In the rapidly evolving fields of neuroscience and cognitive health, there’s a growing need for tools that make invisible processes visible—tools that capture what’s happening in the brain with precision and practicality. That’s exactly where Carolina Instruments comes in.
A spinout from UNC Chapel Hill, Carolina Instruments is developing wearable, camera-free eye-tracking technology that delivers real-time cognitive and physiological insights. With applications in psychiatry, neurology, and cognitive health, the technology also holds promise for secondary markets like VR/AR, defense, and automotive, where real-time biometric and gaze data can enhance safety and performance.
At the heart of this venture is Ellora (Ellie) McTaggart, who transformed her early work in a university research lab into a pioneering startup. Alongside her co-founders, Dr. Nicolas Pegard and Dr. Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera, she’s taking eye-tracking beyond bulky, light-sensitive systems and into a new era of scalable, practical diagnostics.
👉 As part of the RIoT Accelerator Program, Carolina Instruments is building momentum and charting a bold path forward. Stay connected with their journey—and discover how this pioneering team is shaping the future of cognitive health.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Q1: Could you tell us a little bit about your company?
Carolina Instruments is a spinout from research labs at UNC Chapel Hill, created out of a collaboration between a behavioral neuroscience lab and an optical engineering lab. Together, we developed a wearable, camera-free method for measuring pupil size and eye motion with high precision. In neuroscience, these signals are well-established indicators of cognitive state and neural processes. By detecting subtle changes in eye movement, this technology could support earlier and more effective treatments for conditions like autism, ADHD, and Parkinson’s.
My co-founders, Dr. Nicolas Pegard and Dr. Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera, are UNC faculty researchers who leverage eye-tracking in their research but grew frustrated with the limitations of current camera-based systems. Existing tools are bulky, overly sensitive to lighting, and prone to gaps in collected data. They began developing a new approach to overcome these challenges, and I joined their labs to engineer the early prototypes.
What started as a tool for our own experiments has grown into something much bigger. Traditional camera-based systems are bulky, overly sensitive to lighting, and prone to missing data. Our approach overcomes those barriers, giving researchers new possibilities for experimentation while expanding potential applications into clinical diagnostics, human performance, and human-computer interaction. Our mission is clear: make wearable eye-tracking practical and scalable so researchers can push beyond current limits and uncover deeper insights into the brain.
Q2: What inspired you to start your own company?
My path into entrepreneurship was unexpected. I studied biomedical engineering because I wanted to create technology with a real impact. That direction sharpened when I attended a lecture by my now co-founder, Dr. Nicolas Pegard, and joined his lab to work on the early versions of our pupil-tracking system.
At one point, I faced a pivotal choice: pursue a PhD and continue my academic path, or test whether our technology could have broader value. Through the NC State I-Corps program, I spoke with dozens of researchers and learned just how much the neuroscience community needed a better solution. That was the turning point.
Leading Carolina Instruments wasn’t something I imagined in college, but I embraced the challenge. I realized that by stepping into entrepreneurship, I could bring this innovation beyond our lab and into the hands of researchers and clinicians who need it most.
Q3: What previous experiences influence your role today?
As a researcher, I often asked what others might consider “dumb” questions. That curiosity led to unexpected insights and shaped how I approach challenges today. I also made a habit of seeking perspectives outside my immediate field, which broadened my thinking and eventually guided me toward entrepreneurship.
In building Carolina Instruments, I’ve leaned on those same habits—staying curious, asking questions, and learning from others. The NC startup ecosystem has been an incredible resource, full of people willing to share their expertise. Listening carefully and tapping into that knowledge has given me confidence in making informed decisions and moving the company forward.
Q4: What are the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as a startup founder this far, and how did you overcome them?
Like many founders, I’ve faced challenges like refining our pitch, extending our runway, and balancing long hours. But a more personal challenge has been stepping into this space as a young female founder. At networking events, I often see surprised looks when I introduce myself as a biotech founder—it’s a reminder that there still aren’t many people who look like me in these rooms and the same is true for other underrepresented groups in these rooms.
Instead of letting that discourage me, I use it as motivation. I lean into what I do best: building genuine connections. By asking others about their skills, journeys, and goals, I naturally create space to share my own story. Not everyone will be convinced, and that’s okay. The ones who see my drive often become my strongest supporters. This challenge has ultimately pushed me to form deeper, more meaningful relationships that continue to fuel both my personal and professional growth.
Q5: Do you have any mentors or role models who have inspired you while you have been building your business?
It would honestly be easier to name the people who haven’t inspired me. I’ve been fortunate to build a network of mentors across the NC entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially women who’ve paved the way in spaces where representation is limited. Having such a variety of perspectives has been transformative—it’s helped me see situations from multiple angles and trust my own judgment when advice conflicts.
Since starting Carolina Instruments, I have built a network of mentors from all kinds of backgrounds, and that variety has been transformative. It helps me see situations from multiple angles and, just as importantly, pushes me to trust my own judgment when advice conflicts. The guidance I’ve received has not only shaped my growth as a leader but also helped set the direction of the company.
Earlier in my career, I often mirrored the thinking of those around me. But leading a company requires more: weighing perspectives, making informed calls, and owning the decisions. My mentors have been invaluable in helping me grow into that kind of leader. And now, I’m excited to pay it forward—mentoring others and strengthening the same community that has given me so much.
Q6: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and future startup founders based on your own experiences and lessons learned?
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to listen—really listen—to people. Whether it’s peers, mentors, or especially customers, their insights can reveal needs and solutions you wouldn’t see on your own. No amount of hard work can save a product without true market pull.
It’s also important to prepare for the ups and downs. Some days will test your limits, and others will remind you exactly why you started. The key is finding balance. For me, that means skateboarding, biking, or hiking with my dog—not to excel at them, but simply because they make me smile. Grit fuels progress, but balance keeps it sustainable.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
👉 Why it matters: Carolina Instruments is reimagining what’s possible in neuroscience and cognitive health by making eye-tracking technology practical, precise, and scalable. Under Ellie McTaggart’s leadership, the company is pushing beyond academic labs into applications that could transform how we diagnose and treat neurological conditions—and how we understand human performance more broadly.
But this story is about more than just technology. It matters that Carolina Instruments is led by a young female founder. In a field still dominated by older, male leadership, Ellie’s journey expands what biotech leadership looks like. Her path challenges stereotypes, inspires the next generation of diverse founders, and proves that groundbreaking science can come from those bold enough to take the road less traveled.
Follow Their Journey
Website: carolina-instruments.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carolina-instruments/