Brain-computer interface startups are surging — and poised to expand technologically and geographically.
After early feasibility studies and securing breakthrough device designations from the Food and Drug Administration, for several companies’ the future is looking less like a mirage and more like a reality. Participation in clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of brain implants are growing from single digits to dozens of patients. Leading companies in the space, Neuralink and Synchron, are even kicking off trials in other countries. Investor interest is sky-high.
The field’s early signs of success are spurring the development of new technologies and overseas markets. Beyond helping people with ALS and paralysis communicate, some companies are starting to target more prevalent conditions like mental health symptoms. Others are developing new and more efficient ways of capturing electrical signals in the brain. And China, in particular, has seen an explosion of startups eager to develop the next brain-computer interface.
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