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

Our Telegram channel hosted a live stream with Dara Tumenbayeva, the founder and CEO of Black Swan, a startup that controls drones using mind power. Dara shared insights into the journey of building the startup, the challenges of entering the DeepTech market, life in Silicon Valley, and the prospects of neurointerfaces. You can listen to the audio version via the link.

Dara Tumenbayeva, 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, as well as companies in Spain and Malaysia.

My path gradually led me to start my own business, and eventually, I founded a startup.

How It All Started

The idea emerged in March 2025. I decided to focus on DefenseTech and began studying the industry. During this process, I realized that FPV drones remain vulnerable: pilots can only control one device, cannot see the joystick, and might accidentally press the wrong button, causing the drone to fly in the wrong direction or crash. It became clear that technology could solve this problem.

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

The first prototype focused on the user’s level of concentration. Essentially, it was a concentration competition: participants had to guide a drone from point A to point B while maintaining focus. The winner was the one who did it the fastest and received prizes. In this competition, thanks to sponsors, the first prize was a drone, the second was a mechanical keyboard, and the third was an Arduino.

How Neurointerface Technology Works

An electroencephalogram records electrical brain signals. For example, turning your head or squeezing your eyes shut can be detected directly. Reading thoughts is more complex: it requires additional processing, individual adaptation for each person, and noise filtering.

Training involves specific words—neurons activate, the signal is read via EEG, sometimes with the addition of ECG and other sensors. The data is then processed using AI and interpreted. The resulting signals allow control of drones, computers, or robots.

In the case of tracking concentration, accuracy is quite high—up to 95%. For other metrics, such as stress levels, results are also good. However, accuracy decreases when sending specific commands, such as “up,” “down,” or other mental commands.

On the DeepTech Sector in the US

DeepTech is developing actively in the US. There are few technologies in the world capable of real competition—mainly the US, China, some parts of Europe, and Japan. Resources for hardware projects are limited: abroad, students often have to wait for equipment, whereas in the US, it is available immediately.

There is also a strong culture of support here—giving and non-profit initiatives. For example, I was offered free use of a laboratory in a neighboring city, created by the startup Neuralink. This practice is extremely rare outside the US and helps startups grow faster.

Competition is high, and startups appear constantly. Software projects are strong in San Francisco, while hardware competitors are more often located outside the US—in India, China, and Israel. China is particularly impressive in humanoid robotics: recently, a robot walked for 48 hours without stopping.

For me, San Francisco turned out to be the best option due to the opportunities. All key events take place here, and the best technical talents are concentrated here.

Palo Alto is better suited for those who are already established: there are millions and billions, you can open funds and develop projects. San Francisco, on the other hand, is oriented towards “hustlers” who are just starting out. Los Angeles is closer for people connected to the art industry and creative startups.

Moreover, there is well-developed infrastructure and startup support programs. For example, I participate in the Hacker House residency, where founders are gathered in one house: we communicate, share progress, help each other, and develop projects. This program is supported by Sam Altman, and I really like it.

On Investments

It all starts with strong technology and “warm” contacts. Investors look at the uniqueness of the solution and the real problem it solves, while personal connections often play a decisive role. For example, large funds like Founders Fund usually do not work with early-stage startups, but through acquaintances, it is possible to establish contact.

Many funds also hold closed events—there you can showcase the technology, build relationships, and create trust. The formula is simple: relationships plus a in-demand technology. It is also important to be present in public professional communities: if the product is strong, investors notice it quickly. I know of an example where a post about a startup on X received a million views and brought in $1 million in investments within a week.

As for investments, many have doubts—I encounter this constantly. But it all comes down to determination: resources are usually found. At the early stage, this is often the 3Fs—Family, Friends, Fools.

In my case, family played a major role. My mom supported me both morally and financially—she herself had entrepreneurial experience: she opened a clinic and did not earn money for the first six months. Such stories help form an understanding that the entrepreneurial path is not easy. Jeff Bezos, for instance, attracted his first capital from his parents—this is normal practice.

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

Plans

The closest and most clear goal is moving to The Residency House. Conditions are created there for efficient work and accelerated startup development. The program involves building relationships with potential investors, as well as access to a laboratory for testing technologies and attracting experts.

At the current stage, the key task is to attract Pre-Seed investments of up to $2 million to continue project development. After that, we can move on to more ambitious plans for production and scaling. There is already a partner in Los Angeles involved in manufacturing and possessing ITAR—the basic permit required for working with defense technologies. Without it, certification and sale of products in this sector are impossible.