Dr. Amy Kruse

Dr. Amy Kruse is a neuroscientist, investor, and innovation leader whose career spans government defense research, applied neuroscience, and venture capital. Kruse serves as chief investment officer of Satori Neuro, a stage-agnostic fund focused on mental health, neurotechnology, and human performance. She leverages her experience as a neuroscientist, operator, and government program manager, along with her network of industry relationships, to identify companies addressing mental health, brain health, and wellness challenges and opportunities. Kruse supports Satori Neuro's portfolio companies as they develop therapeutics and treatments, including psychedelic medicine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, virtual and augmented reality protocols, and non-invasive brainwave devices.

Kruse began her career at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where she created and managed the agency's first performance-oriented neuroscience programs. Her work contributed to scientific advancements in augmented cognition, accelerated learning, optimized imagery analysis, team neurodynamics, and neuromodulation. She coined the term Operational Neuroscience. Her efforts on the Accelerated Learning Program led to methods that emulate expert brain patterns, reducing the time required for novices to acquire new skills, which is vital for troop readiness. These programs enhanced individual and team performance in the U.S. military and intelligence community.

After her tenure at the agency, Kruse held leadership roles in the private sector. She served as vice president and chief technology officer of Cubic Global Defense, overseeing research and development programs that expanded the company's product portfolio. She then served as chief scientific officer of Optios, an applied neuroscience research organization focused on translating neuroscience discoveries into practical tools for human enhancement. At Optios, Kruse built the scientific vision, initiated projects, and completed acquisitions that strengthened the company's intellectual property portfolio. Before joining Satori Neuro, she was a general partner at Prime Movers Lab, leading life sciences investments in human augmentation and longevity.

Kruse is active in the scientific and policy communities. She is a founding member of the Loomis Innovation Council at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., a guest lecturer for Singularity University, and a frequent contributor to defense panels and advisory boards for organizations including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Academies, and Defense Science Board. She is a member of the external oversight committee for the NIH Blueprint MedTech program, an advisor to the BrainMind ecosystem and Capital Factory in Texas, and a mentor to the OneMind Accelerator. Kruse is the author of numerous scientific papers, chapters, and articles.

Kruse earned a Bachelor of Science in cell and structural biology and a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship. Her background in neuroscience, government program management, and venture capital positions her at the intersection of neuroscience, technology, and human performance.