Latest news with #Neuro
Los Angeles Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Steve Aoki Launches Venture-Focused Aoki Labs
Global DJ, producer, and entrepreneur Steve Aoki launched Aoki Labs to fund investments at the intersection of entertainment, wellness, consumer innovation and longevity. 'This is about channeling the same energy and curiosity I've brought to music into a new chapter – one focused on investing in things that make life better,' said Aoki, in a statement. 'Whether it's longevity, mental performance or culture-shifting consumer brands, I want to help build the future I want to live in and create a better world for future generations. That means backing founders and companies who share that passion and purpose.' Aoki has been a private investor for decades and was an early investor in Uber and Pinterest. Aoki Labs formalizes these efforts into a structured investment vehicle. He will work alongside founding partners and his longtime managers Matt Colon and Dougie Bohay, with Tashi Nakanishi serving as the CEO. Nakanishi brings deep venture experience, having co-founded Dreamers VC with Keisuke Honda and Will Smith, and launched X&KSK, alongside one of Japan's first influencer-led investment vehicles. 'This fund reflects a serious commitment to long-term value for founders, for culture and for human health,' said Nakanishi, in a statement. Aoki Labs' early portfolio includes Audio Media Grading (a collectibles grading company founded by Aoki in 2022), Mantel (Alex Ohanian's content and community platform for collectors), Freaks of Nature (Kelly Slater's skincare line) and Neuro (functional gum and mints for energy and focus). Aoki has also invested in Sanzo, an Asian-inspired sparkling water, and focuses on AAPI-led ventures across wellness and lifestyle with a mission to expand access and amplify diverse voices in venture. Information for this article was sourced from Aoki Labs.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Neuro Gum and Brand Ambassador Steve Aoki Release Strawberry Cake-Flavored Mint to Promote Cognitive Health
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 8, 2025-- Neuro Gum, the leader in functional gum and mints, has launched a limited edition Strawberry Cake Mint product in partnership with music icon, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Neuro Gum brand ambassador and investor Steve Aoki. Each 90-count bulk bag will contain a reusable Steve Aoki Tin and HiROQUEST collectible trading card as an homage to Aoki's fanbase. The launch occurs on the heels of Steve's 10th studio album, HiROQUEST 3: Paragon, released on June 27, further merging his musical vision with lifestyle and wellness innovation. A portion of proceeds from each mint sale will be donated to The Aoki Foundation, supporting organizations and initiatives promoting brain science and research, with specific focus on regenerative medicine and preservation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Neuro Gum and Brand Ambassador Steve Aoki Release Strawberry Cake-Flavored Mint to Promote Cognitive Health Each mint contains 20mg of natural caffeine for a gentle boost, L-theanine to combat jitters and crash, and B6 and B12 vitamins for cognitive function and energy production, respectively. Aoki worked closely with the Neuro Gum team to develop the flavor, which represents Neuro's first fruit-flavored product, as well as the inclusion of the HiROQUEST cards. Each tin will include either a HiROQUEST Base Card or possibility of a Parallel with varying levels of rarity, offering an interactive element for customers already familiar with Steve's HiROQUEST universe to trade or keep their card as a collectible item. Aoki's Strawberry Cake flavor joins Neuro Gum's existing product line, which includes Energy & Focus Gum and Mints for increased alertness, Memory & Focus Gum for a caffeine free energy alternative, Calm & Clarity Mints for relaxation, and Sleep & Recharge Mints for better quality rest. 'Neuro Gum has been a core part of my health stack for years, so collaborating on the Strawberry Cake-flavored mint seemed like a natural way to honor how much the brand has benefited my energy levels, focus, and performance, while also recognizing my community through the HiROQUEST cards,' said Aoki. 'Whether I'm trying to get hyped up for a show or wind down before bed, I love that Neuro's comprehensive product line supports my goals at every stage of the day.' Aoki's advocacy of brain health through his work with The Aoki Foundation strongly aligns with Neuro Gum's mission of formulating products that promote healthy energy, cognition, and mental clarity. Aoki was announced as an investor in Neuro Gum in October 2024, and has been a supporter of the brand and co-founders for the past nine years. As the most traveled musician in a year per the Guinness World Records, each item on Neuro Gum's product line has consistently fueled Aoki's performance as a sober, health-forward DJ with a hectic lifestyle, and allowed him to show up at his best amidst a demanding work schedule. 'Steve has been a longtime collaborator, and more importantly, a genuine friend of ours and the Neuro community,' said Ryan Chen, CFO and co-founder of Neuro Gum. 'As a high performer and health enthusiast always trying to invest in the best products to support optimal wellness, he not only understands our goal of providing energy, focus, and concentration through an accessible and convenient form factor, but also shares our common interest of supporting brain health and cognition.' To learn more about Neuro, visit and NeuroGum on Instagram. About Neuro Founded in 2015 by co-founders Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen on a dive trip in Catalina, the two college friends were looking for a more sustainable way to be more productive each day. Neuro is revolutionizing the gum and mint category by using innovative, science-backed formulas to support energy, memory, calm, and sleep. Neuro's flagship product, Energy & Focus Gum and Mints, combines a blend of natural caffeine, L-theanine, and essential B Vitamins for the perfect boost of energy and enhanced focus without the crash. Made with a patented cold-compression technology, Neuro's gum and mints maintain optimal absorption and bioavailability while using the most sustainable, high-quality ingredients. With over 100 million pieces sold, Neuro fuels people all around the globe to live their best lives. For more information, visit View source version on CONTACT: Press Contact: Jack Taylor PR [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEVADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEN ENTERTAINMENT PHILANTHROPY CONSUMER CONVENIENCE STORE FOOD/BEVERAGE CELEBRITY FITNESS & NUTRITION FOUNDATION RETAIL MUSIC WOMEN HEALTH SOURCE: Neuro Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/08/2025 01:00 PM/DISC: 07/08/2025 01:01 PM
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Neuro Gum and Brand Ambassador Steve Aoki Release Strawberry Cake-Flavored Mint to Promote Cognitive Health
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Neuro Gum, the leader in functional gum and mints, has launched a limited edition Strawberry Cake Mint product in partnership with music icon, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Neuro Gum brand ambassador and investor Steve Aoki. Each 90-count bulk bag will contain a reusable Steve Aoki Tin and HiROQUEST collectible trading card as an homage to Aoki's fanbase. The launch occurs on the heels of Steve's 10th studio album, HiROQUEST 3: Paragon, released on June 27, further merging his musical vision with lifestyle and wellness innovation. A portion of proceeds from each mint sale will be donated to The Aoki Foundation, supporting organizations and initiatives promoting brain science and research, with specific focus on regenerative medicine and preservation. Each mint contains 20mg of natural caffeine for a gentle boost, L-theanine to combat jitters and crash, and B6 and B12 vitamins for cognitive function and energy production, respectively. Aoki worked closely with the Neuro Gum team to develop the flavor, which represents Neuro's first fruit-flavored product, as well as the inclusion of the HiROQUEST cards. Each tin will include either a HiROQUEST Base Card or possibility of a Parallel with varying levels of rarity, offering an interactive element for customers already familiar with Steve's HiROQUEST universe to trade or keep their card as a collectible item. Aoki's Strawberry Cake flavor joins Neuro Gum's existing product line, which includes Energy & Focus Gum and Mints for increased alertness, Memory & Focus Gum for a caffeine free energy alternative, Calm & Clarity Mints for relaxation, and Sleep & Recharge Mints for better quality rest. 'Neuro Gum has been a core part of my health stack for years, so collaborating on the Strawberry Cake-flavored mint seemed like a natural way to honor how much the brand has benefited my energy levels, focus, and performance, while also recognizing my community through the HiROQUEST cards,' said Aoki. 'Whether I'm trying to get hyped up for a show or wind down before bed, I love that Neuro's comprehensive product line supports my goals at every stage of the day.' Aoki's advocacy of brain health through his work with The Aoki Foundation strongly aligns with Neuro Gum's mission of formulating products that promote healthy energy, cognition, and mental clarity. Aoki was announced as an investor in Neuro Gum in October 2024, and has been a supporter of the brand and co-founders for the past nine years. As the most traveled musician in a year per the Guinness World Records, each item on Neuro Gum's product line has consistently fueled Aoki's performance as a sober, health-forward DJ with a hectic lifestyle, and allowed him to show up at his best amidst a demanding work schedule. 'Steve has been a longtime collaborator, and more importantly, a genuine friend of ours and the Neuro community,' said Ryan Chen, CFO and co-founder of Neuro Gum. 'As a high performer and health enthusiast always trying to invest in the best products to support optimal wellness, he not only understands our goal of providing energy, focus, and concentration through an accessible and convenient form factor, but also shares our common interest of supporting brain health and cognition.' To learn more about Neuro, visit and NeuroGum on Instagram. About Neuro Founded in 2015 by co-founders Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen on a dive trip in Catalina, the two college friends were looking for a more sustainable way to be more productive each day. Neuro is revolutionizing the gum and mint category by using innovative, science-backed formulas to support energy, memory, calm, and sleep. Neuro's flagship product, Energy & Focus Gum and Mints, combines a blend of natural caffeine, L-theanine, and essential B Vitamins for the perfect boost of energy and enhanced focus without the crash. Made with a patented cold-compression technology, Neuro's gum and mints maintain optimal absorption and bioavailability while using the most sustainable, high-quality ingredients. With over 100 million pieces sold, Neuro fuels people all around the globe to live their best lives. For more information, visit
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SLB and Cactus Drilling collaborate to boost automation
SLB has entered into a strategic collaboration with Cactus Drilling to advance the adoption of automated and autonomous drilling solutions in the oil and gas sector. This partnership is set to deliver optimised performance through improved operational efficiency and execution consistency by scaling advanced digital solutions. The collaboration will see Cactus enhance its current use of SLB's Precise automated drilling control systems by integrating DrillSync, SLB's automated controls platform and software suite. These technologies aim to boost drilling efficiency, increase equipment utilisation, and provide real-time data insights for better execution. SLB Well Construction president Cecilia Prieto said: "This collaboration signifies a new chapter in the adoption of SLB's digital drilling solutions, offering a pathway for scaling intelligent solutions to improve drilling performance and safety. "This agreement with Cactus is an important step in shaping the future of well construction and aligning performance goals between SLB, drilling contractors and operators." Furthermore, the agreement will facilitate the deployment of DrillOps, SLB's AI-powered drilling automation and advisory solution, along with Neuro, which supports self-learning, autonomous directional drilling, and geosteering capabilities. These are part of SLB's portfolio of digital drilling technologies and services, poised to transform drilling operations. Cactus Drilling president and CEO Josh Simons added: 'The expanded partnership with SLB allows us to offer our customers the benefits of leading-edge automation and control technology and leaves us well-positioned to deliver even greater value by strengthening the safety, precision and consistency of our drilling operations.' Also, this May, SLB and Subsea 7 were awarded a substantial engineering, procurement, construction, and installation contract by BP (bp) for the Ginger project offshore Trinidad and Tobago. This contract is the first project award under a global framework agreement between bp and the Subsea Integration Alliance, which includes SLB OneSubsea and Subsea 7. "SLB and Cactus Drilling collaborate to boost automation" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
Beyond ‘burnt toast': Eric Andrew-Gee probes the story of Penfield and Cone in The Mind Mappers
'I can smell burnt toast.' Most Canadians over 30 remember the 1991 Heritage Minute short that celebrated the revolutionary Dr. Wilder Penfield, who experimented on the brain's temporal lobes in the 1930s. Less well remembered is his partnership with the Iowa-born neurosurgeon William Cone. It was this collaboration that enabled Penfield to turn the Montreal Neurological Institute, familiarly known as the Neuro, into a global epicentre for brain research between the late 1920s and late 1950s. In his new book, The Mind Mappers, The Globe and Mail's Eric Andrew-Gee brings the unusually symbiotic relationship between this odd couple compellingly to life, giving due respect to Cone, whose life ended tragically inside the institution to which he had devoted the best part of his career. The partnership of these two neurosurgeons in Montreal seems like one of those perfect alignments of serendipity. How does it come about? Cone and Penfield had these eerily parallel childhoods. They were both raised in the American Midwest in the turn of the 20th century. Penfield's father had abandoned the family after going bankrupt as a feckless doctor in Spokane, Washington. He packed his family up on a train, sent them to live with his wife's family and then never joined them. Cone's father contracted typhoid fever and died when Cone was 2. They both grow up with stories of medical greatness in their families, but also medical failure. When they finally cross paths at Presbyterian Hospital in New York in the 1920s, their heads are in a very similar place. Penfield is one of a couple dozen practising neurosurgeons in the world, and he's basically learning on the fly because there's no one to teach him. That's the state of neurosurgery at the time. It was so rudimentary, so crude, so dangerous for patients, and so heartbreaking for practitioners who were constantly losing patients. Cone arrives as a research fellow. He's interested in the brain from his medical training in Iowa. His grandmother had died of a brain tumour, so he had the brain on the brain. Penfield wonderfully describes this moment when he sees Cone walking down this stairwell in the hospital. In retrospect, he realizes this is the moment that set the course of his life. They immediately realize there's chemistry there, although they're polar opposites. The differences are striking. There seems to have been a kind of symbiosis through opposition. Penfield's this tall, dapper, handsome, athletic guy. Very outgoing, charismatic and well-spoken. Cone is none of those things. He's stocky and socially awkward. He might be diagnosed with Asperger's nowadays. He prefers tinkering in his workshop, inventing new surgical tools, and sitting with patients, holding their hands. Penfield is an excellent doctor and cares about patients, but he also has grand philosophical visions of what the study of the brain could be. It's a perfect match because one is very hands-on and practical and one is a silver-tongued orator and scientific visionary. When Penfield is recruited by the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, his one condition is they hire Cone too. You started off researching Penfield, and then stumbled upon this little-known character, Cone, who effectively ends up the hero of your book. Tell me about that discovery. There's an internal history of the Neuro – a coffee-table sort of book – with a chapter on Cone that describes this figure who's probably the greatest neurosurgeon of his generation. The master of masters. Incredible judgment, incredible dedication and the most patient-oriented doctor anyone had ever met. Thanks to his extraordinary gifts as a doctor, he made possible the scientific leaps that had originally gotten me interested in Penfield's work. Then, in his early 60s, he dies suddenly in his office in tragic circumstances that bring the golden age of the institute to an end. I got the sense that this was a great archetypal story, this master-and-apprentice relationship. As a storyteller I was hooked, but as a person I was just so moved by Cone's saintliness, by the fact that this medical hero who was at the heart of one of the great stories in Canadian science was totally forgotten. He really comes to life in the book, which is remarkable given the lack of paper trail. Penfield had a sense of his legacy, so he kept every piece of paper that crossed his desk, and a journal. Cone has virtually none of that. He hated to write because it slowed him down. He wouldn't even write patents for the surgical tools he invented. It could have made him tons of money. People would badger him to write back about a simple, 'Are you coming to this medical conference?' Author John Green became obsessed with tuberculosis – so he wrote a book about it So virtually everything we know about Cone comes from Penfield's archive, from their correspondence, because he did write to Penfield. Their correspondence is extraordinary. Tender longing when they're apart. It was in the clipped style of mid-century Protestant North American men, but it's nonetheless revealing. To that point, there's a strong suggestion that Cone's devotion to Penfield – he turns down the opportunity to run his own institute to stay on as Penfield's second-in-command, for substantially less pay – might have been more than platonic. Male friendships can be as fraught and turbulent as any love affair. I do think Cone's feelings ultimately tipped over into the romantic. I don't know if he ever acknowledged that to himself. Almost certainly not to Penfield. It was illegal to be homosexual in Canada at that time. There's all this circumstantial evidence that his love for Penfield was something more than platonic. He had this bitterly unhappy marriage, had no children. On its own, that doesn't tell you much, but then there's the tone of the letters to Penfield. When Penfield doesn't appoint Cone his successor when he decides to retire, it devastates him. Probably it wasn't the right role for Cone in some way, but the way Penfield went about it felt to Cone like a stab in the back. He has a meltdown. He falls into a deep depression in the years after this rift. And I'm not sure the scale of his reaction makes sense if his feelings for Penfield were merely platonic. What are Cone and Penfield's greatest achievements – either singly or together? Cone made the hospital hygienic, functional, medically sound, so that people wanted to come there and be cured. But it was Penfield's ideas that made their legacy. Penfield had a sister who had a brain tumour in her frontal lobe that caused seizures. In 1928 he and Cone operated on her at the Royal Victoria Hospital and she almost died. Penfield was a little too aggressive and carved out about an eighth of her brain without really knowing what the frontal lobes did. Book Review: Original Sin details Biden's declining health and a cover-up by closest advisers She survived the operation, but the tumour grew back and she died. In the meantime, her personality changed. She became, as he described it, like a lump of putty. Penfield realized he'd been reckless, and that he needed to map the brain if he was going to be an effective surgeon. That's what he and Cone did, and that's their greatest achievement. They were like the early cartographers. They developed this procedure for treating epilepsy that would simultaneously map the brain. In the course of doing this, they were also figuring out what different regions of the brain were responsible for. And this is absolutely crucial, not only for surgeons to know where not to cut, but for the treatment of neurological conditions. It was the mind-body problem that had always puzzled philosophers and scientists: Is there a ghost in the machine, different from our gray matter, that makes us? This interview has been condensed and edited
