Dan Cohen - Neurologist, Inventor & Serial Entrepreneur | The Hidden Link Between Sleep and Success

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References & Resources

Dr. Daniel Cohen

Neurologist, Inventor & Serial Entrepreneur

Dr. Daniel Cohen, a neurologist and serial entrepreneur, discusses his journey from medicine to founding successful companies like CNS, Inc. (makers of Breathe Right®) and Soltec Health. The episode delves into the critical link between sleep and success, the importance of deep sleep for cognitive health, and the entrepreneurial challenges of product development and intellectual property.

Key Topics

Entrepreneurial JourneyProduct Development & CommercializationSleep and Neurodegenerative ConditionsIntellectual Property (IP)Soltec Health and Future Vision

Companies & Organizations

Soltec Health

Co-founded to study the healing effect of magnetic waveforms on sleep and neurodegenerative conditions.

CNS, Inc.

Co-founded and managed until its acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline for $566M. Known for Breathe Right® nasal strips and FiberChoice™ supplements.

Show Notes

Dr. Daniel Cohen is a neurologist and serial entrepreneur. He co-founded Soltec Health to study the healing effect of magnetic waveforms on sleep and neurodegenerative conditions. Previously, Dr. Cohen co-founded and managed CNS, Inc. until it was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2006 for $566M. CNS, a developer and marketer of hi-tech medical products (brainwave monitors and sleep disorders diagnostic equipment) was best known for its consumer products, the Breathe Right® nasal strip and the FiberChoice™ chewable fiber supplement.He holds numerous patents related to EEG and sleep analysis algorithms and devices and additional utility patents related to synchronized sound, vibration and electro-magnetic fields. Dr. Cohen has a BS from Penn State University and received his MD from Temple Medical School with high distinction. His training is in Neurology at the University of Minnesota and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

➡️ Talking Points

00:00 — Intro

02:43 — Doctor Turned Entrepreneur

07:57 — Dan’s First Business Fail

23:01 — Spotting a Winning Product

25:14 — Taking a Product to Market

33:45 — Selling to a Public Company

35:09 — Life After the Big Win

36:55 — Starting Soltec vs CNS

38:40 — 17 Years Without a Product?

45:23 — Stress & Sleep: The Connection

47:01 — Why IP Matters

55:17 — Tips for New Entrepreneurs

1:02:30 — Dan’s Vision for the Future

1:06:48 — The Stages of Sleep

1:08:00 — Deep Sleep vs. Stress

1:13:10 — Deep Sleep & Cognitive Health

1:18:12 — How Much Deep Sleep Do You Need?

1:25:33 — What’s Next for Dan Cohen?

1:29:30 — Advice to My Younger Self