For 12% of Americans, chronic insomnia means endless nights of restlessness and fragmented sleep. For California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) biomedical engineering graduate students Rex Walker and Jeremy Laufer, that statistic hits close to home. 

Neurostimulation, an emerging and largely untapped area of research, caught the attention of Laufer and Walker for its potential to create new solutions to health challenges. Motivated by this passion, they created NeuRelief Medical, a startup developing innovative technology to improve sleep quality for those suffering from insomnia. 

The two founders first connected at Cal Poly, bonding over their mutual interest in pursuing entrepreneurship through the intersection of medical devices and neurostimulation.

“When we decided we wanted to take a stab at this, we started looking through different ways to stimulate the nervous system and what issues could benefit from it,” Walker said. “Insomnia was something that was close to both of our hearts, so we felt compelled to find a better solution.”

06/18/25 – SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA: Rex Walker and Jeremy Laufer of Nervana pose for a portrait during Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Summer Accelerator photoshoot on June 18, 2025 in San Luis Obispo, California. Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE

Their mission at NeuRelief is to help those suffering from insomnia fall asleep faster, get deeper sleep and minimize mid-night awakenings. To achieve this, the team is developing a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator—a device designed to safely and gently stimulate the vagus nerve to induce relaxation. 

Unlike many wellness products that rely on marketing claims, NeuRelief is committed to proving its effectiveness through rigorous testing. The team is planning to pursue FDA approval and will be conducting clinical trials to demonstrate measurable benefits for people with insomnia. “We’re going the extra mile to actually show the benefit,” Walker said. “A lot of other companies skip all of that, but we want our product to be proven effective so people can trust it will help them sleep.”

The founders’ complementary academic backgrounds have played a crucial role in their progress. Laufer’s undergraduate studies in psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, provide deep insight into the neural mechanisms behind vagus nerve stimulation, while his biomedical engineering expertise helps ensure the device is both functional and user-friendly.

Walker’s biomedical engineering background has equipped him with the skills to design medical devices that are not only effective but also practical and appealing for the people who will use them.

Walker first learned about the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Summer Accelerator through one of his biomedical engineering classes. Excited by the opportunity, he connected with Laufer, and together they decided to apply to the program, marking the start of their intensive journey to turn NeuRelief into more than just an idea, but a real company. 

The CIE’s Summer Accelerator is an intensive 12-week program that provides Cal Poly students and recent graduates with the resources necessary to turn their innovative ideas into full-fledged startups. Participants in the Accelerator receive $10,000 in seed funding, as well as access to expert mentorship, entrepreneurial workshops and a dedicated workspace in the HotHouse, the CIE’s office located in downtown San Luis Obispo.

“My experience in the Summer Accelerator has been amazing, from start to finish. Having an opportunity to interface with experienced entrepreneurs who have gone through the entire journey and are able to tell us about their experiences has been invaluable,” said Laufer. 

Throughout the Accelerator, the team has been guided by their mentor, Jan Haynes, who is a dedicated medtech business professional and startup advisor and has been instrumental for NeuRelief. “Going through this program as two people with engineering backgrounds, she has been able to give us valuable expertise in business and FDA regulation, and help us connect with the right people to build a successful business,” said Walker. 

Looking ahead, NeuRelief’s next steps include refining their prototype, expanding testing to more users and continuing to validate the device’s effectiveness. Long term, they aim to develop additional products targeting various causes of insomnia, broadening their impact on sleep health.

Beyond the technology, what drives NeuRelief is the hope to profoundly improve the lives of people whose daily routines are disrupted by sleeplessness. “We hope that for someone suffering from insomnia, whose day-to-day is affected by poor sleep, our device can help them finally get the restful night they need,” said Laufer. 

Watch NeuRelief and our six other Accelerator startups pitch live at Demo Day here.

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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunity to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo County. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.