Gestala, a Chinese brain interface startup, has raised $21.6 million just two months after launching, at a valuation of $100 million to $200 million, founder and CEO Phoenix Peng told TechCrunch.
Gestala is developing non-invasive ultrasound-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), rivaling efforts by Elon Musk’s Neuralink and OpenAI-backed Merge Labs in the U.S. The funding round was co-led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture, with participation from Tsing Song Capital, Gobi Ventures, Fourier Intelligence, Liepin, and Seas Capital.
The company plans to use the funds for R&D, expanding its team, and building a manufacturing facility in China. Gestala aims to complete its first-generation prototype by the end of the year, with a focus on chronic pain management and other medical applications.
The Funding Round
The round was heavily oversubscribed, with investor commitments totaling more than $58 million. This is the largest early-stage funding in China’s BCI industry, according to Peng.
Gestala’s advantage over global rivals comes down to speed and scale, leveraging China’s integrated manufacturing ecosystem to move from development to production faster than international competitors.
Product Details
Gestala’s non-invasive ultrasound technology can monitor a larger portion of the brain, including deep neural circuits, and precisely stimulate or suppress neural activity without the need for surgery. The company is exploring several uses for its tech, including chronic pain management, mental health conditions, and stroke rehabilitation.
Market Context
The global BCI industry is experiencing an investment surge in ultrasound technology, with several startups emerging in the U.S. in recent years. Gestala is the first ultrasound BCI company in China, and its funding round marks a significant milestone in the country’s brain-computer interface industry.
As reported by TechCrunch, the BCI industry is rapidly advancing, with companies like Neuralink and Merge Labs pushing forward with innovative technologies. Gestala’s funding round is a notable development in this space, and the company’s focus on non-invasive ultrasound technology could potentially address one of the biggest barriers to BCI adoption: the risks associated with brain surgery.
