Dara Tumenbaeva on her startup Black Swan, which controls drones with the power of thought

Our Telegram channel hosted a live session with Dara Tumenbaeva — founder and CEO of the startup Black Swan, which controls drones using the power of thought. Dara spoke about her journey building the startup, the challenges of entering the DeepTech market, life in Silicon Valley, and the future of neural interfaces. The audio version is available via the link.

Dara Tumenbaeva, Founder and CEO of Black Swan, LinkedIn

About me

I am the founder of the startup Black Swan. Previously, I worked in the tech industry, including at Amazon and companies in Spain and Malaysia.

My path gradually led me to building something of my own, and I eventually founded a startup.

How it all began

The idea emerged in March 2025. I decided to work in DefenseTech and began studying the industry. In the process, I realized that FPV drones remain vulnerable: pilots can only control one device at a time, cannot see the joystick, and may accidentally press the wrong button — causing the drone to fly off course or crash. It became clear that technology could solve this problem.

We use EEG — electrical brain signals that are already used in medicine and BCI devices to address depression, sleep disorders, and other conditions. These signals make it possible to determine a person’s level of focus, calmness, or stress, after which the data is transmitted to the drone control system.

The first prototype was focused on a person’s level of concentration. It was essentially a focus competition: participants had to fly a drone from point A to point B while maintaining attention. The winner was whoever did it fastest and received prizes. In that competition, thanks to sponsors, first place went to a drone, second to a mechanical keyboard, and third to an Arduino.

How neural interface technology works

An electroencephalogram records electrical signals from the brain. For example, you can turn your head or close your eyes — these actions are read directly. Capturing thoughts is more complex: it requires additional processing, individual calibration for each person, and noise filtering.

Training is done on specific words — neurons activate, the signal is captured via EEG, sometimes combined with ECG and other sensors. The data is then processed using AI and interpreted. The resulting signals can be used to control drones, computers, or robots.

When tracking concentration, accuracy is quite high — up to 95%. For other metrics, such as stress level, results are also strong. However, accuracy decreases when sending specific commands, such as “up,” “down,” or other thought-based instructions.

On the DeepTech sector in the US

DeepTech is developing rapidly in the United States. There are few technologies in the world capable of truly competing — primarily the US, China, and to a lesser extent Europe and Japan. Resources for hardware projects are limited elsewhere: abroad, students often have to wait for equipment, whereas in the US it is available immediately.

There is also a strong culture of giving and non-profit support here. For example, I was offered free access to a laboratory in a nearby city, created by the Neuralink startup. That kind of practice is extremely rare outside the US and helps startups grow faster.

Competition is intense and new startups emerge constantly. San Francisco is strong in software projects, while hardware competitors are more often found outside the US — in India, China, and Israel. China is particularly impressive in humanoid robotics: recently, a robot walked for 48 hours straight without stopping.

For me, San Francisco turned out to be the best option because of the opportunities it offers. All the key events happen here, and the best technical talent is concentrated here.

Palo Alto is more suited for those who have already made it: with millions or billions, you can open funds and develop large-scale projects. San Francisco, on the other hand, is oriented toward hustlers who are just getting started. Los Angeles is more fitting for people connected to the art industry and creative startups.

In addition, the infrastructure and startup support programs here are well developed. For instance, I participate in the Hacker House residency, where founders are brought together in one house: we communicate, share progress, help each other, and build our projects. The program is supported by Sam Altman, and I find it extremely valuable.

On investment

Everything starts with a strong technology and warm connections. Investors look at the uniqueness of the solution and the real problem it addresses, and personal relationships often play a decisive role. For example, large funds like Founders Fund do not typically work with early-stage startups, but through mutual contacts it is possible to get in touch.

Many funds also host closed events — there you can demonstrate your technology, build relationships, and establish trust. The formula is simple: relationships plus in-demand technology. Visibility in public professional communities also matters: if the product is strong, investors notice it quickly. I know of a case where a post about a startup on X reached one million views and brought in $1 million in investment within a week.

As for investment, doubts are something many people experience — I encounter this constantly. But it all comes down to determination: resources are usually found. At an early stage, it is often the 3F model — Family, Friends, Fools.

In my case, family played a major role. My mother supported me both emotionally and financially — she had entrepreneurial experience of her own: she opened a clinic and did not earn anything for the first six months. Stories like that shape your understanding that the entrepreneurial path is not easy. Jeff Bezos himself raised his first capital from his parents — it is a completely normal practice.

It is important to stop viewing help from family as something wrong. You do not need to prove to your parents that you are an entrepreneur — if anyone should believe in you first, it is them. Family helped first, then my own network followed: friends, acquaintances, and the professional community. In expensive San Francisco, that kind of support is critically important — I lived with friends for a long time, because rent here starts at a minimum of $1500.

Plans

The most immediate and concrete goal is moving into The Residency House. It offers conditions for productive work and accelerated startup development. The program provides access to relationship-building with potential investors, as well as a laboratory for testing technologies and bringing in experts.

At this stage, the key objective is to raise Pre-Seed investment of up to $2 million to continue developing the project. After that, it will be possible to move on to larger-scale plans for production and scaling. There is already a partner in Los Angeles who handles manufacturing and holds ITAR — the foundational clearance required to work with defense technologies. Without it, certifying and selling products in that sector is not possible.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​