China's Gestala raises $84 million for ultrasound-based brain interfaces
The Chengdu-based start-up, co-founded by Shanda Group's Tianqiao Chen, raised two rounds in six months to build non-invasive 'read and write' BCIs.
Gestala, a Chinese start-up building brain-computer interfaces based on ultrasound, says it has raised about US$84 million (RMB 570 million) in six months: a RMB 150 million angel round in March 2026 and a RMB 420 million “Angel+” round in July.
The company
Gestala was co-founded by Phoenix Peng and Tianqiao Chen, founder of Shanda Group and a major funder of brain science. It aims to use focused ultrasound both to observe brain activity and to modulate it, which it describes as whole-brain “read and write”, without surgery.
The company has its main base in Chengdu and a research and clinical team in Shanghai. It says it has 29 scientists and engineers and plans to grow to about 45 by the end of 2026. Investors include HSG, Lens Technology and Sinovation Ventures.
Why it matters
Gestala is the Chinese counterpart to a global bet on ultrasound BCIs, alongside Sam Altman’s Merge Labs and Nudge in the US. It also reflects a surge in Chinese BCI investment in 2026. Ultrasound approaches are still early, and no human BCI results have been published by these companies.
Learn more: Focused ultrasound · Invasive vs. non-invasive BCIs