From First Check to First-in-Human: a Founding Chairman’s Reflection

When I first met Matt Angle in 2015 at Peet’s Coffee on University Ave in Palo Alto, Paradromics was just an idea Matt wanted to pursue as a new venture, to help people burdened with severe neurological conditions live with dignity.

At the time, the entire BCI field was still in its infancy. There were brilliant ideas, early prototypes, and much excitement — but very few people were willing to take the first real bet.

I was one of them.

I wrote the very first check into Paradromics and had the privilege of serving as the founding Chairman of the Board. From the beginning, I believed deeply in two things:

1. That the technology Matt and his early team were building could actually work at scale, and

2. Paradromics had the potential to become a category-defining company in neurotechnology.

Today, seeing Paradromics receive FDA approval to begin clinical studies is nothing short of extraordinary. This milestone is more than a regulatory step — it’s a validation of nearly a decade of relentless engineering, scientific rigor, and belief in a mission that many once dismissed as impossible.

From “bench to humans,” as the team wrote, is not just a phrase. It is the embodiment of what deep tech demands: time, courage, and founders who refuse to quit. Although I stepped off the board two years ago, my pride in Paradromics has only grown. Watching this company mature — from early prototypes, to groundbreaking research, to the doorstep of human trials — has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.

Huge congratulations to Matt and the entire Paradromics team. What you’ve achieved so far is historic — and what comes next will change lives.