Prophetic, a recently established startup backed by venture capital, is venturing into the realm of dreams to enhance productivity. The company, founded in March this year, is developing a headpiece known as the “Halo,” which aims to induce a lucid dream state. Lucid dreaming occurs when individuals are aware that they are dreaming and can control the content of their dreams. The Halo is designed to give users greater control over their dreams, allowing them to use dream time productively.
The startup envisions a scenario where professionals can engage in beneficial activities during their lucid dreams. For example, a CEO could rehearse for an upcoming board meeting, an athlete could run through plays, or a web designer could create new templates. According to Eric Wollberg, Prophetic’s Founder and CEO, the only limit is one’s imagination.
While consumer devices claiming to induce lucid dream states already exist, Prophetic believes there is room for innovation in this space. Headbands, eye masks, and devices with electrodes have flooded the market, along with supplements claiming to induce lucid dreams. However, the effectiveness of many existing solutions remains questionable, leading to continued interest in new technologies that may deliver on their promises.
The potential of lucid dreaming goes beyond problem-solving; it offers a unique avenue for exploring creative approaches to various topics. While a mathematician may not solve a specific math problem during a dream, a lucid dream allows them to explore new strategies for tackling the equation while awake.
Prophetic’s Halo is designed as a headband-shaped device worn like a crown. The technology involves the release of focused ultrasound beams into a specific region of the brain associated with lucid dreaming. These beams activate decision-making and awareness centers in the brain, initiating a lucid dream. Prophetic is collaborating with Afshin Mehin, the founder of Card79 and designer of Neuralink N1 for Elon Musk’s brain implant company, to develop the Halo.
The startup, founded by Wollberg and CTO Wesley Louis Berry III, has secured $1.1 million in Series A funding from investors such as Escape Velocity, O’Shaughnessy Ventures, and BoxGroup. The company’s goal is to refine generative AI and expand its capabilities. Despite the technology’s potential, some skepticism remains, with sleep and dreaming expert Antonio Zadra noting that controlling dreams is a complex task. Prophetic’s product relies on research conducted by the Donders Institute, a brain research center in the Netherlands, and is expected to ship devices in spring 2025, with each Halo estimated to cost between $1,500 and $2,000.
