MintNeuro raises £1m for brain implant

MintNeuro has raised £1m (€1.2m $1.3m) venture funding for its semiconductor-based brain implant.

MintNeuro uses a reconfigurable chip, described as smaller than a peppercorn, rather than graphene to make neural implants in the brain smaller, more efficient, and scalable. With over £14m in underpinning R&D grant funding to date, the MintNeuro team uses semiconductor manufacturing techniques for cost-effective, mass-producible neural devices. Unlike conventional implants, its compact, low-power chips enable modular designs adaptable to various neurological conditions, offering sensing, stimulation, and processing capabilities to enhance both functionality and accessibility.

The aim is that the implants can be used to treat conditions such as dementia and drug-resistant epilepsy.

The funding for the spin out of Imperial College, London, was led by Empirical Ventures. Additional investment came from Parkwalk Advisors (through the Imperial College Enterprise Fund), Imperial College London, Plug & Play, Excellis Holding, and several prominent angel investors.

“Our semiconductor-based approach is fundamentally reshaping what neural implants can achieve,” said Timothy Constandinou, CTO and co-founder of MintNeuro. “By offering a customisable, compact solution that integrates seamlessly into medical devices, we’re empowering a new era of neural interfaces that are not only more powerful but also less invasive. This marks a transformative shift in neurological care.”

“Millions of patients with neurological disorders face limited treatment options,” said Dorian Haci, CEO and co-founder of MintNeuro. “Our goal is to bridge that gap with safer, more accessible, and effective neural technology. This investment accelerates our chip development and enables us to expand our team of experts, bringing game-changing neural implants to clinicians for the benefit of patients everywhere.”

Collaborations include the NIHR-funded DREAM project with Imperial College London and King’s College London and Hospital, targeting development of a wireless device for epilepsy monitoring, with a first-in-human study planned for next year.

A partnership with Amber Therapeutics, which has recently secured $100 million in funding, is focused on developing a reconfigurable neuromodulation therapy chipset through an Innovate UK Smart grant. This technology initially targets mixed urinary incontinence, with the potential for future applications of the MintNeuro chipset in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and depression.

“MintNeuro is uniquely addressing the core limitations of neural implants with a semiconductor-based approach,” said Johnathan Matlock, General Partner at Empirical Ventures. “We are excited about the market opportunity and the potential of entrepreneurial scientists like Dorian and Tim to drive forward the next generation of neural implants.”

Research by Morgan Stanley estimates that, in the US alone, the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies could span almost 10 million patient candidates – seeking optimised treatment options for health conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to strokes – and total around $400 billion in potential revenue from initial implant procedures.

Martin Glen, Investment Director at Parkwalk Advisors, added: “MintNeuro’s innovative technology has the potential to change the lives of millions of patients suffering from a diverse range of neurological conditions. Its accessible, adaptable solution represents a major advancement in treatment options, and we’re extremely excited to be supporting the team in its journey to revolutionise neurological care.”