Who We Are
At Higher Prana, we’re redefining mental performance. Our mission is to bring mental wellness and peak performance into the spotlight — making it as measurable, trainable, and vital as physical fitness. Backed by a world-class team of operators spanning neuroscience, defense, finance, and immersive media, we’re building experiences that don’t just relax the mind — they rewire it.
Our team combines deep expertise in sound engineering, neuroscience, cognitive science, multimodal technologies, and applied mental wellness across defense, sobriety support, and other high-impact sectors. With experience spanning both cutting-edge innovation and real-world implementation, we’re building transformative, accessible solutions for mental clarity, emotional resilience, and peak performance.
Team in Action
Founding Team
Akash Sud
Gabe Arrington
Gabe Arrington
Akash, Founder of Higher Prana and Chief Product Officer, is a former CPA with an MBA in Finance. After working across 40 M&A deals in technology consolidation, he faced severe burnout within the tech M&A space. In order to heal himself, Akash spent close to 10,000 hours over a decade teaching himself advanced level chord progressions an
Akash, Founder of Higher Prana and Chief Product Officer, is a former CPA with an MBA in Finance. After working across 40 M&A deals in technology consolidation, he faced severe burnout within the tech M&A space. In order to heal himself, Akash spent close to 10,000 hours over a decade teaching himself advanced level chord progressions and sound engineering. He isolated himself in Colorado during the pandemic and spent countless hours meditating, producing music and flying drones to make nature therapy videos that he layered in with his music. His Youtube Channel soon grew to over 50K in less than a year.
During this time Akash launched Higher Prana working with a team of Unity developers to create enchanting realms in VR. During this process Akash realized that the competitive advantage of a nation, including its military, lies in managing national physical and mental health. Economic competitiveness created by manipulating currency, interest rates and tariffs only go so far. To get jobs back America needs to create humans that are mentally and physically strong.
Gabe Arrington
Gabe Arrington
Gabe Arrington
Gabe leads as Co-Founder and CEO of Higher Prana, bringing over two decades of national security leadership. He is recognized for his ability to align emerging technologies, policy, and military strategy to deliver actionable innovation for national defense.
He led critical DoD transformation initiatives, including joint and interagency
Gabe leads as Co-Founder and CEO of Higher Prana, bringing over two decades of national security leadership. He is recognized for his ability to align emerging technologies, policy, and military strategy to deliver actionable innovation for national defense.
He led critical DoD transformation initiatives, including joint and interagency policy development, disruptive tech development, acquisitions, joint strategy, and pilot training modernization for the airforce. Gabe was responsible for establishing the $3 Billion DOD Program office. He further led the Virtual Reality Biometric feedback training program, saving the Air Force $350 million in Pilot Training costs. Also a MIT Seminar XXI and a National Defense Fellow.
Sam Andolina
Gabe Arrington
Sam Andolina
As Director of Business Operations, Sam leverages his MBA in Operations and deep roots in Austin’s startup ecosystem to guide high-impact technology initiatives. His experience spans leading development efforts across diverse and complex projects. He also has deep experience in the substance-abuse and recovery space, gaining practical in
As Director of Business Operations, Sam leverages his MBA in Operations and deep roots in Austin’s startup ecosystem to guide high-impact technology initiatives. His experience spans leading development efforts across diverse and complex projects. He also has deep experience in the substance-abuse and recovery space, gaining practical insight into care delivery, operations, and program management.
Passionate about immersive technology, Sam is driven by its potential to create meaningful, scalable impact—particularly in wellness, training, and healthcare. He has a proven ability to turn innovative ideas into actionable solutions, having successfully led the pilot program for Higher Prana, guiding its strategy, execution, and early adoption. Through his work, Sam combines technical expertise, operational insight, and strategic vision to deliver projects that truly make a difference.
Advisors
Berd.Rand Nepveu
Shannon Putman, Ph. D.
Shannon Putman, Ph. D.
Bertrand Nepveu is part of the team behind Apple Vision Pro, bringing decades of immersive-tech entrepreneurship to the platform. Innovation runs in his blood—his grandfather Ernest founded LAVO, maker of La Parisienne bleach. A lifelong gamer and technologist, Bertrand founded Vrvana in 2005, later pivoting from B2C to B2B and pioneering
Bertrand Nepveu is part of the team behind Apple Vision Pro, bringing decades of immersive-tech entrepreneurship to the platform. Innovation runs in his blood—his grandfather Ernest founded LAVO, maker of La Parisienne bleach. A lifelong gamer and technologist, Bertrand founded Vrvana in 2005, later pivoting from B2C to B2B and pioneering mixed reality and hand-tracking. Vrvana’s Totem headset won Best in Show at CES 2017 (Tom’s Hardware) and was later acquired by Apple. He also co-founded Triptyq Capital to support the next generation of creative-industry entrepreneurs.
Shannon Putman, Ph. D.
Shannon Putman, Ph. D.
Shannon Putman, Ph. D.
Dr. Shannon is an educator and researcher from Kentucky whose work bridges learning science and immersive technology. With a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville, she pioneered the use of virtual reality in K–12 classrooms, including launching one of the state’s first school-based VR labs.
Her work centers on
Dr. Shannon is an educator and researcher from Kentucky whose work bridges learning science and immersive technology. With a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville, she pioneered the use of virtual reality in K–12 classrooms, including launching one of the state’s first school-based VR labs.
Her work centers on making learning more engaging, equitable, and experiential by helping teachers and students use emerging technologies in practical, meaningful ways. She partners closely with schools and communities to ensure innovation supports real learning outcomes—not just novelty.
A true community all-star, Dr. Shannon is helping shape the next generation by expanding access to transformative technologies and preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital future.
Jon Macaskill
Shannon Putman, Ph. D.
Dr. Ramona von Leden
Jon Macaskill (pronounced Muh-KAS-kill) is a retired Navy SEAL Commander turned mindfulness teacher and leadership coach. During his 24-year Navy career, he served in multiple highly dynamic leadership positions, from the battlefield to the operations center and the board room. Jon's unconventional yet highly effective style of teaching
Jon Macaskill (pronounced Muh-KAS-kill) is a retired Navy SEAL Commander turned mindfulness teacher and leadership coach. During his 24-year Navy career, he served in multiple highly dynamic leadership positions, from the battlefield to the operations center and the board room. Jon's unconventional yet highly effective style of teaching leadership is fueled by his passion for helping people and organizations become the best versions of themselves. He takes what helped him excel in his professional life and heal in his personal life and now shares this through mindfulness coaching, grit and resilience training, and keynote speaking, all in the pursuit of helping others achieve their full potential.
Dr. Ramona von Leden
Dr. Ramona von Leden
Dr. Ramona von Leden
Ramona is a PhD Neuroscientist who worked at NeuFit Austin as their VP of Research & Education. She is also a Yoga Teacher with 18 yrs experience working in the health sciences, clinical programs, and education initiatives in neurological disease, rehabilitation, and healthy aging. She has successfully advanced medical technologies, secur
Ramona is a PhD Neuroscientist who worked at NeuFit Austin as their VP of Research & Education. She is also a Yoga Teacher with 18 yrs experience working in the health sciences, clinical programs, and education initiatives in neurological disease, rehabilitation, and healthy aging. She has successfully advanced medical technologies, securing research funding, and fostering collaborative partnerships across academia, healthcare, and industry.
Her dissertation was on Age related inflammation and how it impacts recovery from Spinal Cord Injury. Ramoma has also helped Expand Neufit into 20 additional sites and was a master instructor for their program. She has also been Invited to speak at national conferences annually through keynotes and exhibitions for industry, academia, and military. Ramona is also a 200 hr Registered Yoga Teacher who is passionate about using technology to help improve human function.
Nathan Bowser
Dr. Ramona von Leden
Nathan Bowser
Nathan is a senior cloud infrastructure architect and consutlant, he helps build scalable systems that power emerging technologies like VR, AR, and spatial computing.
With over 20 years of experience in cloud architecture and systems engineering, he specializes in designing high-performance environments that enable immersive experiences t
Nathan is a senior cloud infrastructure architect and consutlant, he helps build scalable systems that power emerging technologies like VR, AR, and spatial computing.
With over 20 years of experience in cloud architecture and systems engineering, he specializes in designing high-performance environments that enable immersive experiences to run securely and efficiently at scale. Nathan’s deep technical background and passion for next-generation computing make him a key driver in bringing immersive wellness and performance technologies to life.
Our Partners
