Science Corp Secures $230 Million to Deliver First Commercial Brain Implant

In a major bet on a tangible medical breakthrough, Science Corporation has raised $230 million in new funding. The startup, led by Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak, is now valued at $1.25 billion and is positioning itself to be the first company to bring a commercial brain-computer interface to patients.

The immediate goal is PRIMA, a vision-restoring implant smaller than a grain of rice. Designed for people with advanced macular degeneration, the chip works with special glasses. Science Corp acquired the technology from France's Pixium Vision in 2024, then completed and expanded clinical trials. Results from 47 patients in the U.S. and Europe showed 80% experienced meaningful vision improvement, regaining the ability to read letters and words—a milestone Hodak calls a definitive first for blind patients.

Regulatory plans are advancing. The company has applied for a CE mark in the European Union, expecting approval by mid-2026, with Germany likely as the first market. Talks with the U.S. FDA are ongoing. The new funds will fuel PRIMA's commercialization and broader research, including a biohybrid neural interface and an organ preservation platform called Vessel.

The Series C round, backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, and others including non-profit IQT, brings total funding to $490 million. With 150 employees, Science Corp is moving from lab trials toward the clinic, aiming to turn a long-held sci-fi promise into a practical reality.