Chinese brain–computer interface startup Gestala has raised $21.6 million in fresh funding just two months after launching, highlighting growing global interest in next-generation neurotechnology.
The company, founded by entrepreneur Phoenix Peng, is focused on developing non-invasive ultrasound-based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) designed to interact with neural activity without requiring surgery.
Major Funding Round and Investor Support
Gestala’s 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.
According to Peng, the round valued the startup between $100 million and $200 million and attracted strong investor interest. Total commitments exceeded $58 million, making the round heavily oversubscribed.
The funding marks one of the largest early-stage investments in China’s BCI industry, signaling increasing confidence in emerging neurotechnology companies.
Competing in the Global BCI Race
The brain–computer interface industry is rapidly advancing worldwide, with major initiatives underway in the United States and China.
In the U.S., companies like Neuralink—founded by Elon Musk—and Merge Labs, backed by OpenAI, are pushing forward with implantable neural interface technologies.
Meanwhile, Peng is building competing efforts through two companies: NeuroXess, which develops implantable BCI systems, and Gestala, which focuses on non-invasive alternatives using ultrasound technology.
Focus on Research and Development
Gestala plans to use the new funding to accelerate research and development, expand its workforce, and establish manufacturing capabilities.
The startup intends to grow its team from 15 employees to around 35 by the end of the year. It also plans to build a manufacturing facility in China and complete its first-generation prototype within the next few months.
Ultrasound Technology and the Future of BCIs
The global BCI sector is seeing increasing investment in ultrasound-based technologies, which researchers believe could enable more flexible and safer brain interfaces.
Gestala is currently the first ultrasound-based BCI startup in China, though similar companies have already appeared in the United States.
According to Peng, ultrasound-based systems could represent the next generation of BCI technology. Unlike traditional implanted electrodes, ultrasound methods can interact with larger areas of the brain, including deep neural circuits.
Using phased-array ultrasound, the system can precisely stimulate or suppress neural activity without the need for surgical implants. This approach could help overcome one of the biggest challenges in BCI adoption: the risks associated with brain surgery.
Growing Investment in Neurotechnology
As brain–computer interface research continues to accelerate, startups worldwide are exploring both implantable and non-invasive technologies.
With strong investor backing and ambitious development plans, Gestala aims to play a significant role in the evolving neurotechnology landscape while helping advance safer and more accessible brain–computer interfaces.
