Neuralink raised $650 million to fast-track its brain chip implants, aiming to treat paralysis and blindness while vaulting ahead of rivals in a rapidly growing neurotech arms race.
At a Glance
- Neuralink secured $650 million in Series E funding, boosting its valuation to $9 billion
- The company has implanted its brain-computer device in five patients with severe paralysis
- The FDA granted Neuralink breakthrough device designation in May 2025
- Global brain-computer interface investment is projected to hit $1.4 billion in 2025
- Competitors like Science Corp and Paradromics are also advancing human trials and funding
A Giant Leap in Brain Tech
Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface startup Neuralink closed a $650 million Series E round, cementing its valuation at $9 billion and marking the largest single capital infusion in the company’s history. This new funding pushes Neuralink’s total investment tally to $1.3 billion, reflecting swelling investor confidence in the company’s mission to merge human cognition with digital computation. Key backers in the round include Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, ARK Invest, and Thrive Capital.
This financial surge arrives as Neuralink begins to demonstrate real-world efficacy: five patients with severe paralysis have now received Neuralink implants, enabling them to control digital devices using brain signals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent “breakthrough device” designation grants Neuralink an expedited review pathway, further accelerating its clinical momentum.
Watch a report: Neuralink: The $9 Billion Brain Chip.
Competition and Capital
While Neuralink garners headlines, it’s not the only player in the neurotech game. In April, Alameda-based Science Corp closed a $104 million round, pushing its total raised to $177.3 million. China’s Stairway Medical nabbed $48 million, marking the country’s largest BCI investment to date. Meanwhile, Austin-based Paradromics completed its first human surgery using its Connexus interface, adding to its $108.4 million in total funding.
Industry-wide, brain-computer interface startups are poised to raise $1.4 billion globally in 2025, up sharply from $896 million the previous year. This explosive growth is driven by breakthroughs in AI processing, minimally invasive implants, and the tantalizing promise of mind-controlled computing.
What Comes Next?
Neuralink’s ambitions extend beyond clinical trials and capital raises. The company ultimately aims to make its brain chip procedure commercially viable at a target price of $500,000, with plans for ongoing testing over the next decade. Success could redefine the treatment landscape for conditions like ALS, spinal cord injuries, and even blindness.
Still, the road to market dominance is strewn with regulatory, ethical, and technological hurdles. As competitors gain momentum and bioethicists raise red flags, Neuralink must prove that its sci-fi vision can survive the scrutiny of real-world deployment. Yet with deep pockets, regulatory traction, and Elon Musk’s relentless branding engine, Neuralink is now better positioned than ever to lead the brain-tech revolution.
