Brain-computer interface (BCI) startup Gestala has raised $21.6 million (around CN¥150 million) just two months after its launch, marking one of the largest early-stage funding rounds in China’s emerging brain-technology sector. The funding values the company between $100 million and $200 million and was co-led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture, with participation from investors including Tsing Song Capital, Gobi Ventures, Fourier Intelligence, Liepin, and Seas Capital.
Gestala was founded by serial entrepreneur Phoenix Peng, who is also the founder of NeuroXess, a company known for developing implantable brain-computer interface systems. While NeuroXess focuses on invasive neural implants that require surgical procedures, Gestala is developing a non-invasive alternative that uses ultrasound technology to interact with the brain without the need for surgery.
Traditional brain-computer interfaces typically rely on electrodes implanted in the brain to capture electrical signals from neurons. Gestala’s approach instead uses focused ultrasound waves to stimulate or suppress neural activity. This method could allow researchers to access deeper regions of the brain while avoiding the medical risks and complexity associated with invasive brain surgery.
The company believes that ultrasound technology could represent the next generation of BCI systems. Compared to implant-based devices that can only record signals from limited areas of the brain, ultrasound-based methods have the potential to interact with broader neural networks and deeper brain circuits. This could open new possibilities for monitoring brain activity and influencing neural functions without physically entering the brain.
Gestala plans to use the newly raised capital to accelerate research and development, expand its workforce, and build its first manufacturing facility in China. The company currently has a small team of around 15 employees and plans to grow to approximately 35 by the end of the year. It is also targeting the completion of a first-generation prototype device by the end of 2026.
Initially, the company is focusing on medical applications, particularly in the field of chronic pain management. Early research suggests that targeted ultrasound stimulation of specific brain regions involved in pain processing may help reduce pain levels. In addition to pain management, the startup is exploring potential applications in neurological and mental health conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, stroke recovery, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and essential tremor.
Alongside device development, Gestala is also working to build what it calls an “Ultrasound Brain Bank,” a large clinical dataset designed to train artificial intelligence systems to better interpret brain signals. The company believes that such datasets could support the development of advanced AI models capable of improving neurological diagnosis and enabling more precise brain-computer interaction technologies.
The investment highlights the growing global interest in brain-computer interface technologies, as companies and researchers explore new ways to enable communication between the human brain and machines. Non-invasive approaches such as ultrasound are increasingly gaining attention as they offer the possibility of safer, scalable, and more accessible brain-technology solutions.
 startup Gestala has raised $21.6 million (around CN¥150 million) just two months after its launch, marking...){kind=link}