Overview

Gestala (格式塔科技, also reported as Gestalt Technology) is a Chinese noninvasive BCI startup developing phased-array focused ultrasound systems for therapeutic neuromodulation. The corporate entity, Gestala (Chengdu) Technology Co., Ltd., was registered on 5 September 2025 and the company officially launched operations on 1 January 2026, aligning with financial market reporting that described Gestala as having been “founded just two months before its raise” in March 2026. Co-founded by Tianqiao Chen, the billionaire behind Shanda Interactive, and CEO Phoenix Peng, who previously founded NeuroXess, the company targets chronic pain as its lead indication with plans for six to eight total therapeutic programmes.

Technology

The company is developing phased-array ultrasound BCI systems that modulate deep brain structures with millimeter-level precision, without surgery or implants. This approach offers potential advantages over surface-level EEG-based systems while avoiding the risks of surgical implantation. The first-generation prototype is expected before the end of 2026. The platform also covers functional ultrasound imaging and blood-brain-barrier opening, and at the end of June 2026 Gestala completed phase one of a 16,000 square metre factory in Chengdu.

Funding

In March 2026 Gestala closed a CN¥150 million ($21.6 million) round co-led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture, with participation from Tsing Song Capital, Gobi Ventures, Fourier Intelligence, Liepin, and Seas Capital. The round was 2.5 times oversubscribed, with more than $58 million in commitments. The round valued the company at an estimated $100 million to $200 million. In July 2026 Gestala closed a CN¥420 million (US$62 million) Angel+ round led by Huaying Capital, bringing cumulative funding to CN¥570 million.

Footprint

Gestala runs a dual-headquarters model: its global headquarters and factory are in Chengdu (Tianfu International Bio-City), and on 3 July 2026 it opened a Shanghai NeuroAI headquarters at Brain Intelligence World in Minhang District.

Competitive Context

Gestala competes with US-based Merge Labs (backed by OpenAI with $252 million in funding), which also pursues ultrasound BCI. The combination of Chen’s capital network, Peng’s deep BCI experience, and China’s lower clinical trial costs (20 to 33% of US/European equivalents) positions Gestala for rapid advancement. In March 2026 the company had 15 employees and planned to reach 35 by the end of 2026. In April it hired Bashar Badran, whom it describes as Neuralink’s former clinical partnerships lead, as Vice President and Head of Clinical and Science, followed by two former Nano Retina executives, and it has named Trevor Robbins, Feng Jianfeng and Helen Mayberg to its scientific advisory board.