What’s happening with EmSense?

Wondering what’s become of EmSense? Me too. The neuromarketing research firm was reported to be going through “a sales process” several months back but there’s been no word since September.

Sources reckon the sales process is still going on, though the business has ceased trading, its website has gone offline and most staff are reported to be in the market for new jobs. Former employees are said to be unburdened by any non-compete agreements as there is “no entity to enforce it”, according to one researcher who is keeping an eye on developments.

Meanwhile, a Linkedin group has been set up especially for “for the wonderful group of people who enjoyed working together as neuromarketing pioneers and want to stay in touch”, writes the group’s owner, EmSense chief analytics officer Elissa Moses.

Sources suggest an asset sale is the most likely outcome of the process the company is going through, with suggestions that there may well be multiple buyers. The EmBand neuromeasurement technology is the company’s own proprietary kit, so someone might look to acquire the IP. Others might be interested in the household panel the company was recruiting for in the months before it ceased trading. At its launch in April, the firm said that more than 2,000 homes had already been sent the EmBand technology to enable them to take part in neuromarketing research projects remotely.

We’ve contacted EmSense CEO Keith Winter for an update. More as we hear it.