Chinese brain interface startup Gestala raises $21M just two months after launch

Chinese startup Gestala has raised $21.6 million just two months after launching, marking the largest early-stage funding in China's brain-computer interface (BCI) industry. Founded by serial entrepreneur Phoenix Peng, who also runs implantable BCI company NeuroXess, Gestala focuses on non-invasive ultrasound-based BCIs. The round was heavily oversubscribed at over $58M in commitments, valuing the company at $100–200M. Gestala aims to complete its first-generation prototype by year-end, expanding its team from 15 to ~35 employees and building a manufacturing facility. Key applications include chronic pain management, mental health conditions (depression, PTSD, autism, OCD), stroke rehabilitation, and longer-term targets like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The company is also building an 'Ultrasound Brain Bank' to train AI models for decoding brain signals, leveraging China's lower clinical trial costs and integrated manufacturing ecosystem.