Logo: Neuralink Corp; converted to SVG by Saucy, Public domain

Neuralink

Developer of implantable brain-computer interfaces.

NeurotechnologyMedical devicesBrain-computer interfacesPrivate company

Active^{Source [4]}^{Source [6]}Last verified Oct 2, 2026

About Neuralink

Neuralink develops implantable brain-computer interfaces. Its first product, Telepathy, records and decodes movement-related signals from the motor cortex so that people with paralysis can control computers and other devices by thought. A second program, Blindsight, aims to restore a form of vision.^{Source [3]}

Elon Musk co-founded the company in 2016 with a team of eight scientists and engineers. It began in San Francisco's Mission District before moving to Fremont, California. Most of the original founding team had left by 2021, and Tesla's 2026 filing describes Musk as a founder who serves as Neuralink's CEO.^{Source [3]}^{Source [2]}^{Source [4]}

The FDA approved its first-in-human trial, the PRIME Study, in May 2023, and the first participant was implanted in January 2024. Trials have since expanded to sites in the UK, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, and in May 2025 the FDA gave the company breakthrough device designation for speech restoration.^{Source [3]}^{Source [5]}

Neuralink is privately held. In June 2025 it closed a $650 million Series E round at a pre-money valuation of about $9 billion, with investors including ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital and Thrive Capital.^{Source [5]}

What happened

Founded in California in 2016 as a medical research company and first reported publicly in March 2017. It is privately held and still operating; Tesla's 2026 filing describes Elon Musk as a founder who serves as its CEO.^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}^{Source [4]}

Timeline

2025-07UK regulators approved GB-PRIME, its first international clinical study.^{Source [3]}
2025-06Closed a $650 million Series E round.^{Source [5]}
2025-05Received FDA breakthrough device designation for speech restoration.^{Source [5]}
2024-01Implanted its device in the first human trial participant.^{Source [3]}^{Source [2]}
2023-05FDA approved its first-in-human trial, the PRIME Study.^{Source [3]}
2023Raised a $280 million Series D round.^{Source [5]}
2017-03The company became public knowledge through press reports.^{Source [1]}
2016Founded by Elon Musk and eight scientists and engineers.^{Source [3]}^{Source [2]}

Products and brands

Telepathy: First-generation brain-computer interface that lets people with paralysis control digital devices by thought.^{Source [3]}
N1 implant: Implant evaluated for safety and feasibility in the PRIME Study.^{Source [3]}
Blindsight: Vision-restoration program under development.^{Source [3]}

How it makes money: Neuralink is a pre-commercial medical device company funded by private investment rounds while its implants are in clinical trials; it has no product approved for sale.^{Source [3]}^{Source [5]}

Leadership

Elon Musk

Chief Executive Officer^{Source [4]}^{Source [6]}

Funding and financials

Valuation: About $9 billion pre-money (June 2025 Series E)^{Source [5]}^{Source [3]}

Date	Round	Amount	Investors
2025-06	Series E^{Source [5]}	$650 million	ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital and others
2023	Series D^{Source [5]}	$280 million, plus a later $43 million tranche

People on Founded, and where they went next

1 person on record, connected to 10 other companies.

Person	Here	Also built
Elon Musk	Co-founder, CEO2016	xAI2023 to 2026AcquiredX Corp.2022 to 2025AcquiredThe Boring Company2017ActiveOpenAI2015 to 2018ActiveSolarCity2006 to 2016AcquiredTesla2004 to nowIPOSpaceX2002 to nowIPOPayPal2000IPOX.com1999MergedZip21995 to 1999Acquired

Sources

Elon Musk launches Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI, The Verge, 2017-03-27. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Neuralink, Wikipedia. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Neuralink: Business Breakdown & Founding Story, Contrary Research. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Tesla, Inc. Form 10-K/A (Part III: directors and executive officers), SEC EDGAR, 2026-04-30. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk's Neuralink closes a $650M Series E, TechCrunch, 2025-06-02. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Prospectus (Form 424B4), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SEC EDGAR, 2026-06-12. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.

Suggest a correction / Editorial policy