Dave Asprey, often dubbed the “Father of Biohacking,” stands as a pivotal figure in the cognitive biohacking movement, particularly relevant for Neurohub.bio’s Expert Coaches category in 2025.
His journey from a tech executive to a biohacking icon exemplifies the potential of self-experimentation and innovation in enhancing brain function, focus, memory, and mental resilience.
Below is a detailed biography and profile, highlighting his background, contributions, and current impact, with a focus on cognitive enhancement.
Early Life and Career
Born in 1973, Dave Asprey’s early career was rooted in technology, holding executive roles at companies like Trend Micro, Blue Coat Systems, and Citrix Systems. His technical background, including teaching internet engineering at UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, provided a data-driven foundation for his later biohacking endeavors. This experience shaped his approach to using technology and science to optimize human biology, particularly the brain.
Asprey’s personal health challenges, including weight gain and cognitive fog, drove him to explore biohacking. A transformative trip to Tibet in 2003, where he consumed yak butter tea and experienced a cognitive boost, marked the beginning of his biohacking journey. This led to the creation of Bulletproof Coffee, a blend of coffee, grass-fed butter, and MCT oil, designed to provide sustained energy and mental clarity, which he claims enhances cognitive performance.
Rise to Prominence
In 2013, Asprey founded Bulletproof 360, Inc., launching Bulletproof Coffee, which became a global phenomenon. The Bulletproof Diet, detailed in his 2014 book The Bulletproof Diet, emphasizes high-fat, low-carb nutrition to optimize brain function and physical health, supported by research on ketosis and cognitive benefits (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2018). This diet has been widely adopted by biohackers for its purported effects on focus and memory.
Asprey’s influence expanded through authorship, with four New York Times bestsellers, including Head Strong (2017), which focuses on brain optimization through biohacking techniques like neurofeedback, meditation, and nootropics. His podcast, The Human Upgrade (formerly Bulletproof Radio), a Webby award winner with over 200 million downloads, features interviews with neuroscience experts, making cognitive biohacking accessible to a broad audience. His blog, with millions of monthly unique visitors, further disseminates practical guides on brain enhancement.
In 2017, Asprey founded Upgrade Labs, a network of biohacking facilities offering tools like cryotherapy, neurofeedback, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These facilities focus on cognitive enhancement, with neurofeedback being a key method to train brainwave patterns for improved focus and relaxation (Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019). His public speaking engagements, featured on The Today Show, CNN, and The New York Times, have solidified his status as a thought leader, spreading the gospel of biohacking to millions.
Key Contributions to Cognitive Biohacking
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Bulletproof Coffee and Diet: Popularized using dietary fats for cognitive fuel, claiming benefits like sustained energy, improved focus, and reduced brain fog. The diet’s high-fat, low-carb approach is supported by research on ketosis enhancing brain function (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2018). (Bulletproof.com)
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Books and Publications: Head Strong (2017) provides a framework for brain optimization, covering neurofeedback, meditation, and nootropics. The Bulletproof Diet (2014) integrates diet with cognitive enhancement, making it a staple for biohackers.
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Podcasting and Education: The Human Upgrade podcast, with over 200 million downloads, explores nootropics, neurofeedback, and wearable tech, featuring experts like Andrew Huberman and Rhonda Patrick. His blog offers weekly biohacking tips, focusing on cognitive performance and sleep (daveasprey.com, 2025).
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Upgrade Labs: Offers EEG-based neurofeedback, a key cognitive biohacking tool, to train brainwaves for focus and relaxation. Asprey’s advocacy has made neurofeedback accessible for improving attention and mental performance (Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019).
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Wearable Tech Advocacy: Asprey is an early adopter of devices like the Oura Ring for sleep optimization and Whoop for HRV tracking, integrating them into his protocols. He emphasizes data-driven insights for personalizing cognitive enhancement strategies (daveasprey.com, 2025).
2025 Updates and Current Projects
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Biohacking Conference 2025: Asprey is hosting and speaking at the 11th Annual Biohacking Conference (May 28–30, Austin, TX), where he will deliver keynotes on AI-driven health optimization and host exclusive VIP dinners with top speakers (biohackingconference.com/2025, 2025). This event continues to foster the global biohacking community, focusing on cognitive enhancement.
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AI and Cognitive Enhancement: Asprey is exploring AI-driven tools for personalized biohacking, including advanced neurofeedback protocols and predictive analytics for cognitive health, aligning with 2025 trends in wearable tech (spikeapi.com, 2024).
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Danger Coffee: His latest venture, launched in 2023, focuses on high-quality, performance-enhancing coffee blends tailored for biohackers, emphasizing cognitive fuel (daveasprey.com, 2025).
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40 Years of Zen: Asprey’s meditation app, launched in 2024, integrates mindfulness with biohacking for stress reduction and focus enhancement, complementing his cognitive optimization strategies (daveasprey.com, 2025).
Impact on the Biohacking Community
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Community Building: Through events like the Biohacking Conference, Asprey connects enthusiasts with experts, fostering a global network (biohackingconference.com/2025, 2025).
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Trendsetting: His advocacy for nootropics, neurofeedback, and wearable tech has driven interest in these areas, shaping the biohacking landscape.
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Public Reach: With over 200 million podcast downloads and millions of monthly blog visitors, Asprey’s content reaches a wide audience, spreading cognitive biohacking principles (daveasprey.com, 2025).
Why Dave Asprey Matters for Cognitive Biohacking
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Focus on Brain Optimization: His protocols target memory, focus, and mental resilience through diet, tech, and lifestyle changes, aligning with Neurohub.bio’s mission.
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Scientific Rigor: He combines personal experimentation with research-backed methods, ensuring credibility (Nutritional Neuroscience, 2017; Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020).
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Practical Applications: His tools and strategies are actionable, making him a go-to resource for biohackers seeking to enhance cognitive performance.
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Contribution
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Description
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Impact on Cognitive Biohacking
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|---|---|---|
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Bulletproof Coffee/Diet
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High-fat, low-carb nutrition for sustained energy and focus
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Enhances cognitive fuel, reduces brain fog
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Books (
Head Strong
, etc.)
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Guides on brain optimization via neurofeedback, nootropics, meditation
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Provides frameworks for cognitive enhancement
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The Human Upgrade
Podcast
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Over 200M downloads, featuring neuroscience experts
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Educates on cognitive hacks, reaches global audience
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Upgrade Labs
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Facilities offering neurofeedback, cryotherapy for brain training
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Makes advanced cognitive tools accessible
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Wearable Tech Advocacy
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Promotes Oura Ring, Whoop for sleep and HRV tracking
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Integrates data-driven insights for cognitive health
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Dave Asprey’s journey from tech executive to biohacking icon exemplifies the potential of self-experimentation and innovation in cognitive enhancement. His work continues to inspire and guide biohackers worldwide, making him an indispensable figure in the field.
For anyone looking to upgrade their brain and body, Asprey’s insights and tools are invaluable resources, aligning perfectly with Neurohub.bio’s focus on cognitive optimization.