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The Open Loop
The Open Loop

Inside the Tivic Health Journey with Jennifer Ernst

01 June 2026 38:42 Chay Carter

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About this episode

In this episode of The Open Loop, Chay Carter is joined by Jennifer Ernst, founder and former CEO of Tivic Health (now Valion Bio).

 

Jennifer shares the story behind Tivic’s journey, from consumer bioelectronics and non-invasive stimulation to FDA clearance, retail launch, IPO, supply chain disruption, and a major pivot into biopharma.

 

This is a practical conversation about the rollercoaster journey of building regulated consumer neurotechnology, bringing a new category to market, and navigating the strategic decisions founders face when timing, capital, and market conditions change. 

We also look ahead to the future of bioelectronic medicine, including peripheral nerve stimulation, AI-native company building, and how electrical and pharmaceutical approaches could eventually work together.

 

Key takeaways:

 

🔹 Why “going consumer” is not always the easier route for neurotech companies

🔹 What founders need to understand about category creation, claims, and customer acquisition

🔹 How Tivic navigated FDA clearance, retail launch, IPO, and supply chain disruption

🔹 Why remote monitoring, reimbursement, and physician incentives matter for device adoption

🔹 How AI, peripheral nerve stimulation, and bioelectronic medicine could shape the next phase of neurotech

 

Host:

Chay Carter

Founder, Carter Sciences

Co-Founder, Reccy Neuro

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chay-carter/

 

Guest:

Jennifer Ernst

Founder and former CEO of Tivic Health (now Valion Bio)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferernst/

 

Key Chapters:

 

00:00 Introduction to Jennifer Ernst and Tivik Health
03:28 The Journey into Bioelectronics and Neurotechnology
07:01 Consumer Market Challenges in Neurotechnology
10:02 Navigating the IPO Process and Supply Chain Issues
14:01 Lessons Learned from the Tivik Experience
17:39 The Future of Neurotechnology and AI Integration
23:09 Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Its Potential
28:51 Transitioning to Biopharmaceuticals and Future Directions

 

The Open Loop is a podcast exploring the people, companies, and ideas shaping the future of neurotechnology.

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