From patient to founder: The JuneBrain story.

They say the eyes are a window to the soul; at JuneBrain, they’re also a window into the diagnosing of neurological conditions. We sat down with founder Samantha Scott to hear about her deeply personal journey from patient to founder of a mobile version of OCT, designed to bring ophthalmological diagnostic services to patients where they’re at. Sam speaks at length about the mission, the challegnes, and the deep rewards of starup founder life.

What you’ll discover today…

(06:09) A five-year journey to diagnosis
After years of unexplained symptoms, hospital visits, and uncertainty, Sam finally receives a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis following a routine eye examination—an experience that would help inspire JuneBrain.

(09:36) Turning a personal health challenge into a startup
With encouragement from her husband, Sam begins exploring how her engineering background could address the diagnostic challenges she and other neurological patients experienced.

(15:52) Why customer discovery changed JuneBrain’s business model
Originally envisioned as an at-home monitoring device for multiple sclerosis patients, JuneBrain pivots toward clinical customers after extensive interviews reveal a stronger market opportunity.

(20:43) Finding investors who believe in the founder and the mission
After being advised to hide her disability from potential investors, Sam learns the importance of choosing funding partners who align with JuneBrain’s values and contribute more than capital.

(26:09) Reinventing retinal imaging with wearable technology and AI
Sam explains how JuneBrain’s portable OCT headset addresses the limitations of traditional tabletop equipment, while AI helps make retinal imaging more accessible and useful in clinical settings.

(37:00) Surviving the moments when everything nearly fell apart
Sam recalls coming within two days of missing payroll during COVID-19 and reflects on the financial pressures, personal sacrifices, and difficult decisions involved in keeping a medical device startup alive.

Siemens for Startups Program

At Siemens, we understand the struggles of early-stage startups. Let us remove the barriers on your startup journey by helping you transform your engineering ideas into real, marketable products with industry-leading software solutions. Join the Siemens for Startups Program to grow your startup to its full potential. Want to get in touch? Reach out here.

Guest: Samantha Scott

Dr. Samantha Scott is the founder and CEO of JuneBrain, a Baltimore-based medical technology startup developing AI-powered, wearable retinal imaging solutions to improve the monitoring of neurological and eye diseases. With a background in biomedical engineering, neuroimaging, and medical device development, Dr. Scott is dedicated to making advanced diagnostic technologies more accessible to patients and healthcare providers. Inspired by her own experiences navigating the healthcare system as a patient, Dr. Scott founded JuneBrain to help clinicians monitor disease progression more frequently and improve care for individuals living with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and macular degeneration.

Connect with Samantha

Host: Peng Cau

Peng Cau is a seasoned entrepreneur and innovation leader in advanced manufacturing and industrial automation. She co-founded Transformix Engineering, scaling it into a global automation powerhouse acquired by ATS Corporation in a substantial eight-figure valuation deal. Today, she leads the Startup Program at Siemens Digital Industries Software, supporting deeptech and hardtech founders in scaling transformative technologies. A recognized voice in Canada’s tech ecosystem, Peng serves on several boards, including Reko International Group and the Kingston Economic Development Board. A refugee from Cambodia, her journey from survival to success has earned her national accolades and a respected place in Canada’s business and innovation landscape.

Connect with Peng

General

See more of the General.

Listen on: