Visual brain-computer interface developer Nanochap raises RMB 500 million
Prepared by Sintelligent with the help of SI. Published in SI: . Updated: .
The new funding will help test two ways to restore elements of vision through implants: via the retina and via the visual cortex.
Gaorong Ventures led the Series C+ round with participation from PICC Equity, Monolith, C&D Emerging Industry Investment, and other investors. This is Nanochap's second round this year, bringing its cumulative funding to RMB 1 billion. The company is developing two approaches to vision restoration: the 320-channel E-BCI retinal interface is already in clinical trials with three participants, while the 1,280-channel V-BCI visual-cortex interface is in development and preparing for clinical validation. VCBeat describes early results for individual patients who recognized letters and numbers after activation and later performed writing, object grasping, and independent walking; these are initial clinical cases, not demonstrated effectiveness at scale.
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