- JANUS SIGNAL
- Posts
- The West Coast Showed Up. What Happened at Neurotech Frontiers 2026 This May in San Diego.
The West Coast Showed Up. What Happened at Neurotech Frontiers 2026 This May in San Diego.
20+ startup teams. 140+ attendees. 11 states. 5 countries. One unforgettable day in San Diego.
JANUS SIGNAL
June 15, 2026
JANUS SIGNAL
Neurotech Frontiers Special Report · Advancing Inclusive Innovation
San Diego State University | May 2026
Editor’s Note
Welcome to this special edition of the JANUS Signal.
Ecosystems are not built in silos. They are created when researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and advocates decide to sit at the same table, share resources, and genuinely show up for one another. That is exactly what happened at San Diego State University.
This was never meant to be just another event. It is the signal of a new ecosystem.
San Diego, California — May 19, 2026
The West Coast Shows Up for Neurotech
Founders, researchers, clinicians, and advocates gathered at San Diego State University for a full day of pitches, panels, and conversations that moved the field forward.
The Neurotech Frontiers Summit arrived on the West Coast on May 19 with one goal: bring the right people into the same room. Montezuma Hall at SDSU's Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union filled with a cross-section of people rarely found together at the same table: early-stage founders still validating ideas, clinical researchers with patient-facing data, investors evaluating the space, and neurodivergent professionals who live the problems these technologies are meant to solve.
Four keynotes. Three panels. A live pitch competition. A Demo Zone with more than 20 startups and exhibitors. An exclusive book signing with Dave Thompson, author of Brainstorm. San Diego was not just a venue choice. The city carries one of the strongest autism research ecosystems in the country, anchored by California's research infrastructure including UC San Diego, SDSU, and Stanford. Convening here was a deliberate signal that this platform belongs to the field, not to any single geography or institution.
140+Attendees | 20+Startup Teams |
11States | 5Countries |
Opening Remarks
Founder & CEO, JANUS Innovation Hub | Director, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University | Director of Operations, Options For All |
Keynote SpeakersOur keynote speakers represent the intersection of research, policy, and venture building. From clinical directors and public officials to neurodivergent founders, we bring voices to the stage who are moving neurodiversity from a talking point to a structural reality. |  |
Director, Stanford Neurodiversity Project; Director, Neurodiversity Clinic; Director, Dissemination and Outreach Core, Center for Sleep in Autism | Mayor of Chula Vista; U.S. Navy Reserve Commander and decorated Navy Veteran |
Vice President for Research and Innovation, San Diego State University | Founder & CEO, StartupScience; Forbes Author & Serial Entrepreneur. Built and exited 12 companies across BioTech, TransitTech, AdTech, and MarTech. |
Three Panels. One Through Line.
The day was built around three conversations, each approaching the same challenge from a different angle: how do you build technology that genuinely works for neurodiverse communities, and who needs to be in the room to make that happen?
The first panel, San Diego Rising, brought together clinical research, venture infrastructure, and entrepreneurship to examine what it would take to establish San Diego as a national hub for autism research and neurotechnology. The three panelists, Dr. Kelsey S. Dickson from SDSU, Greg Horowitt from UC San Diego and T2 Venture Creation, and James Zanewicz, CEO of Connect, represented the range of stakeholders that question actually requires. Aras Sheikhi moderated.
The second panel, From Research to Real Impact, took on the gap between what research produces and what reaches people. Dave Thompson moderated a group that spanned clinical practice, community-based research, direct employment support, and systems strategy: Dr. Connie Brooks from the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment at the University of Missouri, Dr. Mary Baker-Ericzén from SDSU's CASRC, Lee Judson of the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity and Bridge2Work Coaching, and Ravi Dahiya of ANCOR.
The third panel, Voices of Neurodiversity, brought together advocates, researchers, and professionals to discuss neurodiversity, inclusion, advocacy, and systems change from a range of perspectives. Jan Schlueter moderated. The panelists were Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik of Vanderbilt University and The Neuroverse Initiative, Dr. Samara Wolpe of UCLA's PEERS Clinic, Ennis Olson of Google, and Teresa Contreras, Executive Director of Autism Society San Diego.
"Less like a summit. More like a reunion."
Pitch Competition
Incuentro Takes the Prize
Six early-stage ventures took the stage during the pitch competition. The competition was open to founders validating ideas, building initial prototypes, or developing MVP directions in assistive technology and inclusive innovation. Judges were Aras Sheikhi, Jan Schlueter, and Gregory Shepard.
The Winner:
Founded by Wendy Dawson and Brandi Timmons, Incuentro delivered an outstanding pitch. They are building tools for a neurodiverse world, helping autistic youth and young adults discover a path to meaningful employment by moving away from subjective judgments and toward measurable, actionable data. Through their AVRAS™ platform, they combine Virtual Reality career assessments with real world skill training and family centered support.
Incuentro received a $1,500 Design and Development Prize Package, sponsored by Avidus.
Congratulations to all the finalists who showcased incredible innovation on stage.
▶Incuentro — Winner $1,500 Design & Dev Prize
From the Community
"People are tired of fake inclusion. Every hand raised in that room was already deep in the same rabbit hole. For once, the room felt more hopeful than heavy."
"A delight to attend NeuroTech Frontiers at San Diego State University. It was wonderful seeing so many leaders working to develop technologies that support the neurodiversity community. An inspiring conference."
Jason Carl Rosenberg, Ph.D. — NuroLux
"Honored to attend the first West Coast Neurotech Frontiers Summit. From breakthrough technologies to meaningful human conversations, the energy in the room was truly powerful."
Carol Waldman — Neurodiversity Advocate & Policy Expert; CA Democratic Party Executive Board Member
Demo Zone
20+ Startups. One Room.
The Demo Zone gave attendees direct access to founders and products across assistive devices, software platforms, robotics, AI, and accessibility tools. Several exhibitors were also pitch competition participants, making the Demo Zone a natural extension of the day's investment conversations.
Partner & Sponsor Exhibits
Partners & Sponsors
None of this happens without the organizations and individuals who chose to invest their time, resources, and credibility in this platform. Thank you to each of the following for making the San Diego summit possible.
neuromatch™ is an HR tech platform for authentic hiring that cuts through artificial intelligence resume noise to reveal the real person behind the profile. Powered by verified human signals and the proprietary Strength Alignment® engine, it matches candidates to over 300 tech roles based on validated strengths and workplace fit rather than keyword guesswork.
Designed through the lens of Universal Design, the platform creates an accessible hiring experience that works better for every candidate and team. By integrating cryptographically verifiable provenance trails directly into the hiring workflow, neuromatch™ reduces bottlenecks, empowers employers to make confident decisions, and helps job seekers land in environments where they can truly thrive.
Options For All creates opportunities for people with disabilities to build independence, confidence, and a sense of belonging in their communities. With over 40 years of experience supporting 2,500 individuals, their mission is to empower people to live, work, and love life with dignity and respect.
Avidus is a strategic growth and creative agency that empowers startups and visionary founders to translate groundbreaking ideas into market-ready brands. Specializing in high-impact visual identity, compelling storytelling, and investment-ready pitch design, Avidus bridges the gap between early-stage innovation and long-term market success.
Additional Partners & Supporters
The success of the Neurotech Frontiers Summit was made possible through the collaboration and support of a diverse network of academic institutions, industry leaders, community organizations, and ecosystem partners committed to advancing neurodiversity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Our academic partners played a key role in shaping the event and fostering meaningful dialogue between research, industry, and the community. We extend our gratitude to San Diego State University Division of Research and Innovation, which served as both Venue Sponsor and Event Partner, as well as the UC San Diego Office of Innovation and Commercialization, the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, and Vanderbilt University's Frist Center for Autism and Innovation for their partnership and contributions to the summit.
We also thank our sponsors for their generous support of the summit. Their contributions helped strengthen the event's programming, startup pitch competition, community engagement efforts, media outreach, and attendee experience. We are grateful for the partnership of neuromatch™, Options For All, Avidus, Brain Economy Network, Youth for Neurodiversity Inc., Womble Bond Dickinson, JPMorgan Chase, Life's Pilot, and Let's Design For You.
The summit further benefited from the engagement of several ecosystem supporters who helped strengthen connections across the innovation and entrepreneurial landscape. We appreciate the support of Connect, Startup San Diego, StartupScience, NeuroTalent Works, DHNY, and TechCon Global for helping expand the reach and impact of the event.
Thank You, Volunteers
A huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who stepped up to support us on the ground. Your time, energy, and execution kept the summit running smoothly.
We appreciate your hard work:
|
|
What's Next
Built for the Field, Not the Calendar
Neurotech Frontiers operates as a year round platform. The summit is a curated gathering of founders, researchers, investors, clinicians, partners, and ecosystem leaders focused on neurotechnology, validation, adoption, and responsible innovation.
We focus on five interconnected areas: Artificial intelligence, assistive technologies, robotics and software platforms, healthcare and clinical research, and entrepreneurship. We treat these not as separate tracks, but as an interconnected system where progress in one domain opens doors in another. The Incubation Program continues this work, supporting early stage founders building technology for neurodivergent individuals, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
The next stage of inclusive innovation is already in motion.
This October 13–15, 2026, we are heading back to where it all started. We are partnering with The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation and Vanderbilt University for our next curated gathering.
Registration and early details are coming soon.