The First Cognitive Vital Sign
You'll Actually Use
A daily ritual for your mind, not a task. No scores. No judgment. Just presence.
The Core Insight
We’re not building a better cognitive test. We’re building the first one people will live with, day after day, year after year. Measurement isn’t the challenge. Ritual is. And ritual is what creates truth in the data..
Physical Separation
Not another app. A dedicated device on your nightstand that creates ritual through presence. It's part of your morning, like your coffee. No notifications, no distractions.
Under 5 Minutes
Brief enough to fit naturally into existing routines, yet active enough to measure reaction time, memory, and focus precisely.
No Daily Scores
Gentle ambient light feedback removes performance anxiety. Longitudinal data is there when you want it, but the daily experience is judgment-free.
Premium Materiality
Copper-aggregate concrete and brass. An heirloom wellness tool you'll display, not a plastic gadget you'll hide. Designed to age with you.
The Daily Ritual
Approach The Totem glows softly, inviting you.
Unlock Tap your personal pattern.
Respond LEDs flash, you press buttons.
Complete Warm vibration, satisfying thud.
A Different Kind of Tracking
| Feature | Status Quo (Apps) | Totem |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement Model | Apps compete for attention | Dedicated physical ritual |
| Measurement Frequency | Annual (too late) or Passive (shallow) | Daily active trend lines |
| Psychology | Score anxiety & Gamification | Tactile satisfaction, No scores |
| Habit Formation | "Brain training" feels like work | Designed for life, not distraction |
Why We Built This
"I've spent my life tracking what matters: running and lifting PRs, body metrics, sleep scores. I know that what gets measured gets improved. But watching my grandfather fade into Alzheimer's, I realized we have no '5K time' for our minds. No baseline. No trajectory."
I built Totem to change that. Drawing on 15 years building software at scale (Product at Google and Verily) and my roots as a mechanical engineer (GE Aviation, Columbia), I wanted to create a tool that gives us agency.
I want to get sharper, not just avoid getting worse. I want my dad to have tools, not just fears. And I want my kids to have a baseline that starts now.
Join the Founding Members
Be among the first 250 people to own a Totem.
Early access, founder pricing under $300, numbered device.