Elon Musk’s brain-tech startup Neuralink is eyeing a staggering $8.5 billion valuation in a new funding round that could inject up to $500 million into the company. If successful, this would more than double its last known valuation of $3.5 billion from late 2023—a sharp indicator of surging investor confidence in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.
Sources familiar with the matter say discussions are still in early stages. But the ambitious numbers reflect growing excitement around Neuralink’s recent human trials and its push to blur the line between mind and machine.
Founded in 2016, Neuralink is developing an implantable brain chip designed to let people control digital devices using only their thoughts. The startup grabbed headlines last year after it successfully implanted its first device into a human. That patient, according to Neuralink, was able to control a computer cursor and even play games with just their mind—offering a glimpse into a future where neural signals replace keyboards and touchscreens.
However, that bold future comes with real risks.
Is Neuralink Moving Too Fast for Safety?
Neuralink’s breakthrough demonstrations have impressed many, but they’ve also sparked a wave of concern about how fast the company is moving—especially when lives and neural tissue are involved. Reports have surfaced that the tiny threads connecting the chip to the brain in its first human patient began to retract, possibly affecting the device’s performance.
This isn’t Neuralink’s first brush with controversy. Past reports have flagged rushed animal trials, questionable ethics, and a lack of long-term data transparency. What makes the thread issue more alarming is that Neuralink allegedly knew about this risk years before implanting the chip in a human.
Critics argue the startup is sprinting ahead of safety standards, choosing ambition over caution. And when it comes to brain implants—devices that interact with the most sensitive parts of the human body—precision and safety aren’t optional; they’re critical.
Still, the massive valuation jump and investor interest show many backers are betting big on the potential of BCIs to transform not only digital interactions but also how we treat neurological conditions.
Rivals in Europe and the UK Take a Safer Path
While Neuralink may be the poster child for brain-tech in the U.S., it faces growing competition overseas—from startups that are approaching the problem with more restraint and a greater focus on clinical safety.
In Switzerland, MindMaze has built a neurotechnology platform that’s already being used in hospitals for stroke and spinal cord rehabilitation. Rather than going the invasive route, MindMaze uses a mix of VR, motion capture, and brain-signal detection to promote neuroplasticity. The result? A product that’s both commercially available and free from surgical risks. The company recently secured $105 million to expand its platform.
The UK-based BIOS Health is taking another approach. From its home in Cambridge, the startup is creating AI-powered neural interfaces that decode signals between the brain, nervous system, and organs to treat chronic conditions. Unlike Neuralink, BIOS isn’t trying to turn users into cyborgs—it’s focused on therapeutic applications, offering a path to integrate neural interfaces into medicine more ethically and sustainably.
Also emerging is Neurable, which began in the U.S. but is now growing its UK presence. Its non-invasive BCI headsets let users control digital environments through brainwave data, with a focus on gaming and virtual reality. While still early-stage, Neurable’s consumer-friendly wearables provide a less invasive—and arguably more appealing—alternative to Neuralink’s brain surgeries.
The BCI Industry Must Balance Boldness With Responsibility
Neuralink is undeniably pushing boundaries, and its $8.5 billion valuation shows that many believe in its moonshot vision. But in the race to commercialize BCIs, speed isn’t everything. Long-term success will rely on building trust, proving safety, and aligning innovation with ethical responsibility.
European startups are offering a compelling counter-narrative—one where technology enhances lives without compromising on care. They’re proving you don’t have to risk neural integrity to innovate.
In the years ahead, the brain-tech industry will need more than dazzling demos to win over the public. It will need transparency, rigorous trials, and a regulatory roadmap that prioritizes patients as much as potential.
Because in the brain-tech race, it won’t be the fastest that win—it’ll be those who move with purpose, precision, and responsibility.
