Category Archives: Nootropics

Earlier this month, Gizmodo published a story about Sano Intelligence, a healthcare startup that is making a continuous glucose tracker that sticks to a users skin and monitors blood sugar elevations through a mobile app. The news Gizmodo wanted to make a point of is that Sano plans to market the product to people without diabetes. If youre wondering what the tech publication thought of it, their headline says it all: Nobody Needs This Silicon Valley-Made Blood Sugar Tracker.

My first instinct was also that it sounded ridiculous and in my head I poked fun: Ooh, look what this slice of pizza does to my blood sugar. Cool! I couldnt imagine why anyone with normal body functions would want to be privy to their short-term spikes and dips. It appeared that Sano was taking short cuts. Instead of focusing on changing the lives of people with diabetes, the company was looking to make a quick buck. (Quick in medical-device land is still far from quick.)

After my initial reactionary response, I spent time thinking about why anyone would want to be tethered to physical updates like those of us with diabetes (myself included). Are people without diabetes curious to learn more about their deeper metabolic functions? And, is it worth it to those of us with diabetes to keep an eye on new product launches like the one from Sano Intelligence?

But first, what is it? The Sano tracker is a small stick-on sensor that feels like a piece of Velcro. Its covered in hundreds of tiny microstructures that are less than half a mm in length, says Ashwin Pushpala, CEO of Sano Intelligence. The daily-use patch goes into the skin with the help of an applicator and is far less invasive than the Libre or other CGMs currently on the market. Pushpala hopes to have it available later this year.

Going this route, as a lifestyle-enhancement tool versus a diagnostic one used to make insulin-dosing decisions, allows the startup to get to market quicker and instead of a rigorous FDA approval, it can apply for a simpler form of regulatory sign off for what the FDA considers to be a low-risk device. This category refers to technology thats intended to promote, track, and/or encourage choice(s) which, as part of a healthy lifestyle, may help living well with certain chronic diseases or conditions.

Currently, there are no solutions on the market that provide a painless, discreet, or affordable way for people with pre-diabetes to monitor their glucose levels to make more informed diet and exercise choices. We feel very strongly that we want to build a product that fits their needs, says Pushpala.

With type 2 diabetes on the riseundiagnosed and diagnosedand vast numbers categorized with pre-diabetes (some say 50% of Americans), its reason enough to view what Sano is planning as potentially good for everyone. This population needs a simpler tech solution that they can adopt with minor inconveniences. The once-a-day patch from Sano could be the answer, and even if it isnt, who are we to say it shouldnt be attempted? Sano gets a return on years of research, a larger pool of consumers to sell to and it avoids lengthy clinical trials and years of red tape.

While I was considering this idea of a world of people wearing glucose trackers, I reached out to Geoffrey Woo, CEO and co-founder of Nootrobox, a nootropics-based startup located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Woo started his company with a desire to improve cognition. His goal: to grow more neurons in the brain. There was a misperception that you couldnt grow new ones, says Woo.

Much like vitamins, nootropicssmart drugs or cognitive enhancershas both believers and naysayers. Early adopters that have warmed to this field call themselves biohackers and theyre looking to re-engineer their bodies to be smarter, more creative and more alert. One of the ways they do this is by obsessively watching their intake of food.

How do we watch our bodys reaction to food? By wearing a CGM. Woo wears an Abbott FreeStyle Libre and loves it. Youre more thoughtful in your biometrics, says Woo. Woos goal is to track his mental claritywhere he is at a normal state and how he can get to an enhanced state. Why do you crash after a big meal? asks Woo. By tracking his meals Woo feels that he can refer back to the truth, which will enforce good behavior.

We all know a Coke, fries and hamburger arent good for us, but seeing my blood sugar spike to 13.4 (241) is like, Thats an insane jump! says Woo. For help in understanding his bodys mechanics, Woo has Dr. Manual Lam, Nootrobox science and clinical lead. Lam also works at a hospital in Palo Alto, and is a believer in many of the things that Woo holds dear, namely our ability to re-boot our bodies at a cellular level.

A lot of chronic diseases are due to nutrition and diet. Its funny that doctors are the ones teaching it and weve only gotten four weeks of nutrition or one semester of biochemistry, says Lam. As a hospitalist at a government funded hospital, Lam sees a wide range of sick patients, including those with type 2 diabetes. I think there are some fundamental principles that have been propagated, says Lam. If were all doing the right thing, why is there an increase in obesity and diabetes?

While Nootrobox, which currently doesnt market anything for people with diabetes, wasnt able to get funding on a recent episode of Shark Tank, the company is growing. It might take time for nootropics to go mainstream, but its believers, those who want to gain valuable insights into their bodies, could be the first wave in diabetes tools gaining tractioneven with those of us with diabetes.

Sano Intelligence is committed to casting a wide net with its technology. Our beta release that we are targeting for later this year is step one, says Pushpala. As we continue to test and conduct clinical trials, we are absolutely taking all the steps necessary for FDA approval of future device designs that will target the diabetic market.

If the increased attraction in specialty diets like Whole30, Ketogenic and Paleo are any example, it wont be long before more people are embracing what were previously considered to be tools for people with diabetes. I use [the Libre] all the time, its important to have a visual reminder. Everyone is going to be diabetic or obese and we need more tools to help us. A CGM is a good alarm clock to pull us back, says Woo.

Larissa Zimberoff was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 33 years ago. She is an avid cyclist and a passionate supporter of bike lanes, free WiFi and the Affordable Care Act. She lives in New York City and writes about the intersection of food and technology. You can follow her on Twitter or read more of her published work

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Why Would People Without Diabetes Monitor Their Blood Sugar? - A Sweet Life

Computers have been the innovation platform of the last decade. The human body will be the innovation platform of the next decade.

Those were the words Geoff Woo, CEO & co-founder of Nootrobox, who recently spoke at The Economist EventsInnovation Summit 2017. Nootrobox is a San Francisco-based nootropics company funded by Andreessen Horowitz, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Zynga CEO Mark Pincus, among others. The company is best known for GO CUBES, its chewable coffee nootropic (a compound you take to enhance cognition).

Woos area of expertise is the rapidly growing trend of biohackingtreating the body as hardware which can be improved through constant tweaking. Think everything from fasting to smart drugs, to implanting glucose monitors under your skin, to microdosing LSD and youll see why the human body is the next platform for innovation.

Basically, what started as a trend among techies in Silicon Valley is becoming more mainstream, with people drinking bulletproof coffee and taking nootropics to try to get ahead at work, at school, in athletics, in gaming, etc And Woo is part of a new generation of entrepreneurs who want to hack the brain and the bodyimproving everyday performance through nutritional supplements called nootropics.

Better Brains, Better Society

Nootropics are a broad classification of cognition-enhancing compounds which have shown to produce minimal side effects and seem suitable for long-term use. They are designed to heighten productivity, memory, mental function and overall physical energy. These compounds include those occurring in nature or ones already produced by the human body (such as neurotransmitters), and their synthetic analogs. We already regularly consume some of these chemicals: B vitamins, caffeine, and L-theanine, in our daily diets.

To better understand how this under 30 CEO is changing the face of cognition-enhancing compounds, Paste interviewed Woo about Nootrobox, his business philosophy and why he thinks millennials have an edge when it comes to start-ups.

Paste: Why did you start Nootrobox?

Geoff Woo: As a competitive person by nature, Ive always had the drive to tap deeper into my full cognitive and physical potential. So a few years ago, I dove into the world of biohacking and nootropics, and I really absorbed the science and theories behind nootropics and also the practical necessities like safety and quality control processes to enhance oneself safely. I had access to some of the top researchers and academics in the space (some who are now my colleagues and friends), and I thought that what I had learned might be valuable to other people. Thats when I decided to launch Nootrobox as a service for high-quality, science-validated nootropics.

Paste: How did you get the funds to start the company?

Woo: At the very beginning, I started running the company off my credit card and savings. We were very scrappy and didnt pay ourselves anything besides rent money. That scrappiness allowed us to be cash-flow positive from Day 1.

As the business started scaling, we realized that Nootrobox could really be special. We then invited some great friends and mentors to chip in to give us a working capital base. It snowballed from there. Now we have a great group of investors from VCs like Andreessen Horowitz to legendary founders and operators like Marissa Mayer.

Paste: What is the best part about running your company?

Woo: Our time is the most valuable asset we have, and I get to spend it in the trenches with some of the smartest, most driven people I know in the world. Its a real luxury to choose the team I get to work with!

Paste: Do you think millennial CEOs have an edge?

Woo: I think any CEO with the energy and fearlessness to work on what might sound like a crazy idea has an edge. Often times, these CEOs are millennials because theyre younger, fresher, and have less to lose.

Paste: Why do you think millennials are more likely to take risks and follow their passions?

Woo: They have less to lose. Its very scary to float your life savings on a crazy idea when you have a family and mortgage. The bar to pull the trigger to go is now that much higher, and often times the best ideas are what seem like the riskiest at Day 0.

Paste: How do you achieve work/life balance as the CEO of a high-growth startup?

Woo: I dont see a tradeoff between work and life. If theres a tradeoff, then youre doing it wrong as a CEO. Theres just one life. If I didnt thrive off what Im working on, Im doing my job as CEO wrong. I have the luxury to focus on a space that excites me intellectually. My style is to go all-in when Im in San Francisco, and then when I have a week or two to take a breather, Ill travel and try to totally unplug.

Paste: Why do you love what youre doing? Whats next?

Woo: Unlocking human potential is such an awesome opportunity. Theres so much blue sky to work in. I feel like were at the very start of the biohacking revolution just like how in the 70s and 80s was the start of the computer revolution. We get to make the future!

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Hacking the Human Body with the CEO of Nootrobox - Paste Magazine

What a fun-looking word: nootropics. It refers to any type of compound or food that has the ability to improve your mental abilities, including your memory, ability to focus, motivation, or even mood. While the general category most definitely includes smart drugs, neuro-enhancing supplements fit the bill as well. Daily, neuroscientists are acquiring a more nuanced understanding of the brain, the result being many new pharmaceutical drugs which target exact regions of the brain are in the works. The very same knowledge, though, might reveal how particular supplements might do an equally good job of improving brain function over the long haul.

Why go for prescription-strength when you can get the same by shopping the vitamin aisle?

In that spirit, heres a list of dietary supplements you could investigate for their potential use as a nootropic. Remember: Do your research and ask a doctors advice before popping any pill, natural or not. More importantly, not all dietary supplements are created equal, with some brands including additives you may not want (or are allergic to), so its important to vet any unfamiliar manufacturers.

Creatine, DHA, passionflower, and L-theanine are 4 dietary supplements that offer nootropic effects, including improving memory and decreasing anxiety. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Creatine is an old favorite among gym rats, who use it to enhance their sports performance, but over the past decade or so, the supplements neuro-enhancing abilities have been demonstrated as well. In one placebo-controlled study, researchers tested the hypothesis that 5 grams a day for a six-week period would enhance intelligence test scores while also improving memory. They enlisted the help of 45 young adult, vegetarian subjects and found the supplement had a significant positive effect on both working memory and intelligence, particularly with regard to tasks that require speed of processing. Though they tested vegetarians, the researchers would expect to see a beneficial effect of creatine supplementation on brain performance in most omnivores apart from those who consume very high amounts of meat.

Theanine (or more commonly L-theanine) is found in green tea and mushrooms and also sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has granted it GRAS status (generally recognized as safe). According to various scientific studies, theanine has been found to affect the levels of some neurotransmitters, to prevent beta-amyloid-induced brain dysfunction, and to protect against stroke. L-theanine is even said to improve sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In terms of potential nootropic uses, several small studies indicate a combination of L-theanine and caffeine can improve cognitive performance, particular in the areas of focus and alertness. Apparently, though, the effects may not be long-lasting.

Passionflower is derived from the above ground parts of the plant. Primarily, people take it for its anti-anxiety effects, which have been proven in smaller scientific studies though not yet confirmed in large scale studies. Some other people use it to treat insomnia as well as neuralgia and withdrawal symptoms while coming off opiates or benzodiazepines. In patients undergoing surgery as well as those about to be treated by a dentist, passionflower has been effectively used to reduce apprehension.

DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and seaweed, can improve your memory while protecting against certain psychiatric disorders. Various surveys of people with major depression indicate they have depleted levels of omega-3 fatty acids and one large study found depressive symptoms were significantly higher among infrequent fish consumers. However, no study has ever proven omega-3 fatty acid supplementation effective in relieving major, moderate, or even mild depression. That said, some data suggest it is a safe preventive measure and may reduce the risk of progression of certain psychiatric disorders. While one review of scientific studies found that DHA supplements significantly improves cognitive development in infants though does not improve cognitive performance in children, adults, or the elderly another review shows it can protect against mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and the risk and progression of Alzheimer's disease in the elderly.

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Best Supplements For Your Brain: 4 Nootropics That Work ...

Today, Nootropedia, LLC, a web portal for nootropics, cognitive enhancement, and optimizing mental performance, launches their flagship brain conference called the Brain Optimization Summit. After reaching tens of thousands of readers for 6 months, Nootropedia is finally preparing their first live event.

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) March 03, 2017

Today, Nootropedia, LLC, a web portal for nootropics, cognitive enhancement, and optimizing mental performance, launches their flagship brain conference called the Brain Optimization Summit. After reaching tens of thousands of readers for 6 months, Nootropedia is finally preparing their first live event.

The conference includes speakers like Daniel Schmachtenberger, the founder of Neurohacker Collective and Qualia ( https://www.nootropedia.com/qualia/ ) in addition to Smart Drug Smarts host, Jesse Lawler, Ben Greenfield, and numerous others. When asked about the speaker lineup, co-founder and director Mansal Denton said "It's the best balance of doctors, scientists, researchers, and self-experimenters. After this conference, attendees will walk away knowing exactly what can improve their memory, focus, concentration, and general mental performance."

Until now, Nootropedia has provided written and video media on specific nootropic profiles, such as aniracetam ( https://www.nootropedia.com/aniracetam/ ) or adrafinil ( https://www.nootropedia.com/adrafinil/ ) in addition to basic nootropic stacks like L-theanine and caffeine ( https://www.nootropedia.com/a-beginners-nootropic-l-theanine-and-caffeine/ ). While their YouTube and website have flourished, specific posts have garnered more attention.

What has really set Nootropedia apart is rectifying misleading information and dispelling myths, such as the case with the famous Limitless pill ( https://www.nootropedia.com/limitless-pill/ ), which has received media attention from various online outlets.

Before Nootropedia's brain conference, there was no community organized around nootropics and cognitive enhancement where enthusiasts could share, learn, and grow. While online communities, such as Reddit or Longecity, have brought fringe biohackers into dialogue, this summit provides thousands with an opportunity to speak to their favorite experts.

About Nootropedia, LLC: Cognitive enhancement is everyone's right. Nootropedia was founded in Austin, TX in 2016 to make nootropics and smart drugs more accessible. They have quickly become one of the leading resources on nootropics in both written and video formats. Their work has been featured in major media outlets such as Entrepreneur, Elite Daily, Psychology Today, Huffington Post, and even as a resource on Wikipedia. They have produced a free tool, NooTracker, which offers smart drug users an opportunity to self-track cognitive enhancement.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/03/prweb14112698.htm

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Nootropedia Launches Flagship Brain Conference - Benzinga

NEU MIND, LLC, whose slogan is Have The Advantage, was started to share with the world premium functional drinks that improve cognitive and physical performance. Their first drink is NEU Nootropic Boost, a specially formulated 2 ounce nootropic shot filled with brain vitamins that improve focus, uplift mood, and boost energy without leaving the user feeling overly stimulated.

Salim Sweiss, who studied Biology at UCLA, is the founder of NEU MIND, LLC and created the liquid nootropic formula while recovering from a motorcycle accident. Salim joined forces with Jonathan Perlstein, a veteran in film production and film finance who helped market the drink and expanded their retail presence.

Taking on the design challenge to showcase that performance drinks can be sleek and sophisticated without being kitschy is the award winning design firm, McLean Design, headed by design veteran Ian Mclean, known for the iconic Monster Energy logo.

Drink NEU is manufactured in to NSF cGMP standards in California, and is a Non-GMO, Vegan, Dairy and Gluten Free product. For more information visit http://www.drinkneu.com.

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NEU Brings Nootropics to Energy Shots - BevNET.com

A nootropic infused, weight loss, instant coffee.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Dallas, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/17/2017 -- Elevate coffee is the latest breakthrough product to be introduced to Elevacity's unique health and wellness line. Elevate coffee is a delicious dark roast, Colombian instant coffee infused with a proprietary formula of nootropics, focusing on weight loss and cognitive functions.

Most "weight loss" coffees are typically the same, using only ingredients intended to promote a thermogenic response (speed up metabolism to burn fat). They fail to address a root cause of overeating due to uncontrolled cravings. Elevate was crafted to work differently. It is formulated to replace that "feel-good" feeling people experience when eating unhealthy foods, often referred to as comfort foods, by triggering positive brain responses with nootropics.

Elevacity's nootropic ingredients are powerful cognitive enhancers and stimulants that elicit neuro-positive chemical responses in the brain, which elevate your mood and clarity, increase energy, and boost your memory and overall mood. These nootropic stimulants help you skip the foods you crave to get there. Additional natural ingredients are also included to promote fat burning effects and can lead to weight loss.

"We're excited to launch the first nootropic coffee in the direct selling industry." Says Donna Valdes, President of Elevacity. "Having marketed coffee products for almost 10 years, I can tell you I have never seen a response or results like this. Within minutes, you're clear-headed, laser focused, and the hunger is gone! People actually feel this coffee working and they get results fast. That's what matters."

You can learn more here: http://www.elevatebrew.com or watch this video.

About Elevacity Elevacity is a social selling company distributing cutting edge nutritionals and skin care including Elevate, the world's smartest weight loss coffee infused with nootropics. The company is headquartered in Plano, TX with offices in Largo, FL.

For more information about Elevacity's products or opportunity, visit http://www.elevacity.com or contact info@elevacity.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/elevacity-introduces-smart-coffee-elevate-772867.htm

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Elevacity Introduces Smart Coffee: "Elevate" - Press Release ... - Digital Journal

It seems like every supplement company is trying their hand at perfecting the greens powder, and today Imtrying the offering from one of the fitness industrys biggest giants, Onnit. On the nutrition side,Onnit is perhaps best known for their nootropics and MCT oil. How does their greens powder measure up? I tried out the lemon mint flavor of their Earth Grown Nutrients All in One Daily Greens Mix.

Soy-free and dairy-free, the product aims to approach health from five different angles: theres aPower Greens Blend which has the more traditional greens powder ingredients of wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa and some seaweeds. (This is intended to alkalizethe body.)

Then theres the Champion Blend of variousPeruvian fruits and vegetables that are meantto increase the antioxidant effect. Theres a Rainbow Blend of fruits and vegetables that are meant to provide numerous health benefits and delicious natural flavoring, a Detox Blend of milk thistle, olive leaf, and dandelion root intended to support the bodys normal detoxification processes, and the Gut Blend, a collection of enzymes and prebiotics.

Notably, the gut blend does not contain probiotics, though prebiotics are essentially considered food for probiotics (fiber is a prebiotic) and are linked to healthier gut flora.

The All in One Daily Greens Mix comes in lemon mint and black cherry flavor. I tried the lemon mint flavor, and it tasted a lot like unsweetened chamomile tea with a very mild hint of lemon.Its not sweet, its quite earthy, but its not overwhelmingly bitter like a lot of powders out there and there are no added sugars or artificial sweeteners. If you like the occasional cup of plain green tea, youll be fine with this.

I want to give this product the benefit of the doubt, but it falls prey to the markets tendency to claim a lot of very vague-sounding benefits without showing much evidence for it. The nutrition label is pretty short: it has 35 percent of the RDI of vitamin C, 22 percent of your iron (an impressively high amount), 12 percent of your fiber, 6percentof your calcium thats kind of it. I dont know if there are any other minerals magnesium, selenium, anything like that. I dont know how manyprebiotics it has or how effective the dose might be.

It claims to have a blend of power greens that alkalize my body but how much does it alkalize compared to, say, a cup of spinach? It says it contains five fruits and vegetables to help neturalize free radicals, which iswhat antioxidants do, but how many antioxidants does it have compared to a cup ofreal fruits and vegetables? I dont know. Give me a way to actually understandthe alleged benefits.I can appreciate that different greens powders might have different levels of different nutrients, but at least provide an average amount. Other greens powders do this; its not impossible.

Onnit does market their greens powder more honestly than a lot of its competitors it doesnt say this can replace all your other supplements and it doesnt say it can substitute forany amount of fruits and veggies. But it uses a lot of suspiciously ambiguous language, particularly designed to help you reach your daily green goal in one convenient and delicious drink mix.

If thats true, it should tell me how and to what degree it can substitute for fruits and vegetables. Many of the benefits of leafy greens come from the minerals, not the vitamins.As it is, I dont even know if it contains any minerals beyond calcium, iron, and sodium, how many antioxidants it has, or in what way it can boost digestion.

Its also pretty expensive, 35 dollars for 15 servings, or $2.30 a serving. Thats moreexpensive than most other supplements Ive seen so far, except for Athletic Greens, which is about $4.20 a serving. Compare that with $30 for 30 servings ofPharma Freaks Greens Freak($1/serve), Sunwarriors Ormus Super Greens at $50 for ninetyservings ($0.55/serve), and $52 for a hundred serves of Amazing Grasss Green Superfood ($0.52/serve).

Ingredients:4/5

Taste: 3.5/5

Effectiveness: 2/5

Price:1.5/5

Many folks report higher energy levels and better digestion when theyre taking this product, which is great and that could be true, or it could be a placebo effect. If I knew what micronutrients are actually present in this micronutrient supplement, then Id feel more comfortable recommending it.

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Onnit Earth Grown Nutrients All-In-One Daily Greens Mix Review - BarBend (blog)

Need Some Energy Or Some Better Sleep? The Mad Scientists at Nootrobox Can Help Magnetic Magazine (blog) There is a new game in town (at least for some of us), and they are called Nootropics also known as smart drugs. These are blends (or stacks as they are called in Nootropics) of ingredients that are used to boost cognitive performance and improve stamina.

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Need Some Energy Or Some Better Sleep? The Mad Scientists at Nootrobox Can Help - Magnetic Magazine (blog)

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According to the latest report published by Credence Research, Inc.Nootropics Market Growth, Future Prospects and Competitive Analysis, 2016-2024,theglobal nootropics market was valued at USD 1,346.5 Mn in 2015, and is expected to reach USD 6,059.4 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 17.9% from 2016 to 2024.

Market Insights

Nootropics, also known as cognitive enhancers are drugs and natural extracts that improve cognitive functions such as memory, creativity, motivation in healthy individuals. Nootropics have been available in the market for several decades and were made of ingredients such as multivitamins and caffeine substances that the FDA has approved as dietary supplements and classified as GRAS (generally regarded as safe). At present, these products are being repackaged, repurposed and sold to academic and professional overachievers to augment their brain function. Companies operating in this space primarily succeed as lifestyle brands through smart marketing. However they can only be recognized as healthcare brands only after they develop products that secure regulatory approval thus establishing certified efficacy and safety to their products.

Browse the fullreport Nootropics Market Growth, Future Prospects and Competitive Analysis, 20162024 report athttp://www.credenceresearch.com/report/nootropics-market

Among the key applications of nootropics, memory enhancement currently holds the largest revenue share and it is anticipated that the segment will maintain its lead through the forecast period 2016-2024. Major factors favoring the demand for memory enhancing nootropics include growing awareness among students and executives about the promised benefits of nootropics, easy accessibility, and the booming market for supplements. The memory enhancing nootropic drugs enhance learning and memory effect, enhance the ability of learned behaviors to resist disruption, enhance the efficiency of your brain functions and protect the brain from chemical injuries. Memory enhancement segment for nootropics was valued at USD 391.6 Mn in 2015.

Geographically, North America is the largest consumer of nootropics and is also characterized by domicile of topmost market players. Large population pool, high awareness in consumer population for preventive and cognitive health, rise of the self-directed consumer, and channel proliferation are the key factors driving the dominance of North America nootropics market. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest progressing regional market for nootropics. While in countries like China and India having a great history of natural and herbal based cognitive drugs that boosts the brain functions and other body functions, the foreign investment in collaboration with the local players have determined substantial growth in the nootropics market and the overall dietary supplements market.

Nootropics is a relatively new entrant in the supplements market and is featured by emergence of several new and niche market entrants. Some of the key players in the global nootropics market are Nootrobox Inc., Cephalon Inc., PureLife Bioscience Co. Ltd., Peak Nootropics, Nootrico, SupNootropic Biological Technology Co. Ltd., AlternaScript LLC, Accelerated Intelligence Inc., Onnit Labs LLC, Powder City LLC, Ceretropics, Nootropic Source, Clarity Nootropics and several others.

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Browse the fullreport Nootropics Market Growth, Future Prospects and Competitive Analysis, 20162024 report athttp://www.credenceresearch.com/report/nootropics-market

Global Nootropics Market has been expected to grow at CAGR 17.9% CAGR during 2016-2024- Credence Research reviewed by Chris Smith on February 14, 2017 rated 4.9 of 5

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Global Nootropics Market has been expected to grow at CAGR 17.9% CAGR during 2016-2024- Credence Research - PDF Devices

Identifying a small group of customers can prove as valuable as having a tiny share of a mass market. But it comes with challenges, as Sallee Poinsette-Nash found when she started an online magazine called Tall Guides, and a Facebook group, #TeamTall, to unite and celebrate taller women.

On attending the Tall People Convention in Germany in May 2016, the 6ft 2in Londoner realised that there was nowhere for tall women to regularly meet. That, combined with being fed-up with being teased for being tall, made her determined to tackle the gap in the market.

Her target audience might be easy to spot in a crowd, but finding them online was a challenge. A lot of women dont yet embrace being tall, so they dont put it on their online profiles, Ms Poinsette-Nash explains. We ran social media campaigns to find them and saw tall people tagging their tall friends and word spreading, which started our communitys growth.

People only join a community if they feel that they will get something out of itSallee Poinsette-Nash, Tall Guides

The unique selling point of Tall Guides is the encouragement, empathy and support for tall people a positive rather than a negative stance on the characteristic. With bloggers and writers on board to generate content, and strong engagement on social media, the magazine has tapped into the community and united them under one brand.

People only join a community if they feel that they will get something out of it, so delivering value must be your number one objective, otherwise they just won't stay with you, advises Ms Poinsette-Nash. You have to understand why and how they engage.

Her success to date has proved that targeting a niche can generate both income and optimism among minority sectors of society. Unless women start shrinking, the niche is here to stay.

The journey ofUtmost Me, a nootropics supplement brand, has been rockier. Nootropics better known as smart drugs are designed to improve brain health and cognitive function, particularly increased focus, memory and creativity. Theyre already huge in the US, but less common in the UK.

Its still widely unknown in Europe; its a real niche product, explains Richard Turnbull, the companys founder and chief executive. We are also in the super niche of natural nootropics, meaning that we only use natural ingredients such as turmeric and rhodiola in our supplements no medicines.

Originally, it was a challenge for Mr Turnbulls team to get traction. The Google search volume for people looking for nootropics is low, and most of that traffic is for biohackers (a growing community of individuals who use biotechnology to augment their physical health or abilities), who want to have short bursts of improved cognitive function. Add to that the negative connotations of drugs and youre looking at a hard product to sell, even if theres niche demand.

We had to go out and educate people about brain health, nootropics and the benefits of natural supplements, and be very clear that were an all-natural, caffeine-free product, Mr Turnbull recalls. Eventually, this education stage helped us secure funding from investors.

To find the best way of reaching potential customers, Utmost Me tested different digital advertising methods on various platforms. Advertising through Facebook worked best, despite being costly initially.

There must be people looking for what you have, or at least evidence of lots of people using it somewhere else in the worldRichard Turnbull, Utmost Me

We were losing money with our advertising at the beginning, says Mr Turnbull. But we then found that we were getting a high re-order rate among those we had reached via Facebook. This gave the company the model that it needed to scale the business up to the next level.

While the SME is now doing well, the obstacles faced along the way have taught Mr Turnbull a lot about setting up a small business with a niche audience. Don't try to create something for which no one is looking for.

There must be people looking for what you have, or at least evidence of lots of people using it somewhere else in the world, and a growing demand for it in the UK otherwise you will spend too much money trying to explain your business.

Markus Stripf, chief executive and co-founder ofSpoon Guru, is confident in the longevity of demand for his niche product. He developed the barcode-scanning app, which caters for those with specific dietary needs, after seeing family members with intolerances and allergies struggling to find things that were safe to eat.

The app has an inbuilt ingredient database and search engine, both developed by qualified health professionals, that can be used by anyone wanting to make dietary choices.

As many people across the UK choose, or have to have, some form of exclusion diet, we use targeted digital marketing channels to engage people, says Mr Stripf. We produce content for our blog and syndicate it across social channels, where it finds its intended audience. We also share updates in newsletters and on our website, and talk to users directly via the app itself.

To date, the lack of competition, and society-wide interest in wellbeing, have benefited the business. Because of this, Spoon Guru secured seed funding with relative ease, giving it the money to set up the business and scale operations.

The biggest challenge so far has been finding a solution to the crux of the problem: incomplete, unreliable and inaccurate product and recipe data. Now that weve overcome this, our service will be more attractive to more people, he says. By staying flexible and keeping on top of the latest food trends, the app should have a long future in catering for niche dietary needs.

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How to target a niche market at a small business - Telegraph.co.uk