The spinout's semiconductor chips are purpose-built to work in the brain, enabling implants and other innovative devices that promise better management of conditions such as stroke, epilepsy and depression.
MintNeuro, an Imperial spinout developing specialised chips that enable devices to connect with the brain and nervous system, has raised $5 million from European and US investors. The money will be used to accelerate product launches, build new partnerships and support international expansion.
Neurological conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease affect over one billion people worldwide. Many of these conditions are underserved by current treatments, and neural implants offer a promising alternative route to develop effective, long-term solutions.
Today, most device and therapy developers still have to choose between generic components that were never designed for the body and years of custom chip development. We are building the chips that end that trade-off. Dr Dorian Haci Co-founder, MintNeuro
However, these devices require very small semiconductor chips that can function optimally in the special conditions found inside the human body.
"Today, most device and therapy developers still have to choose between generic components that were never designed for the body and years of custom chip development," explains Dr Dorian Haci, co-founder and Chief Executive of MintNeuro. "We are building the chips that end that trade-off."
"Neurotechnology is entering a phase where specialised hardware will determine how far, and how fast, the field can go," said Professor Tim Denison, Chair of MintNeuro and a specialist in emerging biomedical technologies at the University of Oxford. "MintNeuro's semiconductor technology is well-placed to remove the key obstacle to industry scale, which could dramatically accelerate the pace of innovation."
MintNeuro's implantable chip technology originated in the Next Generation Neural Interfaces Lab, led by Professor Tim Constandinou in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial. He and Dr Haci, then a PhD student, started the company in 2022, building on a business case developed through the MedTech SuperConnector (MTSC), an accelerator run by Imperial that supports promising innovations in medical technology.
The company went on to raise £1 million in 2024, supported by an investment from the Imperial College Enterprise Fund and the conversion of a loan note issued through the MTSC Seed Fund.
"MintNeuro is a standout example of what the MedTech SuperConnector Seed Fund exists to do: back exceptional deep tech founders early and help them reach their next stage," said Hiten Thakrar, Head of Imperial SuperConnector. "Going from Imperial spinout to delivering working silicon for neural devices is a major achievement, and we congratulate Dorian and the team on this raise."
The $5 million in funding announced on 7 October takes the company to the next stage of its journey. "This funding moves us from technology validation to commercial scale-up, with more customer programmes, faster product launches and our chips in the hands of many more developers," Dr Haci said.
MintNeuro has the technology, market pull and ambition to become a globally important semiconductor company. Michelle Robson Founding Partner, Odyssey Ventures
The company has already delivered functioning chips and reached key integration milestones with research and development partners, including Motif Neurotech in the US and Amber Therapeutics in the UK. Earlier this year, it announced a partnership and multi-year commercial chip supply agreement with Motif, supporting the development of a minimally invasive neurostimulator initially targeting treatment-resistant depression.
"Neural devices such as brain-computer interfaces represent one of the most exciting frontier technology opportunities today, and significant value will accrue to those solving the foundational infrastructure challenges that stand between innovation and widespread adoption," said Michelle Robson, Founding Partner at Odyssey Ventures, which led the latest investment round.
"MintNeuro has the technology, market pull and ambition to become a globally important semiconductor company," she went on, "and we are backing this exceptional team as it scales from the UK into global markets, including Silicon Valley."
Other participants in the funding round include 33East, JSK Investments and Alumni Ventures, along with Empirical Ventures, Jumpspace Ventures and other first-round investors.
