“I've always been a tech girl with a mathematical mind”

Samaher Garbaya, co-founder and chief operations officer of neurotechnology solutions company Myelin H, quit her 9 to 5 job to create the company in 2021. “I find it very rewarding and impactful,” she explains.

With two master's degrees in machine learning and space technology, how did you become a tech entrepreneur?

From the beginning, I've always been a tech girl with a mathematical mind. Despite coming from a medical family - all my family members are pharmacists and doctors - I've always been curious about tech, artificial intelligence and space technologies. I pursued my first master's degree in applied mathematics, signal processing, and machine learning, and later ventured into space technologies and business at the University of Luxembourg.

I met my co-founder and now life partner, Dr. Zied Tayeb, as a student. I was using some of his published work and later contacted him for assistance. After hearing his personal story, I was really inspired, and together we decided to launch Myelin-H. Besides his mother, many of my friends also suffer from multiple sclerosis. With our brain health monitoring technology, we aim to bring solutions to market not only for multiple sclerosis but also for various other brain diseases worldwide. So, this is where our journey began. I decided to quit my secure 9 to 5 job, and we moved to Luxembourg to start the company in mid-2021. It's been a fascinating adventure, and every day we feel the impact and potential of our work.

Why did you leave a secure job to create a company? And how did you manage this transition?

While working in a financial company with a good salary and a strong position as a junior engineer, my research background positioned me well from the start. However, I believed in the story, the impact of our work, and the potential, especially alongside a great co-founder. This is what drove me. Building something together, being complementary, sharing a vision and mission, and knowing we are poised to create the next big thing, makes it a unique experience. It's not easy to put all your life in one basket, as my co-founder is also my life partner, but this is our project, our baby.

Now, as the chief operations officer, I find myself working more and more on the management and the business side of things. I did a lot of trainings and online courses on these areas. We are also very lucky that we joined different international incubators. We started with Fit 4 Start, but after that we also joined different incubators like Starburst and Imec, and all this has helped me a lot. I also trained in the female founder accelerator Vantage in London for about four months to develop my business knowledge. Now I feel that I have a mixed background, not just that “techie girl” but one with knowledge of the managerial and technical aspects.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a co-founder?

 Starting a brain-machine interface company in Europe presents numerous challenges. Fundraising, although challenging, has been successful with support from our investors from five different continents worldwide. It is always a very difficult exercise to raise money for early-stage startups, especially in deep technology. I have worked with my co-founder on this a lot, and once you know how to do it right, it gets better. Recruitment, particularly attracting top international talent to Luxembourg, and navigating healthcare regulations is also challenging.

What professional decision from your past experiences are you most proud of?

Leaving my 9 to 5 job in a finance company to join my co-founder and create Myelin-H is a key moment for me. Despite its challenges, I find it very rewarding and impactful. We have now grown to a team of 12 people. Our tech and management team comprises of women and individuals from over 10 different nationalities and representing various cultures and religions. This differentiation brings new and different points of views and has enriched our creativity. Diversity and inclusion are part of our core values. It is very important to have diverse teams and not just one nationality. The focus is of course on talent, but talent exists in all nationalities.

What advice would you give aspiring female entrepreneurs, especially those looking to enter the tech and space industries?

I would tell them to be resilient. Don't be afraid of starting what you feel that you're capable of. Create your startup, and if you have a good co-founding team, you can build your mission and vision together. There are many examples of women who did it, so follow your dream.