A San Francisco startup Epia Neuro launched today with a minimally invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) designed to help stroke survivors regain motor function by reading what the brain intends to do and translating that into actual movement.
The company was founded by Michel Maharbiz, who previously built iota Biosciences, a bioelectronics startup later acquired by Astellas. The team includes engineers and neuroscientists with backgrounds spanning both research and clinical system development.
Stroke is the obvious entry point: roughly 690,000 cases occur in the US annually, with around 60,000 patients potentially eligible for device-based intervention. Within this well-defined clinical wedge, Epia plans first-in-human demonstrations of its BCI device with the Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital.
Epia Neuro’s system is built as a “read/write” interface, meaning it can both record brain signals and deliver stimulation, spanning cortical and deeper brain regions. This contrasts with earlier generations of primarily read-only BCIs focused on signal interpretation alone.
The implant is placed within the skull without penetrating brain tissue via a surgery that takes about an hour, reducing surgical complexity while maintaining stable signal access. Onboard algorithms adapt to each patient’s activity patterns over time, continuously refining how the device interprets signals and responds. Wireless recharging, upgradeable architecture, and AI-driven support are built in for long-term use.
See also: 10 Companies Shaping the Brain-Computer Interface Landscape: Invasive vs Non-Invasive BCI Technology
Early on, the device supports rehabilitation — reinforcing intended movements through feedback and stimulation while some recovery is still possible. As recovery plateaus, it shifts into an assistive role, driving wearable external devices to support tasks like gripping objects. The company is also signaling longer-term ambitions in cognitive decline, Parkinson’s, and neuropsychiatric conditions.
The neurotechnology landscape in 2025 was increasingly defined by use-case-driven design, where clinical applications began to dictate system architecture.
With the first in the world minimally invasive BCI recently approved for commercial use in China, Epia Neuro’s approach reflects several converging trends: a growing market for minimally invasive and noninvasive implants and integration of AI for real-time signal interpretation.
Neuracle’s commercial approval was followed by increased funding activity in China’s BCI sector, including a $73 million raise by Shanghai-based StairMed for its robot-inserted flexible electrode system and a $21 million round by Gestala shortly after launch for a non-invasive ultrasound-based BCI platform.
In the USA, in early 2026, Sam Altman-backed Merge Labs raised $252 million to develop ultrasound-based BCIs, and Nia Therapeutics recently received FDA breakthrough device designation for its AI-guided memory loss BCI. The biggest non-invasive USA BCI developer, Neuralink, said it plans high-volume device production and an almost entirely automated implantation workflow in 2026, following a $650 million Series E announced in 2025.
Topic:
NeuroTech