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Key Summary:
- Epiminder is an Australian medtech company developing the implantable Minder device to continuously monitor brain activity and detect epileptic seizures.
- The Minder device received FDA approval and a “breakthrough” designation in 2025, enabling commercial sales in North America.
- The device is described as a “Fitbit for the brain,” providing patients early warning for potential seizures.
- Key strategic partners and investors include Cochlear, St Vincent’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne, and the Bionics Institute.
- Pre-IPO fundraising of $10 million was completed to support commercial launch and post-market demonstration trials.
Background & Leadership
Doctor Rohan Hoare has led Epiminder since late 2020. On Good Friday, April 18, 2025, Hoare and his team received FDA approval for the Minder device to be sold in North America, along with a “breakthrough” designation, prioritising the device for regulatory processing.
“The agency has given 700 breakthrough designations in recent years, of which only about 70 actually got commercialised. So we are one of those 70, a very, very small cohort that actually makes it through to commercialising a breakthrough designation,” Hoare says.
Founded in 2018 by University of Melbourne researchers Professor Mark Cook and Associate Professor Chris Williams, Epiminder’s implantable device monitors the brain’s electrical activity to detect epileptic seizures.
The Minder Device
Taking inspiration from the Cochlear implant, the Minder device is a small implant with electrodes placed under the scalp. It provides patients a “weather forecast” of their brain activity, alerting them of potential seizures. It has been called a “Fitbit for the brain.”
“Having the FDA approval means that we can distribute and sell the product in the United States for its indicated population, and we are very pleased with the labelling that we got from the agency so we can go and start selling in the second half of calendar 2025,” Hoare says.
Post-market demonstration trials will show Minder’s clinical utility in aiding clinicians with epilepsy diagnosis and management.
Funding & Partnerships
Epiminder completed a $10 million pre-IPO convertible note bridging round in February, with investment from Cochlear, Netra Health, and high-net-worth individuals. The company was set up as a partnership between Cochlear, St Vincent’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne, and the Bionics Institute.
“Cochlear has been a development partner for a long period of time. They provided a lot of capital and then a lot of technology to help get us where we are in seven years,” Hoare says.
Hoare notes that private market investors in the US and Europe are less likely to invest in Australian opportunities, making the public markets ideal to raise the capital needed for scaling.
For investors following breakthroughs in medtech and epilepsy management, contact a Morgans Adviser to discuss whether Epiminder aligns with your portfolio strategy and risk profile.
Morgans has been appointed as a Joint Lead Manager and Joint Bookrunner to the proposed IPO
About Epiminder
Epiminder was founded in 2017 by Professor Mark Cook as a research collaboration between the Bionics Institute, the University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and Cochlear.
The partnership combined the technological expertise in epilepsy seizure monitoring of the three research institutions with Cochlear's proficiency in implant design, development and manufacturing.
Board and Management
- Rohan Hoare, Chief Executive Officer & Director
- Professor Mark Cook, AO, Chief Medical Officer
- Dr John Heasman, Chief Operating Officer
- Toby McSweeney, Chief Technology Officer
- Dr Tracy Cameron, VP, Clinical & Regulatory
- Chip Moebus, VP, Market Access
- Steven Ringo, VP, IT & Security
FAQs
- What is Epiminder?
Epiminder is an Australian medtech company developing the implantable Minder device to monitor brain activity and detect epileptic seizures. - What is the Minder® device?
Minder is a tiny implant with electrodes under the scalp that continuously records EEG data, providing early warning of potential seizures. - Has Minder received regulatory approval?
Yes, the FDA approved the Minder device in 2025 and granted it a “breakthrough” designation, enabling priority commercialisation in North America. - Who are the key partners and investors in Epiminder?
Strategic partners include Cochlear, St Vincent’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne, and the Bionics Institute. Investors include Netra Health and high-net-worth individuals. - How is Epiminder funded?
The company completed a $10 million pre-IPO convertible note round to fund commercialisation and post-market demonstration trials.
