Alphabeats, Muse Bring Brain-Wave Wearables to the Masses
The new partnership makes alphabeat’s music-based mental training platform available on Muse EEG headbands
Alphabeats has partnered with EEG (electroencephalogram) headband maker Muse by Ineraxon, making its athlete-focused brain-training app available to Muse customers.
Through the partnership, Muse users can now access alphabeat’s membership-based, music-driven neurofeedback platform, which helps athletes and high-performers train their brains to enter the so-called “flow state” to improve creativity, recovery, focus, reaction time and coordination.
A Dutch startup that’s raised $4.16 million to date, alphabeats makes an app that syncs with compatible EEG headbands. On the alphabeats app, users can select from a catalog of music, listening along as songs change in real-time based on EEG brainwave activity. This helps people train their brains to produce alpha waves, which have been associated with the flow state.
Alphabeats also offers visual cues and cognitive games to encourage alpha brain wave production.
“Music is the key to making mental training both effective and engaging – a finding we’ve proven with professional athletes over the past decade,” alphabeats CEO Jorrit DeVries said of the partnership. “Muse has built strong credibility through their affordable, high-quality hardware solutions. By integrating our one-of-a kind music-driven training with their platform, we can offer professional-grade mental training at a more accessible price point to more people.”
Part of Canadian neurotech company Interaxon, Muse makes two EEG headband products – the Muse S and the Muse 2 – that monitor brain activity and provide real-time feedback to users about their levels of focus, relaxation and stress.
In addition to its partnership with alphabeats, Muse announced a new “Brain Recharge Score” feature, which leverages AI and EEG data to offer personalized insights into mental stress and recovery. The Brain Recharge Score will become available this winter, Muse says.
Muse’s neurofeedback tools have helped golfers improve their putting scores after just seven minutes of use, the company says, citing research from the University of Toronto. Alphabeats, for its part, cites research showing that its platform has helped Olympic-level archers and professional soccer players improve their abilities to enter optimal mental states for performance.
“Our mission has always been to provide accessible tools for brain health, and by partnering with alphabeats, we’re able to offer users an integrated approach to both mental recovery and peak performance,” said Muse CEO Jean-Michel Fournier. “Partnerships like this extend Muse’s impact into new verticals, adding more value for our customers.”
Muse 2 headbands will now come bundled with an annual alphabeats subscription – the bundle is available for pre-order at a limited-time price of $199. The regular price will jump to $399 after the promo period ends. Additionally, existing Muse 2 and Muse S owners can purchase an alphabeats annual subscription for a promo price of $79. That subscription price will increase to $149 after the promo period ends.
In October, alphabeats named DeVries, a former Spotify exec, as its CEO. DeVries told Athletech News that the Dutch startup is looking to make a bigger push into the United States wearable market, initially targeting athletes before expanding to everyday fitness and wellness consumers.
“If we can prove with elite athletes that our system works and that we have the scientific proof and the testimonials to underpin our story, that will ultimately create a ripple effect for what we call the ‘high achievers,’ or the ‘everyday champions’ to tap into this as well,” DeVries said in October.