NEW BERN – At age 12, Patrick K. Porter began his journey into the science of calming the brainwhen his father taught a relaxation method to him and his eight siblings.
He later recorded his first visualization on a cassette recorder and used it to transform himself from a self-professed “struggling student and storied troublemaker” into a three-sport athletic captain as well as an honor roll student.
Fast-forward to today: BrainTap Technologies, the brain-wellness tech company he founded in 2014, is scaling quickly with a library of more than 1,000 guided-audio programs. There’s also a guided meditation mobile app called the BrainTap App and a BrainTap Headset that guides the brain into meditative states.
“Until 2019, BrainTap products were only available through over 2,300 healthcare providers globally; however, today everyone can experience braintapping,” says company CEO and chairman Nicholas Zaldastani. “Our mission is to better a billion brains.
This week, the New Bern-based startup, under the business name Excel Management, raised roughly $3 million in debt, according to three separate securities filings here, here and here.
Zaldastani, who recently relocated from San Francisco to BrainTap’s office in Durham to take up the position, said the company will use the funds to expand its distribution network and marketing activities, and grow its team.
Brain Tap
He added the funds came from a group of angel investors from the Duke University community, the venture and investment banking community, and the healthcare industry; along with founders of technology companies.
BrainTap uses proprietary enhanced meditation technology to train the brain to go back to its natural state of focus and wellness. The goal: to improve clarity, better sleep and increase energy “in just 15-20 minutes.”
How it works
Users open the BrainTap Pro app and grab a pair of headphones (the BrainTap Headset is for “a more immersive experience”). Sit back and listen to the encoded audio session.
“Embedded signals will guide your brain into a state of deep relaxation and learning. No effort required,” Zaldastani explained. “Central to our technology is the concept of brainwave entrainment and frequency following response. Our proprietary algorithms and custom-encoded sessions deliver rhythms that help the brain move through desired frequencies that reduce stress and fortify the brain.”
Braintapping improves lives, he added. “Everyone wants to perform at their best and with BrainTap you can better your brain, so that you can better your life. We believe today is the day to start living life to its fullest through braintapping.”
