Riga Startup Uses AI to Stimulate Human Brain

When Nerses Khachatrian founded Qualia Therapeutics—a Riga-based deep tech neurotechnology startup—his vision went beyond creating another medical device. Instead, he aimed to revolutionize treatment for brain disorders using non-invasive magnetic stimulation paired with AI. The technology targets recovery from conditions like stroke, chronic depression, and pain, with Latvia now as its European launchpad. 

What once seemed like a miracle is now technology 

Qualia Therapeutics is developing non-invasive brain stimulation technology that uses magnetic stimulation to target neurons in the brain and help change their activity patterns. “This allows us to interfere with brain neurons and achieve outcomes such as stroke treatment and rehabilitation, reduction of chronic pain or chronic depression,” explains Nerses. 

Connected to the stimulation technology is an AI platform that analyses brain data in real time and recommends the most suitable stimulation frequencies and protocols. “We have an EEG device that is attached to a person and collects all the information from the brain in real time, and then our engine analyses brain biomarkers,” he says. These biomarkers help understand “what condition a person has and how we can treat it.” 

The goal is very specific: “Based on our research so far, we see the potential for long-term remission, up to 10 years, even for patients who have not responded to medication.” In addition to depression, the technology is being adapted for stroke rehabilitation, chronic pain, and research in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. For stroke patients, the company combines brain stimulation with electrical muscle stimulation: “for neuroplasticity, both ends need to be stimulated - muscles and the brain,” so the goal is to restore both mobility and cognitive abilities, and even speech”. 

Future includes insomnia therapy at home. “We want home devices in the future where a person stimulates the brain for 10 to 15 minutes every day and fights insomnia”. He continues: “If we can understand 30 seconds in advance that a person will have a seizure and know where it comes from, we can apply low-frequency stimulation of about 1 Hz and suppress epilepsy”. For now, it is in the research plan, but “studies show that it is possible, and technically it is also possible.” 

While much of the technology is still being developed, the startup has already attracted international attention. “We were nominated as one of the world's top 200 startups in the Entrepreneurship World Cup, where around 15 000 companies apply each year,” says Nerses. This happened while the company had been operating for less than 12 months, since February 2025. 

Latvia as a reliable neurotechnology partner 

The decision to enter Latvia was not random. For a health-tech startup operating at the intersection of AI, medicine, and regulation, Latvia’s compact ecosystem allows faster collaboration between startups, clinics, universities, and investors. “Latvia seemed like an interesting ecosystem to us – it is growing and developing, and we appreciated that access to investments and networks,” says Nerses.  

The company has established a legal structure in Latvia, which serves as a base point for fundraising and sales in Europe. “We now have a company in Latvia, it will be the starting point when we talk about fundraising and sales,” he says. In parallel, collaboration is being built with one of the largest clinics to jointly research stroke and co-develop the product: “We are working on a partnership with one of Latvia's largest clinics for stroke research and product co-development, and they are very interested.” 

What surprised Nerses the most was the openness of Latvian doctors. “Especially doctors usually don't trust AI. They think it will take their jobs,” he admits. “But in the clinic, we work with, the CEO and the stroke doctor expressed true interest. That surprised me.” In his opinion, such an attitude can “position Latvia as a new-generation technology ecosystem.” 

The positive impression is reinforced by collaboration with Riga Stradins University in medical and neuroscience research – an important argument when the company talks to other European partners. “When they ask us: “Do you have a European partner”, we can now say: ‘Yes, we are working with the Latvian university hospital.’” 

LIAA’s role: from Slush to the first investor 

Like other international startups, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) plays an important role in Qualia Therapeutics' story. “I was part of the Latvian delegation to the major startup conference Slush in Helsinki, organised by LIAA together with the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency,” says Nerses. “The delegation brought together around 15 startups, including ours.” It was there that he met his future angel investor: “During Slush, I met the angel investor I mentioned – his potential investment of 100 000 EUR will give our company about 10 months of runway. That's extremely important for us right now.” The company will now be able to finance product development and market entry.  

Nerses admits: “I would never have gotten to Slush if I hadn't been in the Latvian delegation.” In his view, this is one of the most strategically important events in the company's life – the first investor, the first serious “runway,” and a strong signal for future investment rounds. 

No less important support element is the Founders Hub Riga – a founder community and co-working space. “Once a week founders meet, share investor lists, technologies, tools,” explains Nerses. “It was very valuable to me – I met so many good people and contacts. But there's no big advertising about it, you must be open and search for yourself.” Nerses also speaks highly of his experience with the startin.lv soft-landing programme Digital Explorers. Together, these development instruments, from international exposure to structured support programmes, created a strong and well-prepared starting point for the company’s further growth. 

What is Riga like? 

He remembers his first impressions: “It seemed to me that Latvians are genuine in what they do, authentic. I see a collective vision. For example, Riga is incredibly clean, and then you even see smokers with small pocket ashtrays. This is an example of collective consciousness - people wanting to preserve their environment.” Such thinking, to him, is associated with intelligence and maturity. 

The example of Qualia Therapeutics shows that Latvia can be not only a market but also a partner on the path of complex neurotechnology to the world – with clinics, universities, founder communities, and LIAA as a bridge between ideas, investments, and international growth. “Latvia can be a great stepping stone to both Central Europe and the Nordic countries,” summarizes Nerses. “We already see that by using possibilities offered by Latvia, we have reached partners in Helsinki.” 

And this is a story that, just like the company's own technology, starts in the brain – with a bold idea – and continues in a country that is ready to help this idea break into European and global markets.