{
 "site": "wetwired.si",
 "tagline": "Tracking the race to wire the brain.",
 "last_updated": "2026-10-15",
 "notes": "Every number carries a source and date. \"verified\" = read on the company's own page or a primary/major outlet on the date given; \"unverified\" = single secondary report or company claim not confirmed elsewhere.",
 "companies": [
  {
   "id": "neuralink",
   "name": "Neuralink",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Fremont, California, US",
   "url": "https://neuralink.com/",
   "device": "N1 implant (\"Telepathy\"): a coin-sized wireless chip whose ultra-thin electrode threads are stitched into the motor cortex by a surgical robot.",
   "approach": "Invasive: intracortical, penetrating electrodes",
   "status": "Investigational. FDA IDE for its first-in-human study (May 2023); FDA Breakthrough Device designations for Blindsight (vision) and for speech. Trials in the US, Canada, UK and UAE.",
   "status_short": "FDA IDE trials (US, CA, UK, UAE)",
   "patients": {
    "display": "21+",
    "value": 21,
    "as_of": "2026-01-27",
    "qualifier": "21 participants enrolled worldwide; no newer official total published",
    "verified": true,
    "source": {
     "label": "Neuralink: \"Two Years of Telepathy\"",
     "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/two-years-of-telepathy/",
     "date": "2026-01-27"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-10-01",
    "text": "Self-supervised decoder pretrained on 50,000 hours of brain data; reports an 11.32 bits-per-second record",
    "source": {
     "label": "Neuralink update",
     "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/pretraining-on-50000-hours/",
     "date": "2026-10-01"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2024-01-28",
     "text": "First human implant (PRIME study)",
     "source": {
      "label": "Reuters",
      "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/neuralink-implants-brain-chip-first-human-musk-says-2024-01-29/",
      "date": "2024-01-29"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-09-16",
     "text": "VOICE trial: a participant with ALS, Terry, speaks through the implant (\"I love you\")",
     "source": {
      "label": "MobiHealthNews",
      "url": "https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/neuralink-brain-implant-helps-man-als-speak-using-his-thoughts",
      "date": "2026-09-23"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-10-01",
     "text": "11.32 BPS record with weeks-long decoding without recalibration",
     "source": {
      "label": "Neuralink",
      "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/pretraining-on-50000-hours/",
      "date": "2026-10-01"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": {
    "text": "$650M Series E (June 2025). Reported valuation ~$9B at that round.",
    "source": {
     "label": "Neuralink",
     "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/neuralink-raises-650m-series-e/",
     "date": "2025-06-02"
    },
    "valuation_source": {
     "label": "CNBC via Wikipedia (reported)",
     "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuralink",
     "date": "2025-07-17"
    }
   },
   "status_sources": [
    {
     "label": "Reuters: FDA clearance",
     "url": "https://www.reuters.com/science/elon-musks-neuralink-gets-us-fda-approval-human-clinical-study-brain-implants-2023-05-25/",
     "date": "2023-05-25"
    },
    {
     "label": "Neuralink: Blindsight designation",
     "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/neuralink-receives-breakthrough-device-designation-for-blindsight/",
     "date": "2024-09"
    },
    {
     "label": "Neuralink: speech designation",
     "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/neuralink-receives-breakthrough-device-designation-for-speech/",
     "date": "2025"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "synchron",
   "name": "Synchron",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Brooklyn, New York, US",
   "url": "https://synchron.com/",
   "device": "Stentrode: a stent-mounted electrode array threaded up the jugular vein into a blood vessel beside the motor cortex. No open-brain surgery.",
   "approach": "Minimally invasive: endovascular",
   "status": "Investigational. FDA Breakthrough Device (Aug 2020); first FDA IDE for a permanently implanted BCI (Jul 2021); COMMAND study met its primary safety endpoint (Sep 2024). INTENT (US) and FOCUS-AUS studies enrolling in 2026; preparing a pivotal trial.",
   "status_short": "FDA IDE · pivotal trial in prep",
   "patients": {
    "display": "10",
    "value": 10,
    "as_of": "2024-09-30",
    "qualifier": "Publicly confirmed: 4 (SWITCH, Australia) + 6 (COMMAND, US). Newer trials are enrolling; no updated company total found. A June 2026 secondary report of \"100 patients\" is unverified.",
    "verified": true,
    "source": {
     "label": "Synchron / Business Wire: COMMAND results",
     "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240930433219/en/Synchron-Announces-Positive-Results-from-U.S.-COMMAND-Study-of-Endovascular-Brain-Computer-Interface",
     "date": "2024-09-30"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-08-10",
    "text": "INTENT study active at US sites (e.g. UB Neurosurgery, Buffalo)",
    "source": {
     "label": "UBNS",
     "url": "https://www.ubns.com/news/dr-elad-levy-groundbreaking-study-on-brain-computer-interface/",
     "date": "2026-08-10"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2021-07-28",
     "text": "First FDA IDE for a permanently implanted BCI",
     "source": {
      "label": "Business Wire",
      "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210728005305/en/Synchron-Receives-Green-Light-From-FDA-to-Begin-Breakthrough-Trial-of-Implantable-Brain-Computer-Interface-in-US",
      "date": "2021-07-28"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08-04",
     "text": "First native thought-control of an iPad via Apple's BCI HID protocol",
     "source": {
      "label": "Synchron news",
      "url": "https://synchron.com/news",
      "date": "2025-08-04"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-04-30",
     "text": "Named to TIME100 Most Influential Companies; preparing larger trial for commercial approval",
     "source": {
      "label": "TIME",
      "url": "https://time.com/collection/time100-most-influential-companies/2026/synchron/",
      "date": "2026-04-30"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": {
    "text": "$200M Series D (Nov 2025).",
    "source": {
     "label": "Business Wire",
     "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251106150841/en/Synchron-Raises-%24200-Million-Series-D-to-Advance-Brain-Computer-Interface-Technology",
     "date": "2025-11-06"
    }
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "precision",
   "name": "Precision Neuroscience",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "New York, US",
   "url": "https://www.precisionneuro.io/",
   "device": "Layer 7 Cortical Interface: a film thinner than a hair carrying up to thousands of electrodes, slid onto the brain's surface through a micro-slit in the skull.",
   "approach": "Minimally invasive: surface (ECoG), non-penetrating",
   "status": "FDA 510(k) clearance for Layer 7 (decision 30 Mar 2025) for implantation of up to 30 days. Long-term implant still in clinical studies.",
   "status_short": "FDA 510(k) cleared (≤30 days)",
   "patients": {
    "display": "100+",
    "value": 100,
    "as_of": "2026-10-15",
    "qualifier": "\"Implanted clinical study patients\", company claim. Most are temporary implants during brain surgery.",
    "verified": true,
    "source": {
     "label": "precisionneuro.io homepage",
     "url": "https://www.precisionneuro.io/",
     "date": "2026-10-15"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-09-24",
    "text": "$250M Series D led by Pershing Square and the Ackman Oxman Institute",
    "source": {
     "label": "GlobeNewswire",
     "url": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/24/3368254/0/en/precision-neuroscience-closes-oversubscribed-250m-series-d-led-by-pershing-square-inc-the-ackman-oxman-institute-and-a-leading-life-sciences-investment-fund.html",
     "date": "2026-09-24"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2024-05",
     "text": "World record: 4,096 electrodes recording from a human brain (Mount Sinai)",
     "source": {
      "label": "Fierce Biotech",
      "url": "https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/precision-neuroscience-deploys-4096-electrodes-brain-computer-interface-procedure",
      "date": "2024-05"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03-30",
     "text": "FDA 510(k) clearance, K242618",
     "source": {
      "label": "FDA",
      "url": "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf24/K242618.pdf",
      "date": "2025-03-30"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-09-24",
     "text": "$250M Series D",
     "source": {
      "label": "GlobeNewswire",
      "url": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/24/3368254/0/en/precision-neuroscience-closes-oversubscribed-250m-series-d-led-by-pershing-square-inc-the-ackman-oxman-institute-and-a-leading-life-sciences-investment-fund.html",
      "date": "2026-09-24"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": {
    "text": "$250M Series D (Sep 2026). Valuation \"just over $1B\" (reported by NYT, not confirmed by company: unverified); ~$430M raised in total (reported).",
    "source": {
     "label": "HedgeCo summary of release + NYT",
     "url": "https://hedgeco.net/news/09/2026/precision-neuroscience-raised-250-million-series-d-at-about-a-1-billion-valuation.html",
     "date": "2026-09-28"
    }
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "blackrock",
   "name": "Blackrock Neurotech",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Salt Lake City, Utah, US",
   "url": "https://blackrockneurotech.com/",
   "device": "Utah Array: a 4×4 mm bed of silicon micro-needles. The workhorse behind most academic BCI records (BrainGate, UC Davis & Stanford speech BCIs).",
   "approach": "Invasive: intracortical, penetrating electrodes",
   "status": "Arrays used chronically in humans under FDA IDE research trials for ~20 years; MoveAgain BCI got FDA Breakthrough Device designation (Nov 2021). No approved chronic BCI product yet.",
   "status_short": "IDE research use · Breakthrough (2021)",
   "patients": {
    "display": "~40+",
    "value": 40,
    "as_of": "2024-04-29",
    "qualifier": "Reuters (Apr 2024): Blackrock tech had been used by ~40 people at the time of Tether's investment. No newer official count; treat as approximate.",
    "verified": false,
    "source": {
     "label": "Reuters",
     "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-company-tether-invests-200-mln-brain-chip-maker-blackrock-neurotech-2024-04-29/",
     "date": "2024-04-29"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-04-01",
    "text": "WIRED profile: a participant composing music with his Blackrock implant",
    "source": {
     "label": "Blackrock news",
     "url": "https://blackrockneurotech.com/news/",
     "date": "2026-04-01"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2021-11-17",
     "text": "MoveAgain BCI receives FDA Breakthrough Device designation",
     "source": {
      "label": "Blackrock",
      "url": "https://blackrockneurotech.com/insights/blackrock-neurotechs-moveagain-brain-computer-interface-system-receives-breakthrough-device-designation-from-the-fda/",
      "date": "2021-11-17"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04-29",
     "text": "Tether invests $200M for a majority stake",
     "source": {
      "label": "Reuters",
      "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-company-tether-invests-200-mln-brain-chip-maker-blackrock-neurotech-2024-04-29/",
      "date": "2024-04-29"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "text": "Utah Arrays power UC Davis speech BCI with up to 97% accuracy (NEJM)",
     "source": {
      "label": "UC Davis Health",
      "url": "https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/new-brain-computer-interface-allows-man-with-als-to-speak-again/2024/08",
      "date": "2024-08"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": {
    "text": "Tether: $200M for a majority stake (Apr 2024).",
    "source": {
     "label": "Reuters",
     "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-company-tether-invests-200-mln-brain-chip-maker-blackrock-neurotech-2024-04-29/",
     "date": "2024-04-29"
    }
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "paradromics",
   "name": "Paradromics",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Austin, Texas, US",
   "url": "https://paradromics.com/",
   "device": "Connexus BCI: a high-density microelectrode array in the cortex, wired to a transceiver in the chest that beams data through the skin. Built for speech.",
   "approach": "Invasive: intracortical, fully implanted",
   "status": "FDA IDE approved Nov 2025 for the Connect-One early feasibility study (U. Michigan, UC Davis, Mass General). Aug 2026: FDA OK to use personal phones and laptops in the trial.",
   "status_short": "FDA IDE · Connect-One study",
   "patients": {
    "display": "1",
    "value": 1,
    "as_of": "2026-06-17",
    "qualifier": "First chronic Connect-One participant (Michigan). Plus a 2025 temporary implant during epilepsy surgery. No later count published.",
    "verified": true,
    "source": {
     "label": "Paradromics",
     "url": "https://paradromics.com/news/paradromics-completes-first-human-brain-computer-interface-bci-implantation/",
     "date": "2026-06-17"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-10-08",
    "text": "Four years of stable neural recording (preclinical, sheep)",
    "source": {
     "label": "Business Wire",
     "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008255555/en/Paradromics-Demonstrates-Four-Years-of-Stable-Neural-Recording-in-Major-Brain-Computer-Interface-Durability-Milestone",
     "date": "2026-10-08"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2025-11-20",
     "text": "FDA approves Connect-One IDE",
     "source": {
      "label": "Paradromics",
      "url": "https://paradromics.com/news/paradromics-receives-fda-approval-for-the-connect-one-clinical-study-with-the-connexus-brain-computer-interface/",
      "date": "2025-11-20"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06-17",
     "text": "First Connect-One implant at University of Michigan",
     "source": {
      "label": "Paradromics",
      "url": "https://paradromics.com/news/paradromics-completes-first-human-brain-computer-interface-bci-implantation/",
      "date": "2026-06-17"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-09-14",
     "text": "Real-time speech: first participant answers open questions in her own words",
     "source": {
      "label": "Business Wire",
      "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260914434545/en/Paradromics-Achieves-Real-Time-Speech-with-Connexus-Brain-Computer-Interface",
      "date": "2026-09-14"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": null
  },
  {
   "id": "science",
   "name": "Science Corp.",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Alameda, California, US",
   "url": "https://science.xyz/",
   "device": "PRIMA: a 2 × 2 mm wireless photovoltaic chip under the retina plus camera glasses that beam near-infrared light, restoring central vision in geographic atrophy (dry AMD).",
   "approach": "Invasive: subretinal implant (eye, not skull)",
   "status": "CE marked and commercially launched in Europe (Jul 2026). FDA Breakthrough Device (2023) and Humanitarian Use Device designations (Jul 2026); US approval pending.",
   "status_short": "CE mark (EU) · FDA pending",
   "patients": {
    "display": "38+",
    "value": 38,
    "as_of": "2026-10-05",
    "qualifier": "38 implanted in the PRIMAvera pivotal trial (17 sites, 5 countries); plus Stargardt-disease patients in the PRIMAlia trial in Sydney (first implanted May 2026) and early European commercial cases (not counted).",
    "verified": true,
    "source": {
     "label": "Science Corp.: 36-month results",
     "url": "https://science.xyz/news/long-term-prima-results/",
     "date": "2026-10-05"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-10-13",
    "text": "Update on first Stargardt-disease patient (implanted May 2026): reads a word with PRIMA",
    "source": {
     "label": "Science Corp.: Stargardt trial update",
     "url": "https://science.xyz/news/stargardt-first-rehab/",
     "date": "2026-10-13"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2025-10-20",
     "text": "NEJM publishes pivotal PRIMA results",
     "source": {
      "label": "NEJM",
      "url": "https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2501396",
      "date": "2025-10-20"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-07-22",
     "text": "European commercial launch after CE mark",
     "source": {
      "label": "Science Corp.",
      "url": "https://science.xyz/news/",
      "date": "2026-07-22"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "text": "First Stargardt-disease patient implanted (PRIMAlia trial, Sydney Eye Hospital)",
     "source": {
      "label": "Science Corp.",
      "url": "https://science.xyz/news/stargardt-first-rehab/",
      "date": "2026-10-13"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-10-05",
     "text": "36-month data: mean +29 letters of vision, better than at 12 months",
     "source": {
      "label": "Science Corp.",
      "url": "https://science.xyz/news/long-term-prima-results/",
      "date": "2026-10-05"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-10-13",
     "text": "That Stargardt patient saw a letter in his first rehab session and read a word in his second",
     "source": {
      "label": "Science Corp.",
      "url": "https://science.xyz/news/stargardt-first-rehab/",
      "date": "2026-10-13"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": {
    "text": "$230M Series C (Mar 2026).",
    "source": {
     "label": "Science Corp.",
     "url": "https://science.xyz/news/series-c/",
     "date": "2026-03-05"
    }
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "neuracle",
   "name": "Neuracle (NEO)",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Shanghai, China",
   "url": "https://www.neuracle.cn/",
   "device": "NEO: a coin-sized titanium implant resting on the dura (8 contacts), wirelessly driving a pneumatic glove that restores grasp after spinal cord injury.",
   "approach": "Semi-invasive: epidural, under the skull, above the brain's membrane",
   "status": "China NMPA commercial registration approval (13 Mar 2026), widely described as the world's first market approval of an implanted BCI. First commercial surgery 13 Jul 2026 (Huashan Hospital).",
   "status_short": "Approved for sale (China NMPA)",
   "patients": {
    "display": "36+",
    "value": 36,
    "as_of": "2026-04-30",
    "qualifier": "36 implant procedures in the trial behind the approval, plus commercial cases since July 2026 (count not published).",
    "verified": true,
    "source": {
     "label": "Paradromics analysis of the NMPA approval",
     "url": "https://paradromics.com/blog/china-bci-developments/",
     "date": "2026-04-30"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-07-13",
    "text": "First surgery with a commercially approved BCI, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai",
    "source": {
     "label": "The Next Web",
     "url": "https://thenextweb.com/news/china-first-commercial-brain-implant-neuracle-neo",
     "date": "2026-07-17"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03-13",
     "text": "NMPA approval: first commercially approved implanted BCI",
     "source": {
      "label": "Paradromics blog",
      "url": "https://paradromics.com/blog/china-bci-developments/",
      "date": "2026-04-30"
     }
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-07-13",
     "text": "First commercial implant",
     "source": {
      "label": "The Next Web",
      "url": "https://thenextweb.com/news/china-first-commercial-brain-implant-neuracle-neo",
      "date": "2026-07-17"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": null
  },
  {
   "id": "onward",
   "name": "ONWARD Medical",
   "tier": "invasive",
   "hq": "Eindhoven, Netherlands",
   "url": "https://www.onwd.com/brain-computer-interface/",
   "device": "ARC-BCI: a skull-mounted brain implant (with Clinatec) paired with ONWARD's spinal-cord stimulator, a \"digital bridge\" that turns intent to move into walking and hand movement.",
   "approach": "Invasive: epidural brain implant + spinal stimulator",
   "status": "Investigational. FDA Breakthrough Device designation for ARC-BCI. Listed on Euronext.",
   "status_short": "Investigational · Breakthrough",
   "patients": {
    "display": "7",
    "value": 7,
    "as_of": "2026-09-09",
    "qualifier": "ARC-BCI implants to date per the H1 2026 results, as summarised by a financial news site (company report not checked directly).",
    "verified": false,
    "source": {
     "label": "ONWARD H1 2026 results (summary)",
     "url": "https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ONWRY/onward-medical-reports-first-half-2026-results-with-strong-product-3l613v66kzhd.html",
     "date": "2026-09-09"
    }
   },
   "last_milestone": {
    "date": "2026-01-22",
    "text": "Two more ARC-BCI implants completed",
    "source": {
     "label": "BioSpace (press release)",
     "url": "https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/onward-medical-completes-two-additional-brain-computer-interface-implants-paired-with-spinal-cord-stimulation-technology-to-restore-thought-driven-movement",
     "date": "2026-01-22"
    }
   },
   "milestones": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01-22",
     "text": "Two additional ARC-BCI implants",
     "source": {
      "label": "BioSpace",
      "url": "https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/onward-medical-completes-two-additional-brain-computer-interface-implants-paired-with-spinal-cord-stimulation-technology-to-restore-thought-driven-movement",
      "date": "2026-01-22"
     }
    }
   ],
   "funding": {
    "text": "Public company, listed on Euronext (ONWD).",
    "source": {
     "label": "ONWARD IR",
     "url": "https://ir.onwd.com/investor-relations/",
     "date": "2026-10-15"
    }
   }
  }
 ],
 "noninvasive": [
  {
   "id": "merge",
   "name": "Merge Labs",
   "hq": "US",
   "url": "https://merge.io/",
   "device": "Research lab co-founded by Sam Altman building non-invasive, ultrasound-based brain interfaces.",
   "status": "Research stage. Licensing deal for Butterfly Network's ultrasound-on-chip (Jul 2026).",
   "funding": "$252M seed at ~$850M valuation; OpenAI wrote the largest check (Jan 2026).",
   "source": {
    "label": "TechCrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/openai-invests-in-sam-altmans-brain-computer-interface-startup-merge-labs/",
    "date": "2026-01-15"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "meta",
   "name": "Meta Neural Band",
   "hq": "Menlo Park, California, US",
   "url": "https://about.fb.com/news/2025/09/meta-ray-ban-display-ai-glasses-emg-wristband/",
   "device": "sEMG wristband that reads nerve signals at the wrist to control Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses with tiny finger movements.",
   "status": "On sale since Sep 2025, from $799 bundled with the glasses.",
   "funding": "n/a (Meta Reality Labs)",
   "source": {
    "label": "Meta Newsroom",
    "url": "https://about.fb.com/news/2025/09/meta-ray-ban-display-ai-glasses-emg-wristband/",
    "date": "2025-09-17"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "kernel",
   "name": "Kernel",
   "hq": "Los Angeles area, US",
   "url": "https://www.kernel.com/",
   "device": "Kernel Flow 2: a helmet combining time-domain fNIRS (up to 40 modules) and EEG to measure brain activity. Used for research and brain-health measurement.",
   "status": "Commercial research device.",
   "funding": "Private company; no recent round disclosed.",
   "source": {
    "label": "Kernel",
    "url": "https://www.kernel.com/developers",
    "date": "2026-10-15"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "bridge",
   "name": "Bridge Neurotech",
   "hq": "US",
   "url": "https://www.bridgeneurotech.com/",
   "device": "Wearable ultrasound BCI that tracks brain blood-flow changes, decoded with AI.",
   "status": "Emerged from stealth Oct 2026; partnered with Butterfly Network.",
   "funding": "$13.5M launch funding.",
   "source": {
    "label": "WIRED",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/bridge-neurotech-startup-rival-sam-altman-merge-labs/",
    "date": "2026-10-06"
   }
  }
 ],
 "timeline": [
  {
   "date": "2016",
   "text": "Neuralink is founded; the modern BCI startup race begins.",
   "source": {
    "label": "Reuters",
    "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/want-details-elon-musks-brain-implant-trial-youll-have-ask-him-2024-02-02/",
    "date": "2024-02-02"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2019-07",
   "text": "Neuralink unveils its \"threads\" and sewing robot",
   "source": {
    "label": "MIT Technology Review",
    "url": "https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/07/17/238818/elon-musks-neuralink-says-its-nearly-ready-for-the-first-human-volunteers/",
    "date": "2019-07-17"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2019",
   "text": "Synchron's SWITCH study begins implanting the Stentrode in Australia",
   "source": {
    "label": "JAMA Neurology",
    "url": "https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2799839",
    "date": "2023-01-09"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2021-07-28",
   "text": "Synchron wins the first FDA IDE for a permanently implanted BCI",
   "source": {
    "label": "Business Wire",
    "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210728005305/en/Synchron-Receives-Green-Light-From-FDA-to-Begin-Breakthrough-Trial-of-Implantable-Brain-Computer-Interface-in-US",
    "date": "2021-07-28"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2023-05-25",
   "text": "FDA clears Neuralink's first-in-human study",
   "source": {
    "label": "Reuters",
    "url": "https://www.reuters.com/science/elon-musks-neuralink-gets-us-fda-approval-human-clinical-study-brain-implants-2023-05-25/",
    "date": "2023-05-25"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2023-08-23",
   "text": "Speech BCIs hit 62 words/min (Stanford) and ~78 words/min (UCSF) in Nature",
   "source": {
    "label": "Nature",
    "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06377-x",
    "date": "2023-08-23"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2024-01-28",
   "text": "Neuralink implants its first human, Noland Arbaugh",
   "source": {
    "label": "Reuters",
    "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/neuralink-implants-brain-chip-first-human-musk-says-2024-01-29/",
    "date": "2024-01-29"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2024-04-29",
   "text": "Tether buys a majority stake in Blackrock Neurotech for $200M",
   "source": {
    "label": "Reuters",
    "url": "https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-company-tether-invests-200-mln-brain-chip-maker-blackrock-neurotech-2024-04-29/",
    "date": "2024-04-29"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2024-05",
   "text": "Precision sets a record: 4,096 electrodes on a human brain",
   "source": {
    "label": "Fierce Biotech",
    "url": "https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/precision-neuroscience-deploys-4096-electrodes-brain-computer-interface-procedure",
    "date": "2024-05-31"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2024-08",
   "text": "UC Davis speech BCI reaches up to 97% accuracy for a man with ALS",
   "source": {
    "label": "UC Davis Health",
    "url": "https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/new-brain-computer-interface-allows-man-with-als-to-speak-again/2024/08",
    "date": "2024-08"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2024-09-30",
   "text": "Synchron's COMMAND study meets its primary safety endpoint in all 6 US patients",
   "source": {
    "label": "Business Wire",
    "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240930433219/en/Synchron-Announces-Positive-Results-from-U.S.-COMMAND-Study-of-Endovascular-Brain-Computer-Interface",
    "date": "2024-09-30"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2025-03-30",
   "text": "Precision's Layer 7 gets FDA 510(k) clearance (up to 30 days)",
   "source": {
    "label": "FDA",
    "url": "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf24/K242618.pdf",
    "date": "2025-03-30"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2025-05",
   "text": "Apple adds a BCI protocol to Switch Control; Synchron first to integrate",
   "source": {
    "label": "Apple Newsroom",
    "url": "https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/05/apple-unveils-powerful-accessibility-features-coming-later-this-year/",
    "date": "2025-05-13"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2025-09",
   "text": "Meta ships the Neural Band EMG wristband with Ray-Ban Display",
   "source": {
    "label": "Meta",
    "url": "https://about.fb.com/news/2025/09/meta-ray-ban-display-ai-glasses-emg-wristband/",
    "date": "2025-09-17"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2025-10-20",
   "text": "NEJM: Science's PRIMA implant restores reading vision in geographic atrophy",
   "source": {
    "label": "NEJM",
    "url": "https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2501396",
    "date": "2025-10-20"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-01-15",
   "text": "Merge Labs launches with a $252M seed; OpenAI biggest check",
   "source": {
    "label": "TechCrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/openai-invests-in-sam-altmans-brain-computer-interface-startup-merge-labs/",
    "date": "2026-01-15"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-01-27",
   "text": "Neuralink: 21 participants enrolled worldwide",
   "source": {
    "label": "Neuralink",
    "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/two-years-of-telepathy/",
    "date": "2026-01-27"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-03-13",
   "text": "China approves Neuracle's NEO: first implanted BCI cleared for sale anywhere",
   "source": {
    "label": "Paradromics blog",
    "url": "https://paradromics.com/blog/china-bci-developments/",
    "date": "2026-04-30"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-06-17",
   "text": "Paradromics' first Connexus implant in the Connect-One study",
   "source": {
    "label": "Paradromics",
    "url": "https://paradromics.com/news/paradromics-completes-first-human-brain-computer-interface-bci-implantation/",
    "date": "2026-06-17"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-07-22",
   "text": "PRIMA goes on sale in Europe, the first vision BCI to market",
   "source": {
    "label": "Science Corp.",
    "url": "https://science.xyz/news/",
    "date": "2026-07-22"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-14",
   "text": "Paradromics shows real-time speech; UCSF decodes speech + gestures at once (Nature Neuroscience)",
   "source": {
    "label": "Business Wire",
    "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260914434545/en/Paradromics-Achieves-Real-Time-Speech-with-Connexus-Brain-Computer-Interface",
    "date": "2026-09-14"
   }
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-10-01",
   "text": "Neuralink claims an 11.32 bits-per-second cursor record",
   "source": {
    "label": "Neuralink",
    "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/pretraining-on-50000-hours/",
    "date": "2026-10-01"
   }
  }
 ],
 "news": [
  {
   "date": "2026-10-13",
   "title": "Science Corp.: its first Stargardt-disease patient, implanted in May, has read a word with PRIMA",
   "outlet": "Science Corp.",
   "url": "https://science.xyz/news/stargardt-first-rehab/"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-10-08",
   "title": "Paradromics shows four years of stable neural recording (preclinical)",
   "outlet": "Business Wire",
   "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008255555/en/Paradromics-Demonstrates-Four-Years-of-Stable-Neural-Recording-in-Major-Brain-Computer-Interface-Durability-Milestone"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-10-06",
   "title": "Bridge Neurotech launches with $13.5M to rival Merge Labs in ultrasound BCIs",
   "outlet": "WIRED",
   "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/bridge-neurotech-startup-rival-sam-altman-merge-labs/"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-10-05",
   "title": "PRIMA 36-month data: vision gains held, and grew, at three years",
   "outlet": "Science Corp.",
   "url": "https://science.xyz/news/long-term-prima-results/"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-10-01",
   "title": "Neuralink pretrains on 50,000 hours of brain data, claims 11.32 BPS record",
   "outlet": "Neuralink",
   "url": "https://neuralink.com/updates/pretraining-on-50000-hours/"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-24",
   "title": "Precision Neuroscience closes $250M Series D",
   "outlet": "GlobeNewswire",
   "url": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/24/3368254/0/en/precision-neuroscience-closes-oversubscribed-250m-series-d-led-by-pershing-square-inc-the-ackman-oxman-institute-and-a-leading-life-sciences-investment-fund.html"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-23",
   "title": "Neuralink implant helps a man with ALS speak using his thoughts (VOICE trial)",
   "outlet": "MobiHealthNews",
   "url": "https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/neuralink-brain-implant-helps-man-als-speak-using-his-thoughts"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-16",
   "title": "China issues world's first medical-device standard for AI-powered BCIs",
   "outlet": "Xinhua",
   "url": "https://english.news.cn/20260916/638aad7c6d7944b3924a9d601c8f7acd/c.html"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-14",
   "title": "Paradromics achieves real-time speech with its Connexus BCI",
   "outlet": "Business Wire",
   "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260914434545/en/Paradromics-Achieves-Real-Time-Speech-with-Connexus-Brain-Computer-Interface"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-14",
   "title": "UCSF implant decodes speech and gestures simultaneously",
   "outlet": "Nature Neuroscience",
   "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02446-2"
  }
 ],
 "unverified": [
  "Synchron \"100 patients implanted\": single secondary report (neurotech.com, 9 Jun 2026), not confirmed by Synchron; the scoreboard uses the confirmed 10.",
  "Blackrock \"~40+ people\": 2024 company/press figure, no newer official count.",
  "Precision valuation \"just over $1B\": reported by NYT, not stated by the company.",
  "ONWARD \"7 ARC-BCI implants\": taken from a summary of the company's H1 2026 report, not checked against the report itself.",
  "Neuralink \"$9B valuation\": reported by media at the Series E; not stated by Neuralink."
 ],
 "scope": "A curated tracker of the leading BCI companies, not an exhaustive list. Sources are reviewed most weekdays; last_updated is the date of the last change.",
 "corrections": {
  "email": "wetwired@mail.tab.bot",
  "note": "Send a link to the source; we aim to correct errors quickly."
 }
}