Overview

Gestala is a Chinese noninvasive BCI startup focused on therapeutic ultrasound neuromodulation. Founded in 2025 by Phoenix Peng, who previously co-founded NeuroXess (one of China’s leading implantable BCI companies), Gestala targets the intersection of functional ultrasound technology and clinical pain management.

Ultrasound Approach

The company is developing focused ultrasound BCI systems that modulate brain activity without surgery or implants. Focused ultrasound can target deep brain structures with millimeter-level precision, offering potential advantages over surface-level approaches like EEG-based systems while avoiding the risks of surgical implantation.

Clinical Target

Gestala’s initial clinical focus is chronic pain treatment, a massive addressable market. Ultrasound neuromodulation may offer an alternative to opioid-based pain management by directly modulating pain-processing circuits in the brain.

Competitive Context

Gestala enters a growing field alongside US-based competitors like Merge Labs (OpenAI-backed) who are also pursuing ultrasound BCI approaches. The combination of the founder’s deep BCI experience from NeuroXess and China’s supportive policy environment for BCI development positions Gestala for rapid advancement.