrate Neural Drive into standard speech therapy practice across acute care, rehabilitation and home settings," said Ms T'ng.

Real-World Impact: A Family's Story

The startup has already conducted two-week home trials with around 60 users. One participant was Mr Nick Tyi Ki Kyaw's 67-year-old uncle, who suffered a stroke while at work in Myanmar three years ago, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to speak clearly.

"He couldn't really form proper words, and we relied on his grunts to try to understand what he needed… it was really challenging," said Mr Tyi Ki Kyaw, now a first-year computer science student at NUS. After overcoming initial challenges in adapting to the system, the family felt a sense of relief. "The device is compact and a lot less expensive compared with other gadgets in the market."

Funding Success and Future Plans

Neural Drive has received funding boosts from SUTD and innovation competitions. The team won $150,000 after placing first in the Asia-Pacific category of the Entrepreneurs Next Star & Million Prize Global Challenge held in Shenzhen, China.

Once approved for hospital use, the team plans to sell a more affordable version directly to users. Talks are ongoing with local organizations to donate a thousand sets to individuals in need.

"At its core, this device is about restoring dignity, and giving people the ability to connect with the people they love," said Khambhati. "The technology to do this already exists. It just hasn't been made accessible, and that's what we're here to fix."

This article is part of our ongoing coverage of Singapore's AI ecosystem. For more AI news and insights from the Lion City, stay tuned to AI Dominance SG.

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