Gestala raises ￥150M in record-breaking BCI angel round in China

Recently, Gestala, a pioneering hard-tech company in China focused exclusively on ultrasound brain-computer interfaces, announced the completion of a RMB 150 million angel round financing, setting a new record for the largest angel round in China's brain-computer interface sector. This round was co-led by Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-town Development Group and Dalton Venture, with participation from a number of prominent investment institutions and corporations, including CTS Capital, Gobi China, Fourier, Liepin, and Seas Capital. China Renaissance served as the exclusive financial advisor.

The global brain-computer interface industry is currently experiencing a surge of investment in the ultrasound sector. Notably, Sam Altman, founder of OpenAI, personally participated in founding Merge Labs, an ultrasound brain-computer interface company, which completed a USD 252 million angel round in January 2026 at a post-money valuation of USD 850 million, with OpenAI being the largest investor in that round. Additionally, Nudge, co-founded by a Coinbase founder, also secured a substantial Series A round in 2025.

Gestala was co-founded on January 1 of this year by Lei Peng, along with Shanda Group and Tianqiao Chen, founder of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute. In just about two months since its official launch, the company has completed this record-breaking RMB 150 million angel round, which was significantly oversubscribed. This marks the largest angel financing in China's brain-computer interface field, and internationally, its scale is second only to that of Merge Labs. Lei Peng, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gestala, expressed strong confidence in leading Gestala to become a flagship of China's hard-tech competitiveness on the global stage and to achieve parallel progress with international players in the cutting-edge field of ultrasound brain-computer interfaces by pursuing a distinct technological pathway.

Compared to traditional invasive electrical approaches, the ultrasound pathway offers advantages such as non-invasiveness, whole-brain read and write capability, and multi-target neural circuit modulation. Its targeted indications, including chronic pain, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke rehabilitation, and epilepsy, are more closely aligned with clinical needs, cover a broader patient population, and present a significantly larger market opportunity.

Gestala is initially focusing on medical applications. In the second quarter of this year, it will complete the first phase of its headquarters and its first production line in Chengdu. Its first-generation product will focus on chronic pain management. The efficacy of this approach has been validated in over 30 clinical trials, demonstrating a 50 percent reduction in pain scale scores after a single stimulation session, with effects lasting one to two weeks. Production is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year, with National Medical Products Administration registration application targeted for the end of the year. Gestala plans to complete registration and market launch within one to two years, rapidly achieving a closed revenue loop. Concurrently, Gestala has established collaborative frameworks with leading hospitals including Huashan Hospital, West China Hospital, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital to conduct multi-center clinical studies for different indications.