Jun 29, 2020

Amir Bozorgzadeh is the cofounder and CEO of Virtuleap. Virtuleap uses specialized virtual reality games to help improve cognitive health. The company has successfully developed data dashboards that communicate the cognitive performance progress of each user. In this episode, he discusses the current ways VR is altering the landscape of brain training, as well as the future of Virtuleap.  

Top three takeaways:

1. Virtuleap works to translate standardized cognitive tests approved by scientists into VR games that range in complexity, providing high quality 3-D interaction brain training. 
2. There is hope that in the future VR cognitive therapy can benefit people suffering from cognitive disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson’s.
3. The VR games by Virtuleap are created alongside research institutes which use the VR data as a way of measuring cognitive health changes in participants of clinical studies. 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Amir Bozorgzadeh.

[2:45] Bozorgzadeh discusses the positive outcomes of brain training with VR. 

[5:00] Virtuleap works to translate standardized cognitive tests into VR games in hopes of creating a diverse library for users. 

[7:45] The targeted audience is the growing elderly population, which is predicted to outnumber children within the next ten years for the first time in United States history.  

[9:00] Virtuleap can help users to improve their quality of life and cognitive health. 

[11:20] Bozorgzadeh expresses the importance of having technical and non-technical members in any startup. 

[12:00] In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased demand for STEM oriented startups. 

[13:30] While a research-validated startup can be challenging, it is rewarding to be able to create a company that provides such great benefits to society.