As global technology continues to advance, 2025 marks a breakthrough year for brain-computer interface (BCI) development. The BCI industry is rapidly emerging as a core focus of international technological competition. In this report, we examine the world’s top 10 BCI companies, highlighting their backgrounds, core products, and strategic directions. (Listed in chronological order by founding year)
1. Blackrock Neurotech
Founded: 2008
Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Overview: Blackrock Neurotech (formerly Blackrock Microsystems) is a pioneering BCI company specializing in high-performance implantable solutions for neuroscience research and clinical applications.
Core Technology: The Utah Array and the NeuroPort® system — a microelectrode array capable of recording neural activity from individual neurons. Known for signal fidelity, reliability, and long-term implantation.
Applications: Used by hundreds of top institutions for studies in motor control, sensory restoration, speech decoding, and epilepsy monitoring. Over 40 human subjects have been implanted with its system.
Key Product: MoveAgain, a portable BCI system with FDA Breakthrough Device designation.
Strategy: Bridging laboratory research with clinical and commercial BCI applications. Partnering with academia and industry to create a large-scale BCI research and development ecosystem.
2. Neuracle
Founded: 2011
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Overview: One of China’s early BCI pioneers, Neuracle leverages research from Tsinghua University’s Neural Engineering Lab.
Core Products: EEG acquisition and stimulation systems (64/128/256 channels), clinical-grade EEG equipment, and the semi-invasive NEO (NeuroElectrodes Omentum) system, which uses dura-implanted electrode sheets inspired by cochlear implant methods.
Applications: Broad adoption across Chinese universities, hospitals, and research institutes. NEO system used in clinical trials for motor rehabilitation in top hospitals like Huashan Hospital.
Strategy: Starting from research markets, Neuracle is gradually moving into high-barrier clinical applications. It maintains parallel development in both non-invasive and semi-invasive BCI technologies.
3. Emotiv
Founded: Late 2011
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
Overview: Emotiv is a leader in non-invasive EEG-based BCIs. Founded by Tan Le, the company gained global recognition after a TED Talk debut.
Core Products: EPOC EEG headset series, Insight EEG device, and the MW20 EEG-integrated headphones launched at CES 2025.
Technology: Combines high-precision EEG sensors with AI algorithms to decode brain signals in real-time.
Applications: Widely used in education, healthcare, automotive safety, research, and consumer electronics. Known for its open SDK/API for developers.
Notable Partnerships: Collaborations with Finch Productions (driver monitoring), Neuro XR (emotional heatmap for VR), and integrations with IoT devices.
Strategy: Expand from consumer and developer tools into assistive technologies, emotional computing, and standardization of BCI protocols.
4. Synchron
Founded: 2012
Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York, USA; R&D in Melbourne, Australia
Overview: A medical device company developing endovascular BCIs that avoid craniotomy.
Core Product: Stentrode™ — a minimally invasive neural interface placed via the jugular vein into the brain’s motor cortex vasculature.
Achievements: First company with FDA approval for permanent home-use BCI clinical trials. Used successfully in ALS patients to control digital devices via thought.
Funding: Over $145 million raised from investors including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.
Strategy: Targeting patients with severe paralysis. Differentiated by its low-risk implantation method.
5. BrainCo
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Hangzhou, China; R&D in Boston, USA
Overview: A non-invasive BCI company focused on EEG signal processing and AI-powered applications in education, rehabilitation, and consumer health.
Products:Focus headbands for concentration monitoring in classrooms
AI-controlled prosthetic limbs “Kai Xing Guo” communication system for autistic children “Deep Dolphin” sleep monitoring and neuroregulation device
Strategy: Start with niche markets to build data and algorithm strength, then expand into broader consumer and medical segments. Total funding exceeds $200 million.
6. Paradromics
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Austin, Texas, USA
Overview: Focuses on high-data-rate invasive BCI systems for medical use.
Core Technology: Connexus DDI system using Argo platform (256×256 electrode array), capable of 30 Gbps data rates and simultaneous recording from over 65,000 neurons.
FDA Status: Received Breakthrough Device designation in 2023. Human trials planned for 2025.
Partnerships: Strategic collaboration with NEOM in Saudi Arabia to create a regional BCI center of excellence.
Strategy: Medical-first approach with global expansion. Aims to build an industry-standardized BCI ecosystem.
7. Neuralink
Founded: 2016
Headquarters: Fremont, California, USA
Overview: Founded by Elon Musk with a mission to develop ultra-high bandwidth implantable BCIs for human-AI symbiosis.
Technology: Fully invasive N1 chip and ultra-thin flexible threads implanted by the R1 robot. Enables high-resolution brain signal decoding and stimulation.
Milestone: First human implant in early 2024 allowed a paralyzed individual to control a computer cursor via thought.
Strategy: Near-term focus on clinical applications (e.g., spinal injuries), long-term vision includes cognitive enhancement and AI integration.
8. Precision Neuroscience
Founded: 2021
Headquarters: USA
Overview: Founded by Neuralink co-founder Ben Rapoport and CEO Michael Mager, aiming to offer safer, scalable BCI alternatives.
Core Product: Layer 7 cortical interface — a thin, flexible electrode array approved by the FDA, implantable through sub-millimeter incisions.
Funding: Over $155 million secured. Recently closed a Series C round with investors including Duquesne Family Office and Steadview Capital.
Strategy: Focus on minimally invasive BCI solutions for motor and neurological disorders. Developing fully implantable versions with AI-enhanced decoding.
9. Maschine Robot
Founded: 2021
Headquarters: Boston, USA and Beijing, China
Overview: A dual-continent company integrating AI with BCI to explore future applications like dream reconstruction, emotional computing, and memory storage.
Brands & Products:
Brain Maschine brand
A (high-precision platform), X (non-invasive), S (invasive BCI chips)
Dream, music, love, sleep interaction modules and BCI-communication for ALS patients.
Strategy: Mainly focuses on developing hybrid brain-computer interface platform products based on the combination of brain-computer interface chip circuits, electrodes, data, and AI algorithm technologies. It lays out two brain-computer interface technology routes: wearable and implantable, aiming to achieve a new generation of brain-computer interaction technologies and human-robot interaction product services such as dream generation, mind typing, mind control, memory download, and memory reconstruction.
10. NeuroXess
Founded: Late 2021
Headquarters: Shanghai, China
Overview: Founded by experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Alibaba, specializing in high-throughput flexible electrodes.
Core Technology: Silk protein-based biocompatible electrodes for high-fidelity neural recording. Released an integrated semi-implantable BCI system.
Funding: RMB 97 million raised in early rounds from Sequoia China and Shanda Group.
Strategy: Dual focus on research platforms (e.g., China Brain Project) and clinical applications (e.g., ALS, epilepsy). Differentiates from Neuralink with material and manufacturing innovations.
Companies included were chosen based on technological significance, industry influence, team scale, funding raised, and application diversity. The BCI field is poised for explosive growth, and these companies are at the forefront of shaping its future. We look forward to even more innovators joining the effort to transform human-machine interaction and accelerate the next phase of human technological evolution.
