Picture of Kaushal, founder of Neuroverse

Kaushal Ottem: Closing the data gap for neurological health

Young Achievers Award finalist, Kaushal Ottem, experienced a life-altering accident being hit by a bus at eight years old in India. This was merely the opening chapter of a story defined by resilience, coding, and a mission to improve the brain.

Claire Dunton

27 April 2026

4 minute read

For the fourth consecutive year, Luminary is proud to sponsor the Young Achievers Award in the Tech Visionary category. This award isn’t just about celebrating the quickest coder; it’s about honouring the disruptors who use technology to solve deeply human problems. In a year where we have received a record-breaking number of entries, more than any other year in our history, the following candidate stands out for his ability to turn a personal challenge into a global solution.

Today, we are thrilled to introduce one of our finalist nominees: Kaushal Ottem, the founder of Neuroverse.

An unlikely origin story

For many, a life-altering accident is a full stop. For Kaushal Ottem, being hit by a bus at eight years old in India was merely the opening chapter of a story defined by resilience, coding, and a mission to map the "final frontier" of human health: the brain.

Now the founder of Neuroverse, Kaushal is bridging the gap between lived experience and medical innovation, developing technology that promises to transform neurological rehabilitation and, eventually, prevent strokes before they happen.

From recovery to recognition

The seeds of entrepreneurship were sown during months of bed rest. Told he might not progress in school due to his injuries, a bored Kaushal turned to a computer. He didn’t just surf the web; he taught himself to code, eventually building a cricket game that amassed three million downloads. This early success led to Apple student developer conferences and a move to Australia to pursue an MBA and a Master's in Computer Science.

However, at age 20, a diagnosis of epilepsy brought his focus back to the clinical world. He noticed a jarring disparity: while we use Apple Watches to obsessively track our heart rate and steps, our most vital organ; the brain, which he felt remains a black box.

"One in three people will have a neurological condition in their lifetime," Kaushal notes. "It is the rising cause of disability globally, yet we lack the radical innovation in the neurological space that we see in physical health."

The birth of Neuroverse

Inspired by the fragmented and often discouraging process of his own recovery, Kaushal founded Neuroverse. The goal was simple but ambitious: create a tool that allows patients and clinicians to visualise recovery in motion.

The journey hasn't been without its pivots. The initial vision for a sleek, daily wearable was waylaid by technical reality; the prototype was too bulky for social acceptance. Embracing the "lean startup" mentality, Kaushal shifted focus to the clinical rehabilitation sector, specifically for stroke patients.

"Stroke patients need to see their progress to stay motivated," Kaushal explains. "By providing qualitative and quantitative data, we can enable more targeted therapies and faster recuperation."

Picture of Kaushal presenting his device at a convention

Overcoming the "wet electrode" hurdle

Innovation is rarely a straight line. Kaushal faced significant setbacks with data capture systems, initially struggling with "wet electrodes" that clinicians found too cumbersome and time-consuming.

Determined to find a solution, he travelled to Hong Kong and Taiwan, eventually securing a partnership in Singapore for sensor development and collaborating with RMIT’s bio-innovation lab. This move to "dry electrode" technology was a turning point, making the device more patient-friendly and scalable.

Perhaps more difficult than the technical shifts was the personal "unlearning." "I had to unlearn the bias of my own lived experience," he says. "I realised that not every feature I personally wanted had to be in version one. Shipping the prototype earlier allowed us to learn much quicker from actual customer feedback."

Picture of Kaushal presenting at a conference for Neuroverse

A vision for prevention

Kaushal’s five-year vision for Neuroverse extends far beyond the hospital ward. By combining the data collected during rehabilitation with AI and machine learning, he aims to move into preventative care.

"The biggest impact will be preventing neurological conditions like strokes before they occur. This doesn't just save lives; it alleviates the burden on our healthcare system and allows an aging population to maintain their independence for longer."

Why the Tech Visionary Award matters

For a Medtech founder, trust is the primary currency. As Neuroverse enters pre-clinical trials with the University of Melbourne and St. Vincent’s Hospital and joins the Medtech Accelerator to navigate FDA and TGA regulations, credibility is everything.

Winning the Luminary Tech Visionary Award would represent more than just a trophy for Kaushal; it would be a validation of a journey that began on a dusty road in India and led to the cutting edge of Australian medical technology.

"My mission is to build technology that genuinely touches millions of lives," Kaushal says. "I want to leave a legacy rooted in the same kindness and empathy I received when I was recovering as a child."

Stay tuned as we announce the winner of the Young Achievers Award. Will Kaushal's vision for autonomous drone systems to protect farms take home the trophy?

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