MelodiaSync is revolutionizing mental wellness through personalized sound technology and innovation.
Dr. Jessica Blume, Dr. Samudani Dhanasekara, and Dr. Chanaka Kahathuduwa have a clear mission: to create a science-driven solution for mental health wellness. Together the team launched MelodiaSync to develop a binaural beat software technology that offers a personalized approach for managing stress and promoting relaxation.
MelodiaSync is an innovative software designed to listen to your brain through EEG technology, analyze its activity in real time, and provide tailored auditory beat responses. The software creates a feedback loop between the user and their brain, helping individuals reach a state of relaxation, meditation, or enhanced focus and performance. It’s particularly effective for improving sleep quality and combating the effects of stress.
MelodiaSync is designed for diverse users, including healthcare professionals experiencing burnout, office workers managing daily stress, and individuals looking for a science-backed mental wellness tool. Its goal is to integrate seamlessly into daily routines while providing measurable benefits.
The High Notes of MelodiaSync’s Success
MelodiaSync has competed and participated in several Texas Tech Innovation Hub programs, including the iLaunch Competition, the Texas Tech Accelerator Program (Cohort 8), the NSF Regional and National I-Corps programs, and the One Health Incubator.
At the start of their entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Jessica Blume, CEO of MelodiaSync and former Assistant Director of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Office of Global Health, and her team participated in iLaunch, Texas Tech’s premier Shark Tank-style competition. Their exceptional research and deep market insights wowed the judges, earning MelodiaSync the coveted first-place cash prize of $10,000.
As a result of their success at iLaunch, MelodiaSync was placed in the finals for the Texas Tech Accelerator Competition the following spring. The competition determined the startup teams that joined the 2024-2025 Accelerator Program, which supplies entrepreneurs with seed funding, expert mentorship, tailored training, and network expansion. Impressed by their coachability and insights into the growing market around mental health solutions, MelodiaSync was selected as a member of the eighth cohort.
Through the Texas Tech Accelerator program, the team embraced the lean startup mindset, which Blume describes as a “game changing” approach that taught them the importance of launching early to gather user data.
In September 2024, MelodiaSync was proudly named one of the inaugural tenants of Texas Tech's groundbreaking One Health Incubator. As the first initiative of its kind at the university, the incubator drives research and commercialization in areas that bridge disciplines such as medicine, veterinary science, and healthcare technology, addressing the interconnected nature of health. Through this innovative program, MelodiaSync gained access to a dynamic network of engineering professionals and students, sparking collaborations, forging strategic partnerships, and opening doors to intellectual property opportunities.
A Crescendo in I-CorpsTM
From there MelodiaSync jumped on the fast-track to developing a market-ready product. Jessica and her team completed the Regional I-Corps program, then jumped into the National I-Corps program. The combination of which empowered MelodiaSync to identify specific markets through customer discovery.
“You’re not supposed to know everything, but when you need a fresh perspective or specific connections, chances are there’s at least one peer or mentor that can make a referral or reframe your underlying question,” said Blume.
MelodiaSync’s National I-Corps Industry Mentor was Professor Kim Walker, an iTTU Mentor, a Professor of Music in the Talkington School of Music, an entrepreneur, and a co-creator of the first Music and Medicine UG/MM degree program at the University of Sydney. Walker stated, “The team is made up of amazing individuals who work exceptionally well together, and I believe they have a promising path forward.”
Reflecting on the value of these experiences, Jessica notes, “Without these partnerships, we wouldn’t have been able to validate our approach. These collaborations have shaped not only our product but also our understanding of the market.”
Composing the Next Steps
MelodiaSync is more than just a product, it embodies the team’s resilience and dedication to making a meaningful impact. From overcoming early challenges to embracing continuous feedback, the journey has been one of growth and discovery.
Since the National I-Corps program, MelodiaSync has gone through many pivots that shifted their mindset and sparked countless ideas for next steps. Despite these changes, they’ve remained focused on creating an accessible, effective tool to improve daily mental health routines.
“We’re no longer just clinicians solving a problem,” says Jessica. “We’re entrepreneurs building something bigger than ourselves.”
MelodiaSync recently completed their first randomized sham-controlled crossover trial at the One Health Incubator at the Innovation Hub. The data from that study will be instrumental in securing additional grant funding for further research and development. The team is also exploring partnerships with engineering professionals and seeking opportunities to refine their technology for market readiness.
If you’re interested in MelodiaSync’s innovative product and how it can transform daily mental health routines, contact Dr. Jessica Blume at jessicablumeslp@gmail.com. For those interested in learning about programs and opportunities at the TTU Innovation Hub, reach out to the Innovation Hub at researchpark@ttu.edu.