Neuralink, Elon Musks’ biotechnology startup developing brain-computer interface technology, has raised $280 million in funding in a round led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund. The company announced the funding on Monday via 𝕏, the Musk-owned social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
The Series D round brings Neuralink’s total funding to $560 million. The company’s valuation was not disclosed, but it was valued at about $5 billion after privately executed stock trades in June.
Neuralink was founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. The company’s goal is to develop implantable devices that can be used to connect the human brain to a computer. This technology could be used to treat neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and to enhance human cognition.
Neuralink has so far only tested its technology on animals. In 2022, a monkey died during testing of a Neuralink implant. The company said the death was due to a blood clot, not the implant itself.
WATCH: This Monkey With Elon Musk’s Neuralink Implant is Playing Pong With Its Brain
The funding news comes months after Neuralink announced it was moving toward human trials. The company recently obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct tests on its brain implants in human subjects.
Neuralink’s CEO, Max Hodak, said in a statement that the funding will help the company “accelerate our mission to create a safe and effective BMI that can help people with neurological disorders.”
The company is also hiring for a variety of positions, including engineers, scientists, and product managers.
The funding for Neuralink is a sign of the growing interest in brain-computer interface technology. Other companies developing this technology include Kernel, Paradromics, and Synchron.
Brain-computer interface technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. It could be used to control prosthetic limbs, navigate virtual reality environments, and even communicate with other people telepathically.
The future of brain-computer interface technology is still uncertain, but Neuralink’s funding is a major step forward. The company is well-positioned to lead the development of this technology and bring it to market.
