Nanochap secures RMB 500 million in Series C+ funding for visual BCI technology
Hangzhou-based developer Nanochap has raised RMB 500 million to advance its brain-computer interface research for vision restoration.
Nanochap, a developer specializing in brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for restoring sight, announced a RMB 500 million Series C+ funding round on November 3. The round was led by Gaorong Ventures, with support from PICC Equity, Monolith, and C&D Emerging Industry Investment.
The investment brings the company's total funding to RMB 1 billion, following a previous round earlier this year. Founded in 2014, Nanochap focuses on neural chip technology and implant systems designed to bypass damaged eyes by stimulating either the retina or the brain's visual cortex.
Currently, the company's 320-channel retinal interface is undergoing clinical trials, with implants successfully placed in three participants. Meanwhile, its more complex 1,280-channel visual-cortex interface remains in the development phase, with clinical validation studies currently in the planning stages.
This capital infusion will likely support the long-term development of these neuro-prosthetic systems. The sector faces significant technical and regulatory hurdles, and Nanochap’s ability to progress to human trials marks a notable shift in the development timeline of neural implants for vision.