Gestala: China’s Bold Leap into Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces
Elon Musk’s Neuralink and OpenAI-backed Merge Labs are making headlines in the U.S. with their brain-computer interface (BCI) innovations. But across the Pacific, a new Chinese startup is quietly staking its claim in the same frontier. Gestala, co-founded by serial entrepreneur Phoenix Peng, is aiming to bring non-invasive ultrasound BCIs to the world—and it’s doing so at lightning speed.
Founded just a few months ago, Gestala has already raised $21.6 million (CN¥150 million) at a valuation estimated between $100 million and $200 million, according to Peng. The heavily oversubscribed funding round saw investor commitments of over $58 million, led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture, with participation from Gobi Ventures, Fourier Intelligence, Liepin, and others. It’s now the largest early-stage funding round in China’s BCI sector.
Gestala is setting out ambitious goals. The startup plans to expand its team from 15 to 35 employees by year-end, build a local manufacturing facility, and complete its first-generation prototype within months.
Why Ultrasound?
Unlike traditional BCI systems that rely on implanted electrodes, Gestala is betting on ultrasound as the next frontier. Peng explains that non-invasive ultrasound could overcome one of the biggest hurdles for BCIs: the risks of brain surgery. Using phased-array ultrasound, Gestala’s system can stimulate or suppress neural activity and monitor deep brain circuits without invasive procedures. This means the potential to access broader regions of the brain, opening doors to therapies that were previously impractical.
Globally, several startups are exploring ultrasound BCIs, but Gestala is the first in China to pursue this approach at scale. By leveraging China’s integrated manufacturing ecosystem and partnerships with major hospitals, the company aims to move from research to production faster and more cost-effectively than many international rivals.
Tackling Medical Challenges
Gestala’s initial focus is chronic pain management, a condition affecting millions worldwide. Studies suggest that ultrasound stimulation of the anterior cingulate cortex—the brain region involved in the emotional component of pain—can significantly reduce pain levels. Beyond that, the startup is exploring applications in mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, autism, and OCD, along with stroke rehabilitation. Longer-term goals include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and essential tremor treatments.
To support these initiatives, Gestala is building what it calls an “Ultrasound Brain Bank”, a large clinical dataset designed to train AI models to decode brain signals and improve neurological diagnostics.
Global Collaboration Amid Tensions
Despite rising geopolitical tensions, Peng envisions collaboration between the U.S. and China. “Both countries bring different strengths,” he says. “China offers large-scale clinical research capacity and efficient supply chains, while the U.S. has world-class scientific talent.” Joint efforts could accelerate global neuroscience research and enable the collection of vast clinical datasets.
From Clinics to Wearables
Gestala’s first-generation device will be a stationary benchtop system used in clinical settings. Over time, the company plans to introduce a wearable helmet, allowing patients to receive treatments at home under physician guidance. Unlike traditional BCIs that rely on electrical signals, Gestala’s ultrasound-based technology measures changes in blood flow, potentially enabling broader access to brain states without surgical risk.
Peng’s previous venture, NeuroXess, focused on implanted BCIs for controlling digital devices through neural signals. Gestala, by contrast, aims to unlock the whole brain non-invasively, a move he describes as a leap in both scale and ambition.
Looking Ahead
The road ahead is challenging. Experts note that ultrasound signals must penetrate the skull, which can distort data, and that blood flow changes are slower than neural firing, complicating real-time applications like speech decoding. Yet the potential rewards are enormous: safe, scalable, and precise BCIs that could revolutionize healthcare, mental health, and even the way humans interact with technology.
With a solid funding base, ambitious R&D goals, and strategic partnerships, Gestala is positioning itself at the forefront of a new era in brain-computer interfaces. While it may be years before these devices become part of everyday life, China’s BCI scene is suddenly a space worth watching.