StairMed Raises $69M for Brain-Interface Tech

Shanghai-based StairMed Technology has successfully closed a significant funding round, securing approximately $69 million (RMB 500 million). This substantial capital infusion was spearheaded by tech titans Alibaba and Tencent, marking a notable instance of these two major players jointly backing a venture in the advanced brain-machine interface (BMI) sector. The investment underscores the growing strategic interest in technologies that bridge the gap between human cognition and digital systems.

The financing round saw robust participation from a distinguished group of investors, including Fountainbridge Capital, OrbiMed, Oriza Seed, Qiming Venture Partners, Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV), Source Code Capital, and SDIC Unity Capital. This broad support from both venture capital and strategic corporate investors highlights confidence in StairMed's technological prowess and market potential. Springhill Fund acted as the financial advisor for this transaction.

This latest funding brings StairMed's total capital raised over the past year to an impressive figure exceeding RMB 1.1 billion. Founded in 2021 by Li Xue, StairMed is at the forefront of developing minimally invasive implantable BMI solutions. The company has cultivated a comprehensive technology portfolio encompassing novel electrode designs, sophisticated system architectures, advanced algorithms, and specialized surgical robotics, positioning itself as a key innovator in the field.

StairMed's technological advancements are particularly noteworthy. They include the development of ultra-flexible electrodes, finer than a human hair, and the creation of the world's most compact wireless BMI implant. Furthermore, the company has engineered a 256-channel wireless high-throughput invasive BMI system (WRS02) and a closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) system designed for precise neuromodulation. These innovations are critical for enhancing the efficacy and safety of BMI applications.

The company has already achieved significant clinical milestones. In early 2026, StairMed utilized its proprietary surgical robot to successfully implant its 256-channel WRS02 system, representing China's first clinical trial of such a high-channel count invasive BMI. Following three successful clinical implants in 2025, the company has gained NMPA Green Channel access for its innovative medical devices. Preparations are underway for multi-center registration clinical trials, slated to commence in mid-2026, with an ambitious target of enrolling approximately 40 patients within the year.

“Brain-machine interface technology represents not only a nascent medical frontier but also a critical intersection of life sciences and information technology,” stated Li Xue, founder of StairMed. The newly acquired capital will be instrumental in accelerating the advancement of StairMed's technology platform and propelling its clinical programs. These initiatives are focused on developing advanced brain-controlled systems and neuromodulation therapies aimed at addressing debilitating movement disorders and various neurological diseases, a market segment with substantial unmet needs and significant growth potential.