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Science

Category: AI in Healthcare

Clinical-stage medical technology company developing brain-computer interfaces and advanced neural engineering technologies to restore vision, cognition, and mobility to patients with debilitating conditions. Science was founded in 2021. The company is led by Max Hodak. Based in Alameda, United States. Team size: 150. Total funding raised: $490.0M. Latest round: Series C. Key investors include Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Y Combinator, Quiet Capital, IQT.

Founded
2021
Headquarters
Alameda, United States
Team size
150
Total funding
$490.0M

Value proposition

First BCI technology to restore functional central vision in patients blinded by late-stage macular degeneration, using minimally invasive photovoltaic retinal implants that bypass damaged photoreceptors to directly stimulate remaining neural circuits.

Products and solutions

PRIMA Retinal Implant System (photovoltaic subretinal implant with glasses-mounted IR projection), Biohybrid Neural Interface (stem cell-derived neurons integrated with electronics), Vessel Organ Preservation Platform (miniaturized perfusion technology), Science BCI Ecosystem (neural engineering tools for researchers)

Unique value

Only company to successfully restore functional central vision in geographic atrophy patients (published in NEJM); pioneering biohybrid neural interfaces using living neurons instead of traditional metal electrodes; dual-modality approach combining both electronic and biological BCI systems.

Target customer

Patients with severe vision loss from geographic atrophy (AMD), Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa; patients with neurological disorders; medical researchers and institutions

Industries served

Medical Devices, Neurotechnology, Ophthalmology, Organ Transplantation, Brain-Computer Interfaces

Technology advantage

Photovoltaic ASIC technology enabling wireless subretinal implants; proprietary biohybrid architecture using stem cell-derived neurons for higher bandwidth and reduced tissue damage; modular organ preservation systems extending organ viability from hours to potentially days/months; comprehensive BCI ecosystem accelerating industry-wide neural engineering research.

How they differentiate

First BCI company to successfully restore functional central vision in patients with late-stage macular degeneration (published in NEJM); unique dual-modality approach combining photovoltaic retinal implants (PRIMA) with biohybrid neural interfaces using living stem-cell-derived neurons instead of traditional metal electrodes; vision-first clinical strategy with proven therapeutic efficacy in 80% of trial patients

Main competitors

Neuralink, Synchron, Precision Neuroscience

Key partnerships

Neurosoft Bioelectronics (BCI ecosystem partnership for clinical adoption acceleration), 18 clinical partnership locations across 5 countries for PRIMA trials, Stanford Medicine (clinical trial leadership), Khosla Ventures (lead investor, Series C), Lightspeed Venture Partners (major investor), Y Combinator, Quiet Capital, IQT (strategic investors)

Notable customers

Clinical trial patients with geographic atrophy (AMD), Stargardt disease patients, Retinitis pigmentosa patients

Major milestones

Acquired PRIMA retinal implant technology from Pixium Vision (April 2024), Raised $104M Convertible Note led by Khosla Ventures (April 2025), Published clinical trial results showing 80% of patients achieved improved visual acuity in NEJM (2025), Closed $230M Series C at $1.5B valuation (March 2026), Appointed Murat Günel, MD as Medical Director for BCI (March 2026), Axon Terminal won 2026 iF Design Award (April 2026), Preparing for European commercial launch and FDA review (2026)

Growth metrics

Expanded from stealth mode to 150 employees; advanced PRIMA retinal implant through late-stage clinical trials with positive results in 47 patients; acquired Pixium Vision assets including three ongoing clinical trials

Market positioning

Clinical-stage leader in vision restoration BCI technology with regulatory-ready PRIMA implant and diversified neural engineering platform; positioned for potential first-to-market status in retinal BCI devices with European commercial launch planned for 2026 and FDA review pathway

Geographic focus

United States (headquarters in Alameda, CA), Europe (planned 2026 launch), clinical trials across 5 countries including 18 partnership locations

Patents and IP

11+ registered patents primarily in medical/veterinary science category; expanded IP portfolio through Pixium Vision acquisition including three ongoing clinical trials; patents covering photovoltaic retinal stimulation and biohybrid neural interface technologies.

About Max Hodak

Co-founder & President of Neuralink (2016-2021), Co-founder & CEO of Transcriptic (2012-2017), BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University (2012)

Official website: