StairMed, A Chinese Neuralink Competitor, Raises US$48 Million for Brain-Computer Interface Development
Neuralink Rival StairMed Secures US$48 Million Funding Boost
Shanghai-based brain-computer interface (BCI) company StairMed, claiming to outperform Elon Musk’s Neuralink in crucial areas, has successfully raised 350 million yuan (US$48 million). This funding round is noted as the largest ever for a Chinese start-up in the field of brain-computer interface technology.
Leading the Charge in BCI Innovation
- Funding Details: The most recent funding round was led by Qiming Venture Partners, OrbiMed, and Lilly Asia Ventures.
- Usage of Funds: StairMed plans to utilize the capital to accelerate clinical trials, invest in R&D, and construct a new production facility.
- Technology Edge: Their ultra-flexible neural electrodes are significantly smaller and softer than those of Neuralink.
Impactful Technologies and Future Goals
StairMed founder Zhao Zhengtuo, educated at the University of Michigan and the University of Texas at Austin, emphasized potential applications of their technologies in speech reconstruction, artificial hearing, facial palsy repair, and spinal cord injury repair.
- Clinical Trials: Planning the first long-term human clinical trial in China for embedded BCI technology.
- Collaborative Goals: Aiming to partner with leading companies in areas like large language models and humanoid robotics to revolutionize human-computer interaction.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.