Orby.co: The Brazilian Neurotech Startup Using AI to Restore Movement
At just 27 years old, Duda Franklin has already spent more than a decade working at the intersection of technology, biology, and artificial intelligence. Now, the engineer and neurotech entrepreneur from Rio Grande do Norte is preparing to bring her most ambitious project yet to market — a platform that could transform how the world approaches physical rehabilitation, chronic pain management, and athletic performance. Her company, Orby.co, is one of the most exciting Brazilian neurotechnology startups to watch in 2026.
Who Is Duda Franklin?
Duda Franklin started coding at the age of 14 in a technical computer science program in her home state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil. That early spark of curiosity eventually led her through a rigorous academic journey at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Natal, where she earned a degree in biomedical engineering followed by a master's degree in neuroengineering.
By the time most of her peers were finishing their first internships, Duda had already accumulated years of hands-on experience with artificial intelligence, neural systems, and human-machine interfaces. Today, she is the co-founder and CEO of Orby.co, putting all of that expertise to practical, life-changing use.
What Is Orby.co and What Does It Do?
Orby.co is a Brazilian neurotechnology startup that has developed a proprietary platform called Ortech — an AI-powered electrostimulation system designed to work directly with the human body's neuromuscular systems. The platform is being developed with three core use cases in mind:
- Movement rehabilitation therapy — helping patients recovering from strokes, injuries, or neurological conditions regain motor function more efficiently.
- Chronic pain relief — offering non-invasive, technology-assisted treatment for individuals dealing with persistent pain conditions.
- Athletic physical preparation — supporting high-performance athletes with targeted neuromuscular stimulation to enhance training and recovery outcomes.
At its core, the Ortech platform represents what Duda describes as "a layer of intelligence applied to the body." Rather than relying on generic, one-size-fits-all stimulation protocols, the system uses artificial intelligence to adapt and personalize electrostimulation signals in real time, responding to the individual user's physiological responses and therapeutic needs.
Why AI-Powered Electrostimulation Matters
Electrostimulation therapy — also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or functional electrical stimulation (FES) — is not a new concept. It has been used in clinical settings for decades to help patients with motor impairments activate muscles that they can no longer voluntarily control. However, traditional electrostimulation devices are largely static: they deliver pre-programmed pulses without adapting to the patient's condition during a session.
What makes Orby.co's approach genuinely innovative is the integration of AI into this process. By embedding intelligent algorithms into the stimulation pipeline, Ortech can analyze biofeedback signals from the patient's body and adjust the stimulation parameters dynamically. This means the system can become more effective over time, personalized to each individual, and capable of optimizing outcomes in ways that static devices simply cannot achieve.
This type of adaptive, AI-driven approach is already showing promise in research environments globally, and Orby.co represents Brazil's bid to lead that frontier commercially.
The Growing Global Market for Neurotechnology
The timing of Orby.co's emergence could not be better. The global neurotechnology market was valued at over $14 billion in recent years and is projected to continue growing rapidly, driven by rising incidences of neurological disorders, an aging global population, increased awareness of chronic pain conditions, and the growing demand for high-performance tools in elite sports.
In Brazil specifically, rehabilitation technology has historically been underfunded and under-innovated, leaving millions of stroke survivors, accident victims, and patients with neurological conditions without access to cutting-edge therapeutic tools. Orby.co is positioning itself to fill that gap domestically while building the foundations for an international expansion.
A Founder Built for the Challenge
One of the most compelling aspects of the Orby.co story is not just the technology itself, but the profile of the person building it. Female-led deep tech startups remain a rare sight globally, and female-led neurotechnology companies are rarer still. Duda Franklin's trajectory — from a technical high school in northeastern Brazil to the CEO chair of a neurotech startup — challenges persistent narratives about who gets to build the future of science and medicine.
Her academic background in both biomedical engineering and neuroengineering gives her a depth of domain expertise that is critical in a field where the gap between scientific research and commercial product development can be treacherous. Unlike many startup founders who rely entirely on hired scientific talent, Duda brings the science herself — and then builds the business around it.
What Comes Next for Orby.co
With the Ortech platform nearing its market debut, Orby.co is at an inflection point. The company will need to navigate clinical validation processes, regulatory pathways in the medical device space, and the challenge of building trust with healthcare providers, physiotherapists, and sports performance professionals.
However, the fundamental value proposition is strong. A platform that makes electrostimulation therapy smarter, more personalized, and more effective has clear applications across rehabilitation clinics, hospital networks, sports academies, and even consumer wellness — a market opportunity that extends well beyond Brazil's borders.
Conclusion: Brazil's Neurotech Moment
Orby.co is a reminder that world-class innovation can emerge from anywhere — including a university lab in Natal, in the heart of northeastern Brazil. With AI-powered electrostimulation technology that bridges neuroscience, engineering, and clinical therapy, the startup is building something with the potential to meaningfully improve quality of life for patients and athletes alike.
As Duda Franklin prepares to take Ortech to market, the Brazilian neurotech ecosystem has every reason to be watching closely. If the science holds and the execution follows, Orby.co could become one of Brazil's most significant deep tech success stories of the decade.