Our story
Our story
Precision began when our co-founders, neurosurgeon and engineer Ben Rapoport and business builder Michael Mager, joined forces to realize Ben’s lifelong dream of bringing brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) to the medical field. We set out to develop something that had never been built before: a high-bandwidth connection to the brain that did not rely on penetrating electrodes, which damage brain tissue. Our vision of a safe, minimally invasive brain–computer interface informed not just the product but also the kind of company we wanted to build: one that would push the boundaries of new technology while remaining laser-focused on human health.
We began work in 2021 with a team of four people, three of whom had spent time together at Neuralink. Since then, we’ve developed our core product, a high resolution cortical surface array called the Layer 7 Cortical Interface, and begun manufacturing it in a facility that we own and control. We’ve started testing our device in patients, and are currently expanding our clinical presence. We anticipate having our first commercial product on the market in 2025.
The first application for our system will be a goal that BCI researchers have long sought: restoring independence to millions of severely paralyzed people. We are investigating other areas where our system can make a clinical impact in the near future; stroke rehabilitation and refractory depression are at the top of the list. A high-bandwidth brain–computer interface is a foundational technology. It forges a direct connection between human and artificial intelligence. We believe that the implications—for medicine, science, and humanity—are profound, and we feel lucky to be a part of this new era.
"We believe that it’s possible to interface with the brain without damaging the brain."
Company Milestones
Leadership
- Benjamin RapoportChief Science Officer, Co-FounderBenjamin RapoportChief Science Officer, Co-Founder
In addition to overseeing Precision's scientific and clinical work, Rapoport is a practicing neurosurgeon at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital, where he specializes in minimally invasive neurosurgery. He has been developing brain–computer interface technology for nearly two decades. He has an MD from Harvard Medical School, a PhD in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and was on the eight-member co-founding team of Neuralink.
- Michael MagerChief Executive Officer, Co-FounderMichael MagerChief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
Mager has built, invested in, and managed companies across diverse geographies and industries, with a focus on technology and technology-enabled businesses. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and earned an MPhil degree in economic history from the University of Cambridge.
- Craig MermelPresident and Chief Product OfficerCraig MermelPresident and Chief Product Officer
Mermel is a pathologist trained in the study of cancer genomics and has spent his career at the intersection of big data and life sciences. He was previously at Google, where he led a team exploring the use of artificial intelligence to diagnose and treat cancer. Before that, he spent four years at Apple, helping to develop health and fitness features for the Apple Watch. With Ben Rapoport, he co-founded the digital health company Simbionics, acquired by Apple in 2014. He holds an MD and PhD in genetics from Harvard University.
- Mike KaswanChief Financial OfficerMike KaswanChief Financial Officer
Kaswan has over 30 years of experience as a CFO, CEO, venture capital investor, and entrepreneur in healthcare. He was previously CFO of Orchestra BioMed Holdings, which he helped take public in 2022. He has a BS in commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
- Brian Otis Chief Technology OfficerBrian Otis Chief Technology Officer
An expert in chip design for low-power electronics, Otis was a co-founder of Verily Life Sciences, Alphabet Inc.’s healthcare subsidiary, where he served as Chief Technical Officer from 2015 through 2022. Previously, he was a tenured professor at the University of Washington’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where he pioneered techniques for creating highly miniaturized wearable, implantable, and on-eye wireless sensors. He received his MS and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
- Jayme StraussChief Commercial and Clinical OfficerJayme StraussChief Commercial and Clinical Officer
Strauss is a healthcare executive who specializes in bringing cutting-edge innovation into clinical settings to improve patient outcomes. She previously served as Chief Clinical Officer at Viz.ai, a pioneering healthcare AI company, where she grew the company’s customer base from a handful of hospitals to over one thousand and generated clinical evidence demonstrating the impact of AI for patients. She was trained as a neuro ICU nurse and spent over a decade as a hospital executive, building neuroscience and oncology programs at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami and Piedmont Healthcare in Georgia. Strauss holds an MSN and MBA from Grand Canyon University and received her BSN at Cedar Crest College.
- John WoockChief Business OfficerJohn WoockChief Business Officer
Woock is a medtech executive with deep expertise and a proven track record of building successful commercial strategies for innovative medical device companies. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at Axonics, where he was integral to product design efforts, oversaw clinical trials in Europe and the United States, and eventually led the company’s 500-person commercial operations. Woock is an alumni of McKinsey & Company and the Stanford Biodesign Innovation Program. He holds a PhD from Duke University, focused in the area of neuromodulation.
