tech week – ruchella kock

photographer: julia powalacz© | make-up artist: dirkje visser from art of colors agency

ruchella kock(she/her)

co-founder and cto at axite b.v.

about

i am the co-founder and cto of axite, where we help people understand their brain health and take charge of their well-being. my path here was not straightforward. convinced i was not cut out for math or tech, i began studying psychology and neuroscience, only to discover a love for data. with the support of inspiring mentors, i pursued a master’s in data science, followed by a phd at the intersection of neuroscience and data science. along the way, i became an entrepreneur committed to bringing science into people’s everyday lives. the resilience that drives me today was forged in aruba, growing up in an all-women household where resilience and hard work were essential. my grandmother taught herself carpentry and plumbing to keep the house standing, my mother worked long hours, and my sister began working at fifteen while finishing school. from them, i learned that success takes many forms, a lesson i carry into everything i do.

what qualities do you think are essential for success?

success comes from a stubborn refusal to accept that i cannot do something. my small actions do have an impact, whether the impact is just giving myself peace of mind, moving one tiny pebble in the world, or inspiring others to act. it takes resilience and discipline when the odds are against you, the courage to grow beyond what you once thought you could not do, and the willingness to learn and be inspired by those who lift you higher. above all, it’s about not letting the odds stop you from going all in for what you believe in.

axite b.v.

at axite, we are redefining how brain health is monitored. instead of relying on sporadic clinical tests, our technology enables continuous measurement of brain activity in daily life, capturing how cognitive functions change throughout the day. by combining wearable eeg with smartphone behavior, we bring brain monitoring out of the lab and into the real world, making invisible neural patterns visible and actionable.

we are a 100% female-founded team driven by a mission to create impact far beyond ourselves. science is at our core, but so is being quirky as we build solutions that truly matter. we believe technology should not only advance research, but also empower people to better understand themselves. at axite, we’re proving that innovation can be led with energy, inclusivity, and a fresh perspective.

powered by gemeente leiden

de gemeente leiden maakt samen met inwoners, ondernemers en andere partijen een steeds mooiere plek van leiden en de leidse regio. het stimuleren van ondernemerschap is belangrijk voor gemeente leiden. we werken daarvoor onder andere samen met unlock_ van plnt leiden. om het belang van ondernemerschap en het leiden bio science park verder uit te dragen heeft gemeente leiden een aantal onderneemsters vanuit dit incubatorprogramma genomineerd voor de rolmodellencampagne.