For Immediate Release

New Orleans BioFund & Gulf South Angels Announce Joint Investment in AI-Driven Medical Technology Company JuneBrain

NEW ORLEANS (March 24, 2026) – The New Orleans BioFund and the region’s leading angel investor network, Gulf South Angels (GSA), announced a joint investment into medical technology company JuneBrain.

JuneBrain is developing portable, AI-driven Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) headsets designed to transform remote monitoring of eye and neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Founded by Dr. Samantha Scott, the company is working to make advanced retinal imaging accessible beyond traditional clinical settings, enabling earlier detection, more consistent monitoring and improved patient outcomes.

JuneBrain was the most recent first-place winner of New Orleans BioInnovation Center’s (NOBIC) annual BioChallenge, a global pitch competition for early-stage life science startups. The 2025 competition focused on neuroscience, with winners sharing a total prize pool of $100,000.

“JuneBrain represents exactly the kind of company BioChallenge was built to champion, a team using cutting-edge AI to solve a real clinical gap in how we detect and monitor neurological disease. We believe this technology can change patient outcomes at scale. We will improve patient outcomes and build a strong life sciences economy in Louisiana one bold investment at a time,” said Kris Khalil, Managing Director of BioFund.

“Our members were impressed by JuneBrain’s combination of breakthrough technology and strong market potential,” said Mike Eckert, Board Chairman of Gulf South Angels. “Investments like this reflect our commitment to supporting high-potential companies and partnering with organizations like NOBIC to bring innovative ventures into the Gulf South’s expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Founded in Baltimore, JuneBrain’s partnerships with NOBIC and GSA mark the beginning of a broader expansion strategy in Louisiana. In addition to local investment support, the company is actively pursuing collaborations with Louisiana universities and healthcare systems as it works to establish a deeper integration into the state’s growing life sciences ecosystem.

“From our experience at BioChallenge to the ongoing support from GSA and NOBIC, the New Orleans startup community has welcomed us with open arms,” said Dr. Samantha Scott, CEO and Founder of JuneBrain. “This funding allows us to accelerate development, expand access to our technology, and continue building meaningful roots in Louisiana as we grow.”

The investment reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the region as a competitive hub for life sciences and innovation. To learn more about JuneBrain, visit junebrain.com.

About the New Orleans BioFund

The New Orleans BioFund, part of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, is an early-stage investment fund focused on supporting bioscience and health innovation companies with strong potential for economic and community impact. The BioFund provides capital and strategic support to companies advancing healthcare solutions while driving job creation and commercialization opportunities in Louisiana.

About Gulf South Angels

Gulf South Angels (GSA) is a nonprofit organization founded in Southeast Louisiana that has grown into a premier network of 165 accredited investors across 18 states. Since its founding in 2014, GSA has collaborated to evaluate, fund, and support early-stage companies across a wide range of industries, investing more than $32 million in 70-plus companies. The group connects innovative entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and strategic connections, and is recognized among the top 10% of angel groups in North America by the Angel Capital Association. Learn more at gulfsouthangels.org.

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NOBIC is excited to have Tehnical.ly as a media partner for BioChallenge 2026.  With the recent opening of applications, they featured an article on their website and newsletters highlighting NOBIC + BioChallenge.

Neurological conditions are the leading cause of disability worldwide. Louisiana faces a disproportionate burden, with some of the nation’s highest rates of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. BioChallenge was created to accelerate the development of technologies and therapies that address these challenges and advance equity and innovation in brain health.

Beyond the $100,000 in non-dilutive funding, prizes include complimentary lab space at NOBIC, dedicated pilot implementation and grant-writing support. Finalists will also receive travel funding to compete in person in New Orleans.

Read Full Article 

For Immediate Release

Applications open for 2026 BioChallenge Pitch Competition at New Orleans BioInnovation Center

-Global brain health and neurotechnology startups invited to compete for more than $100,000 in non-dilutive funding

NEW ORLEANS (March 17, 2026) – The New Orleans BioInnovation Center has opened applications for its 2026 BioChallenge Pitch Competition, inviting early-stage biotechnology companies from around the world to apply for the opportunity to pitch innovative solutions in brain health and neuroscience.

The competition will take place Oct. 29, 2026, at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center in downtown New Orleans and will award more than $100,000 in non-dilutive funding to promising startups working to address neurological diseases and advance brain health innovation.

This year’s BioChallenge will spotlight emerging companies focused on brain health and neurotechnology. Neurological conditions are now the leading global cause of disability, and the economic burden of neurological disease is projected to exceed $6 trillion by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum. Louisiana faces an even greater burden, with some of the nation’s highest rates of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Through BioChallenge, NOBIC aims to accelerate promising startups by providing funding, mentorship and connections to investors, health systems and research institutions.

“BioChallenge remains one of the most impactful ways we showcase the important role Louisiana plays in addressing global health challenges,” said Kris Khalil, Executive Director of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center.  “This year’s re-commitment to brain health and neuroscience reflects both the scale of the need and the opportunity for breakthrough innovation. We’re inviting bold entrepreneurs from around the world to bring forward solutions that can improve lives, while strengthening New Orleans’ position as a growing hub for bioscience innovation, collaboration, and commercialization.”

The competition is open to early-stage biotechnology companies globally that are developing solutions in brain health, neuroscience and related fields.

Past BioChallenge winners include several companies that have gone on to expand their impact in the biotechnology industry including JuneBrain, Informuta, 28bio (formerly AxoSim), Junum and Obatala Sciences.

Startups interested in participating can learn more and submit applications at https://neworleansbio.com/biochallenge-2026/. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Editor’s note: Link to photo assets here.   

 About the New Orleans BioInnovation Center

The New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC) is a nonprofit business incubator dedicated to supporting the growth of bioscience and health technology companies in Louisiana. Through mentorship, commercialization support, workforce development and strategic partnerships, NOBIC helps entrepreneurs bring innovations to market and strengthen the region’s bioscience ecosystem.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Performance Health Partners Announces Acquisition by Sentact
New Orleans Bioinnovation Center pioneer grows through partnership with global company, retains office in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 21, 2026) – Performance Health Partners (PHP), the top-rated provider of safety incident management software, as recognized by healthcare organizations nationwide, has been acquired by Sentact, a leader in healthcare technology, analytics and services reimagining the path to exceptional care. This acquisition significantly expands the reach of both Sentact and PHP and marks a defining milestone for Louisiana’s innovation economy. Bolstered by strategic partnerships with New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC), Louisiana Economic Development, Ochsner Lafayette General Foundation/Ochsner Health, Idea Village, GNO, Inc. and Tulane University, this acquisition marks a historic milestone for both Louisiana and national health safety.

Founded by Heidi Raines, PHP achieved milestones that only a fraction of U.S. companies have reached. Nationally, fewer than 1 in 100 companies achieve national brand-level recognition, and only 0.006% ever sell to private equity or strategic partners. Among those, female-founded companies that achieve a PE-backed exit represent fewer than 1 in 12.5 million businesses (.00008%).

Raines is the Forbes best-selling author of “Shared Voices: A Framework for Patient and Employee Safety in Healthcare.” She was named a “Patient Safety Expert to Know” and a “Healthcare IT Expert to Know” by Becker’s Healthcare. A native of Acadiana (Breaux Bridge), Raines holds a Preceptor Faculty position in Tulane University’s Master of Health Administration program and previously served as Board President of the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Healthcare Executive Network. As part of the acquisition, Raines will join Sentact’s private-equity-backed leadership team as Chief Strategy Officer, leading enterprise strategy, platform integration, and long-term innovation initiatives.

“PHP’s mission has always been to transform healthcare safety,” said Raines. “Joining Sentact accelerates that mission powerfully. This outcome also proves that when Louisiana founders are supported early with capital, mentorship and infrastructure, they can build national companies that shape the future of healthcare.”

PHP joined NOBIC upon their inception in 2014, and continued with them through early growth, transforming them from a New Orleans–founded startup into a national healthcare technology leader. PHP was one of the first tenant companies at NOBIC, participating in their Innovation Program designed to support early-stage, high-growth businesses.

“This success story exemplifies the BioInnovation Center’s mission in action. Louisiana health-focused founders can build and fund nationally scalable enterprises here at home,” said Kris Khalil, Executive Director of NOBIC. “It is also a clear signal that our local innovation economy is accelerating. Congrats to Heidi and her team.”

Ochsner Health and Ochsner Lafayette General Foundation, played a critical role in PHP’s growth by providing early-stage capital and strategic healthcare system insight that helped accelerate product development and national expansion. Through its investment and partnership, Ochsner helped validate PHP’s mission-driven approach to improving patient and employee safety while strengthening the company’s ability to scale inside complex healthcare environments.

“The success of Performance Health Partners proves that innovative health tech companies can grow and succeed in Louisiana,” said Aimee Quirk, Chief Corporate Development Officer of Ochsner Health and CEO of Ochsner Ventures. “PHP has demonstrated a meaningful impact on quality reporting in healthcare, including through its partnership with Ochsner Lafayette General. We are proud to have supported a Louisiana-based company that reflects the growing strength of the state’s innovation ecosystem and congratulate the team as they enter this next phase with Sentact.”

Louisiana has long been a place of innovation, particularly at the intersection of healthcare, technology and problem-solving rooted in real-world needs. The acquisition of PHP demonstrates the long-term economic return of Louisiana’s SSBCI strategy led by Louisiana Economic Development, showing how targeted early-stage investment can yield outsized, compounding outcomes for the state. By making strategic seed investments in Louisiana-based founders and companies, the state is investing in itself by building enterprises that generate national impact, durable jobs and long-term economic value.

“Performance Health Partners is a strong example of how Louisiana-based innovation can scale nationally,” said Josh Fleig, Chief Innovation Officer at Louisiana Economic Development. “This acquisition validates our strategy of supporting founders early through Louisiana’s Opportunity Capital program and building companies that deliver long-term economic impact.”

The acquisition of PHP by Sentact marks a historic moment for Louisiana tech companies. A celebratory event was held to commemorate the acquisition on January 20^th at NOBIC. PHP will remain active in the New Orleans area.

For more information on Performance Health Partners, visit their website.

Editor’s Note: High-resolution images can be found here.

About Sentact

Sentact is reimagining the path to exceptional care for hospitals and health systems by powering mission-critical safety, quality, and patient experience initiatives. Through technology, analytics, and services, Sentact enables healthcare leaders to transform insights into action and achieve measurable improvements across clinical operations.

About Performance Health Partners

Founded in New Orleans, Performance Health Partners is the nation’s highest-rated healthcare safety, risk, and compliance software platform. Its technology helps healthcare organizations strengthen safety culture, reduce risk, and improve patient outcomes nationwide.

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We are honored to congratulate our 2024 BioChallenge winner Kalen Hall, PhD, CoFounder and CEO of Informuta on being named Biz New Orleans Magazine Executive of the Year!

New Orleans BioFund has made an investment in Informuta and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center is proud to be home of Kalen and her team’s New Orleans lab.

“Our goal is for Informuta to be the trusted brain behind how health systems understand, anticipate and respond to infectious threats,” said Kalen.

Read Article

 

Read Our Q&A with 2025 BioChallenge Winner Dr. Samantha Scott, CEO and Founder of JuneBrain

Background and Startup Journey

Q: What inspired you to start JuneBrain and how has your personal experience as a neuroscientist and founder shaped your mission?
Samantha: My journey began as an engineering student fascinated by neuroscience. During my PhD, I specialized in ophthalmology and worked on site restoration models that combined laboratory research with startup collaborations focused on combating blindness. That experience deepened my understanding of the eye-brain connection.

JuneBrain was born from a very personal turning point. Toward the end of my PhD, I became progressively ill. It took five years and countless specialists before an eye doctor—rather than the many neurologists I had seen—finally diagnosed my neuromuscular disorder. My husband kept reminding me that I should solve this problem myself. So I did.

I spent the first year developing the prototype for what is now our NeuroEye™ device and filing the initial patents. Forming JuneBrain was actually a requirement for a grant—but it quickly evolved into something much bigger.

Being a disabled founder has shaped how I lead. I can’t “hustle” in the traditional startup sense, so my approach and our company culture are rooted in adaptability and empathy. Living with disability forces creativity every day, and that mindset drives innovation within our team. We’re deeply focused on customer discovery and patient satisfaction, talking directly with patients and their providers. Our team itself is neurodiverse and physically diverse, which means we naturally look at problems from many different perspectives.

Q: How did you first hear about the BioChallenge, and what made you decide to participate?
Samantha: I first heard about the BioChallenge from Melissa at Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures. Honestly, I didn’t expect to get selected when I applied. Then I met Scott at NOBIC—he was incredibly encouraging and helped us refine our pitch. The entire environment was so supportive, both leading up to and following the competition.

Through the BioChallenge network, we’ve also connected with phenomenal collaborators in New Orleans’ ecosystem. We now have ongoing discussions with Ochsner and Tulane for potential clinical partnerships.

Technology and Innovation

Q: What sets your AI-powered retinal imaging platform apart in the field of brain health monitoring?
Samantha: Our approach is twofold. On the device side, our key goal is accessibility. That means making the device affordable for clinics and easy to use for people with disabilities. It’s simple, automated, and portable—so we can bring high-quality retinal imaging to communities that otherwise don’t have access to it.

The AI is the other crucial component. It tailors results based on who’s viewing them. Ophthalmologists like detailed images and metrics, while neurologists care about specific biomarkers. Our platform customizes the information accordingly, creating dedicated portals for each type of professional.

Q: What technical or design challenges did you face during development, and how did you overcome them?
Samantha: One of our biggest challenges was designing a wearable headset that maintained perfect alignment between the laser light and the patient’s eye while staying comfortable to wear. It took multiple clinical trials, user feedback, and iterative design testing to get it right.

Q: How does your solution help close gaps in access and equity for neurological care?
Samantha: Patient feedback has shown us that those most excited about our technology are often from rural or underserved communities. Many of their patients travel hours to see an ophthalmologist with the right equipment. Our portable device addresses that by bringing diagnostics to them instead of the other way around.

BioChallenge Experience

Q: How did your team prepare for the pitch, and what impact did the BioChallenge and NOBIC community have?
Samantha: Scott was phenomenal—I hope every team gets to work with him! He met with us twice before the final pitch. In the first meeting, we refined our general presentation. In the second, he helped tailor it for the audience, which he explained had a strong neuro focus. That insight led us to add more clinical data, health economics, and storytelling elements. By the time we arrived in New Orleans, we were confident and ready.

Q: What impact has winning—and being named Audience Favorite—had on JuneBrain’s progress?
Samantha: The visibility has been incredible. Investors started reaching out immediately after the BioChallenge. Our social media campaign also gained significant traction, and we recently secured a $250K funding commitment. Even a major pharmaceutical company with an Alzheimer’s portfolio contacted us after hearing about our win. It’s opened so many doors on the fundraising and partnership fronts.

Impact and Future Vision

Q: How do you see JuneBrain’s technology shaping the future of neurology and patient care?
Samantha: Beyond accessibility, we’re focused on breaking down silos in healthcare. In my own diagnostic journey, one of the biggest hurdles was the lack of communication among specialists. Our goal is to create a shared platform where data encourages collaboration between ophthalmologists, neurologists, and other providers—because when doctors share insights, patients win.

Q: What are your immediate and long-term goals after this win?
Samantha: We have three major milestones ahead:

1. Fundraising.
2. Revenue generation.
3. FDA submission and clearance leading to a go-to-market launch.

Lessons and Advice

Q: What advice would you give startups considering applying to the BioChallenge or working with NOBIC?
Samantha: Just go for it—and be open to feedback. I’ve already told several friends in neuroscience to apply for BioChallenge 2026. There’s so much innovation happening in neuro, yet it’s still underfunded despite affecting everyone. The support and exposure you get through NOBIC are invaluable.

Q: Looking back, what’s one piece of advice you’d give your past self as a founder?
Samantha: Calm down! [laughs] Really—just take a break sometimes. I used to push myself nonstop, but becoming a mom changed that. My five-year-old has taught me the value of slowing down. It’s okay to not do everything every day. Check a few things off your list and let that be enough.

NOBIC is honored to be featured as the Cover Story for Biz New Orleans November healthcare issue highlighting our initiative to make New Orleans a destination for neurological care and brain health initiatives.

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Read article | New Orleans BioInnovation Center to Position Metro Area as Destination for Neurological Care.