Chinese brain–computer interface startup Gestala has raised $21.6 million (about CN¥150 million) only two months after its launch, noted founder and CEO Phoenix Peng. According to TechCrunch, Peng said the funding round values the company between $100 million and $200 million.
Peng, a serial entrepreneur in China, is pursuing brain–computer interface development through two ventures: NeuroXess, which develops implantable BCI systems, while Gestala is dedicated to non-invasive interfaces that rely on ultrasound technology. The efforts come as U.S. companies including Elon Musk’s Neuralink and OpenAI-backed Merge Labs continue advancing similar technologies.
Investor demand significantly exceeded the amount sought, with commitments totaling more than $58 million, Peng said.
The deal marks the biggest early-stage funding round so far in China’s brain–computer interface industry. The capital will help grow the team from 15 to about 35 employees by the end of the year, support R&D, and fund the construction of a manufacturing facility in China. Gestala expects to complete its first-generation prototype later this year.
Globally, investment in BCI technologies has been rising, especially when it comes to ultrasound technology. This is the first ultrasound BCI company in China.
According to Peng ultrasound may become the next generation of brain–computer interface technology, offering the possibility of broader access to brain activity and new ways to interact with neural signals. Its possible that the non-invasive ultrasound could reduce the risks associated with brain surgery. The ultrasound technology can monitor larger areas of the brain, including deeper neural circuits. Also using phased-array ultrasound, the system can precisely stimulate or inhibit neural activity without requiring surgical procedures, he explained.
The company is also investigating potential uses in mental health conditions such as depression, autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and even stroke rehabilitation. Some of the longer-term targets include Alzheimer’s disease, essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.
Gestala is collaborating with major Chinese hospitals to fast-track clinical trials at substantially reduced costs, estimated at just 20% to 33% of comparable research in the U.S. or Europe. The company is also building “Ultrasound Brain Bank” — a large clinical dataset aimed at training AI models to decode brain activity and aid future neurological diagnostics.
Despite increasing geopolitical tensions, Peng said he hopes researchers in the U.S. and China will collaborate on deep-technology development.
Both countries bring different strengths,
Peng said.
China offers large-scale clinical research capacity and efficient supply chains, while the U.S. has world-class scientific talent.
He added that joint initiatives could also focus on developing large clinical datasets to advance global neuroscience research.
Image: Phoenix Peng LinkedIn profile, Edited – 12.03.2026
