In our latest episode of What the Tech from Boast, we sat down with Dion Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies, to discuss brain-computer interfaces, the power of getting comfortable being uncomfortable, and how Canadian non-dilutive funding programs are enabling groundbreaking neurotechnology innovation.
Dion's journey is unconventional. She started with lemonade stands, redesigned secondhand clothes to sell at local markets by age 10, and planned to attend fashion school. Instead, she became one of the few researchers in the world with expertise in brain-computer interfaces, then built a company making brain-controlled interaction accessible to everyone.
Her first product, Think2Switch™, is "a bit like Siri for your thoughts." It translates brain signals from off-the-shelf brain-sensing headsets into usable commands so you can control computers, toys, or smart devices using your thoughts.
And they're launching on the App Store in the next couple of weeks.
From Fashion School to Neuroscience: Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Dion never set out thinking she'd build a company. "For a long time, I didn't really think of myself as an entrepreneur at all. But hindsight is 2020. The spirit was probably always there."
By the time she finished high school, she was planning to apply to Ryerson University's fashion program. She'd built an art portfolio, taken all the art classes, done a field trip to New York.
"Then I just took science classes for fun because I thought they were interesting. I loved chemistry, I loved biology."
After taking a year off to travel (spending five months in Australia and backpacking Southeast Asia) she asked herself the big question: What do I really want to do for the rest of my life?
"I remember asking myself, what's the likelihood I could make it really big in the fashion industry? It's super competitive. I don't really know how realistic that is. So I actually decided to play it safe. I thought, there's a lot of options, a lot of places I could go if I pursued science."
The turning point came in Bali.
"I remember when I first set foot in Southeast Asia, I was in Bali and I had such a culture shock. I felt so out of place. It was very chaotic in that airport. I felt really uncomfortable—and I actually loved that. I loved the feeling of being uncomfortable and having to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Traveling and experiencing new cultures really helps promote that."
That mindset (getting comfortable being uncomfortable) is at the heart of being an entrepreneur. It's a theme we hear from the most interesting innovators on this show, and it's what enabled Dion to pivot from fashion to neuroscience to building a neurotechnology company.
The Problem: People Are Being Left Behind from Technology Development
Dion's mission at Possibility Neurotechnologies is grounded in fundamental human rights outlined by the United Nations. Everyone should be empowered to express themselves, connect with others, and participate fully in life.
But there's a gap. The World Health Organization released a report on assistive technology acknowledging that those who experience the greatest barriers to accessing technologies are people with the most significant disabilities and children.
"There's so many brain-sensing headsets on the market for different use cases—most of the time for meditation, some for sleep tracking. But there's not really a consumer-grade headset out there that's used for brain-computer interfacing—where you're actually controlling something using your thoughts."
That's what Possibility is building.
The Solution: Think2Switch™
Think2Switch™ translates brain signals from off-the-shelf brain-sensing headsets into usable commands. You can control computers, toys, or smart devices using your thoughts.
"We're positioning ourselves as a consumer technology because we want Think2Switch to be available to anybody who wants to try brain-controlled interaction. We're not making it for any specific person, but we are developing it alongside users who have been left behind from technology development."
Who they're working with: Users with significant support needs (movement disabilities, communication disabilities) and kids, because kids are often left behind from innovations in general.
"If we develop our technology with them in mind, then it should be usable by most people."
The philosophy: "We work super closely with children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and their families to make sure everything we do is with them and not just for them."
The Calgary Ecosystem: Why Dion Stayed
When we asked Dion about the role of ecosystem support, she was emphatic:
"That's why I stayed in Calgary. That's why I decided to build this company in Calgary."
All her family is in Ontario. When she finished her PhD, there wasn't really anything keeping her in Calgary except the ecosystem.
"We've had so much support from every single program offered by the University of Calgary and innovation programs like Platform Calgary, CDL Rockies, support from the Government of Alberta, the Ontario Brain Institute, MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia."
Platform Calgary in particular provided the community and resources that helped Possibility grow from research to product.
Non-Dilutive Funding: The Game-Changer
One of the most important takeaways from our conversation: Canadian non-dilutive funding programs have been invaluable to Possibility's growth.
"I would just like to emphasize the incredible opportunities we have here in Canada with the breadth of non-dilutive funding. I'm really grateful for all that funding we've been able to access because it's really allowed us to develop the technology and validate the technology as we prepared to raise our first equity round last summer. Now we're preparing to raise our next round this summer."
Programs mentioned:
- SR&ED tax credits
- MITACS program (bringing in passionate students and recent grads)
- Government of Alberta grants
- Platform Calgary supports
Why it matters: "Those grants have been invaluable to us. Programs and tax credits unlock a virtuous cycle—rewarding businesses for work that passes a threshold of technological uncertainty the government wants to support. If you're continuing to claim these programs, you're hitting that high standard from the CRA that proves you're tackling something unique and game-changing."
What's Next: App Store Launch in the Next Couple of Weeks
The last year has been transformative for Possibility. They pivoted how they offer their technology platform and built out a mobile app.
"We're getting ready to launch it on the App Store in the next couple of weeks. It's a huge milestone for our team."
They've worked with an incredible network of early adopters globally—people in the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and the UK—who helped develop Think2Switch into a product that meets people's needs and hopefully exceeds their expectations.
"We're getting ready to launch it and get it more widely accessible."
Key Takeaways
Get comfortable being uncomfortable – Travel, culture shock, entrepreneurship; the ability to embrace discomfort is what enables innovation and growth.
With them, not just for them – Developing technology alongside users with the most significant needs ensures it's usable by most people.
Consumer-grade brain-computer interfaces – Think2Switch makes brain-controlled interaction accessible to everyone, not just specialized users.
Ecosystem support matters – Platform Calgary, University of Calgary programs, and Canadian innovation supports were critical to Possibility's growth.
Non-dilutive funding unlocks equity – SR&ED, MyTax, and government grants allowed Possibility to validate technology before raising their first equity round.
The virtuous cycle – Government funding programs reward technological uncertainty, proving you're tackling something genuinely innovative, which attracts investors.
Kids and disability inclusion drive better products – Building for users often left behind from technology development creates products that work for everyone.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want to hear Dion's full story about redesigning secondhand clothes at age 10, why she chose neuroscience over fashion school, and how Possibility Neurotechnologies is making brain-controlled interaction accessible?
