MindTalk Technology

Rob Burke left Pratt Institute after a year and a half studying industrial design and fashion design because he wanted to build his own company rather than pursue traditional employment. He had worked with MakerBot, the 3D printer company, and had experience in product design, welding, and hardware manufacturing across fashion, furniture, and even pop-up books. The core insight came from a simple observation: you can hear yourself hum even in a loud environment. He wondered: what if that same principle could be applied to help coaches communicate with players during contact sports?

Rob designed a mouth guard with a small pod fused between the tooth ridges. Piezoelectric transducers—essentially vibration speakers—sit against the back molars and transmit sound vibrations directly to the inner ear. The electronics are housed in a thick-quarter-sized pod that is waterproof and designed for athletic use. The product can transmit both coaching communications and music. Rob went through the Tech Wallcatters Accelerator Program, a 12-week program in Dallas in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security focused on wearable technology for first responders.

MindTalk pivoted from a pure consumer play to focus first on professional and high school teams. Working with manufacturers to create injection-molded hardware with embedded electronics proved complex—there was no off-the-shelf product to clone. Rob began partnering with the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars for testing and feedback. He currently has soft commitments for 5,000 units. Manufacturing costs are just $20 per unit, with a planned retail price of $149.

Rob discovered that the biggest bottleneck wasn't product development—it was demonstrating the technology to investors in 30 seconds or less. VCs couldn't grasp it from descriptions alone, so he created prototype demos using popsicle sticks that people could bite and experience the vibration audio firsthand. This tactile demonstration became his most effective sales tool. He's currently managing $1.7 million in convertible notes with 6% interest, with $100,000 already in soft commitments dependent on prior art searches and due diligence completion.

At 24 years old, Rob is raising his seed round to cover manufacturing scale-up and team hiring. He's navigating patent applications, prior art searches, and investor due diligence. Having already secured interest from multiple VCs post-pitch day, he's focused on closing the convertible note round while finalizing manufacturing partnerships. The company is positioned to serve both the professional sports market and eventually the consumer market for athletes who want audio during contact sports.