Barely two months after launching, China-based brain-computer interface startup Gestala has closed a $21.6m (CN¥150m) seed round. The round, co-led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture and supported by investors who committed more than $58m in total, values the company in a founder-stated range of $100m–$200m; founder and CEO Phoenix Peng says the funds will be used for R&D, a manufacturing facility in China and to grow the team from about 15 to roughly 35 by year-end as Gestala races to finish a first‑generation prototype ahead of clinical tests for chronic pain.
Fast funding, fast timeline
Gestala's $21.6m seed round is one of the largest early-stage raises yet in China’s BCI sector. The round was heavily oversubscribed, with investors committing more than $58m in total. The round was co-led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture, with participation from:
- Tsing Song Capital
- Gobi Ventures
- Fourier Intelligence
- Liepin
- Seas Capital
The cash arrived barely two months after Gestala launched. Peng told reporters the startup will expand headcount from roughly 15 employees to about 35 by year-end and aims to complete its first-generation prototype in the same timeframe.
Ultrasound as a non-invasive route
Gestala is developing an ultrasound-based system intended to stimulate—and eventually read—brain activity without surgery. The company says ultrasound can pass through the skull to access deep neural circuits that surface electrode arrays cannot, while modulating activity across larger regions.
Rather than measuring electrical neural signals, Gestala’s method focuses on blood-flow changes and uses phased-array focused ultrasound to target specific regions. The planned product roadmap is staged: a stationary, clinic-based benchtop device for initial clinical programmes, followed by a wearable helmet for supervised home use.
Clinical focus and pipeline
The lead clinical programme targets chronic pain. Academic pilot studies have indicated that stimulating the anterior cingulate cortex—a region linked to the emotional component of pain—can reduce pain intensity for days to weeks after treatment. Peng said the company will begin with clinic-based treatments to establish safety and efficacy.
Gestala also lists wider indications under early research, including:
- Depression and PTSD
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease
Company materials and interviews indicate the full pipeline spans roughly six to eight indications, most at an early research stage rather than in late-stage trials.
How Gestala positions itself against rivals
Several US startups are pursuing ultrasound BCI systems and at least one has recently attracted major investment. Gestala bills itself as China’s first ultrasound BCI company and highlights local advantages—an integrated manufacturing ecosystem and relatively lower clinical-trial costs—that founder Peng says will support faster iteration from prototype to production.
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Peng said the company aims to complete its first‑generation prototype and expand staff to roughly 35 by the end of the year.
This article was created with AI assistance.
