One of Pittsburgh Inno’s 2022 Startups to Watch, Apollo Neuroscience, announced on Wednesday that it has appointed a new chief technology officer.
Alan Cannistraro will now step into the role, overseeing all global technological product advancements and leading the next evolution of Apollo Neuro technology. Apollo Neuroscience currently produces the Apollo, a wearable device that can improve sleep, resilience to stress, focus and calm.
Cannistraro was an early investor in Apollo Neuroscience, also serving as a product advisor to the company.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the way technology influences our moods and feelings. Since Apollo first launched, I have been using it regularly to help me focus, sleep, relax and socialize,” Cannistraro said. “My experience building user-centric software will help realize the tremendous possibilities of affective technology. I am blown-away by the growth, granted patents, and clinical validation that Apollo has achieved in such a short period of time.”
Cannistraro’s background includes a 12-year stint at Apple (NASDAQ: APPL), working directly with Steve Jobs and developing the first app in Apple’s App Store, called “Remote” which could control an iTunes library over Wi-Fi. Cannistraro also worked for Facebook, now Meta (NASDAQ: FB), helping to build and launch the company’s Creative Labs team in London. Afterwards, Cannistraro founded his own company, Rheo, a social video platform that asks users to describe their mood and then uses an algorithm to present users with short-form videos they can either watch or skip, all without a search function.
“It is an exquisitely rare moment when technologists, artists, clinicians and scientists unite on the same team,” said Kathryn Fantauzzi, CEO of Apollo Neuroscience, which she co-founded with her husband, David Rabin. “With Alan onboard, we’re poised to deliver on an entirely new way to think about the wearable that will change millions of lives for the better. I can’t wait for the world to experience what we’re building at Apollo Neuroscience.”
Apollo Neuroscience said that Cannistraro turned down executive positions at other tech companies “valued in the billions and trillions of dollars” in favor of joining Apollo Neuroscience.
"I've been part of two rocket-ships in my career, first at Apple under Steve, and at Facebook under Zuck, and I see the same magic ingredients coming together here with Kathryn and Dave,” Cannistraro said. “I’m excited to be part of this again."