Gestala Raises $21.6M for Non-Invasive Brain Interface

A significant early-stage funding milestone has been achieved in China's burgeoning brain-computer interface (BCI) sector. Gestala, a startup focused on developing non-invasive ultrasound technology for neural interaction, has successfully closed an angel round totaling CN¥150 million (approximately US$21.6 million). This capital infusion marks the largest pre-seed raise to date within China's BCI industry, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company's novel approach.

The substantial funding round was co-led by prominent venture capital firms Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture. Additional investment came from a notable group of backers including Tsing Song Capital, Gobi Partners, Fourier Intelligence, Liepin, and Seas Capital. The significant investor interest resulted in the round being oversubscribed by approximately 2.5 times, with total commitments exceeding $58 million. China Renaissance acted as the exclusive financial advisor for this landmark transaction.

Founded by serial neurotechnology entrepreneur Phoenix Peng, who also co-founded implantable BCI developer NeuroXess, Gestala was incorporated in early 2026. The company's innovative technology diverges from invasive, surgical BCI methods. Instead, it employs phased-array focused ultrasound to non-invasively penetrate the skull, enabling direct engagement with deep neural circuits. This bidirectional system facilitates both the monitoring of brain activity and the precise stimulation of targeted regions, offering a safer alternative to open-skull procedures and surface-electrode systems.

Gestala's initial commercial focus is on therapeutic applications for chronic pain. Preliminary clinical trials involving over 30 participants demonstrated a remarkable reduction in pain scores by approximately 50% following a single stimulation session, with effects persisting for one to two weeks. The company is now gearing up for mass production of its first-generation device in the third quarter of 2026 and aims to submit for regulatory approval with China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) by year-end.

The company's technological roadmap extends beyond pain management to address a spectrum of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including depression, PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, OCD, stroke rehabilitation, essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. A strategic partnership with embodied AI firm Fourier Intelligence is also underway to develop advanced closed-loop rehabilitation systems that integrate neural intent with physical action and sensory feedback for enhanced recovery processes.

This funding round positions Gestala as a significant player in the global ultrasound BCI market, ranking it as the second-highest funded entity in this specific niche. It trails only Merge Labs, a venture co-founded by OpenAI's Sam Altman, which secured US$252 million in January 2026. The capital raised will be instrumental in advancing Gestala's flagship product development, expanding clinical trial initiatives, integrating sophisticated AI capabilities, and establishing the regulatory groundwork for its next-generation BCI technologies.