Neural Chips for Parkinson's and Epilepsy Attract $5M to London Startup

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-07

MintNeuro, a British semiconductor company that builds specialized chips for neural devices—everything from brain implants to wearables—just raised €4.4 million (about $5 million). The round is led by Odyssey Ventures, with participation from 33East, JSK Investments, and Alumni Ventures. Returning investors include Empirical Ventures, Jumpspace Ventures, and early backers. The company plans to use the fresh capital to speed up product launches, get pre-release silicon into the hands of more partners, and expand its global footprint. ### Why This Matters for Brain-Computer Interfaces "Every neural device depends on the chips inside it," says Dorian Haci, co-founder and CEO of MintNeuro. "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." He adds: "We are building the chips that end that trade-off. This funding moves us from technology validation to commercial scale-up, with more customer programs, faster product launches, and our chips in the hands of many more developers." In plain English: MintNeuro wants to be the Intel of neurotech—the go-to chip platform that every brain device builder relies on. ### Riding the Neurotech Wave This investment isn't happening in a vacuum. European neurotechnology is having a moment. In 2026 alone, several notable rounds have closed: - €40.6 million for Eindhoven's ONWARD Medical to advance spinal-cord stimulation - €20 million for Vienna's nyra health to expand digital neurorehabilitation - €10 million for French-Belgian neurodiagnostics company neuroClues - €4.3 million for UK-based Cerca Magnetics to scale wearable brain imaging - €1.7 million for Zurich- and London-based Connectome - €1.3 million for Amsterdam neuroprosthetics developer Phosphoenix - €6 million Series A for Lausanne-based Xsensio, which makes semiconductor-enabled health hardware Add it all up, and these 2026 rounds total roughly €83.9 million—or about €88.3 million once MintNeuro's €4.4 million is included. The UK is clearly a hotbed for brain and neural tech investment. ### From Lab to Market: MintNeuro's Progress Founded in 2022 as a spinout from Imperial College London, MintNeuro is building the semiconductor foundation for next-generation neurotechnology. Its chips help devices connect with the brain and nervous system, enabling new therapies for neurological and mental health conditions. According to the company, its chips offer better performance than generic components—with less risk, lower cost, and a faster route to market than designing custom chips from scratch. MintNeuro has already delivered working silicon and hit key integration milestones with R&D partners like Motif Neurotech and Amber Therapeutics. Earlier this year, it announced a multi-year commercial chip supply agreement with Motif to support a minimally invasive neurostimulator targeting treatment-resistant depression. ### What Investors See "Neural devices such as BCIs represent one of the most exciting frontier technology opportunities today," says Michelle Robson, Founding Partner at Odyssey Ventures. "Significant value will accrue to those solving the foundational infrastructure challenges that stand between innovation and widespread adoption." She continues: "MintNeuro has the technology, market pull, and ambition to become a globally important semiconductor company. We are backing this exceptional team as it scales from the UK into global markets, including Silicon Valley." Yiannis Eftychiou, co-founder and Partner at 33East, adds: "What stood out to us is the sheer breadth of the hardware opportunity. MintNeuro is solving critical needs for neural implants today, with technology that can extend into wearables and beyond." ### The Road Ahead With this funding, MintNeuro is poised to accelerate its commercial rollout. The company's chips could become the standard for neural devices—not just for Parkinson's and epilepsy, but for a wide range of neurological and mental health conditions. As brain-computer interfaces move from sci-fi to reality, the companies building the foundational technology will be the ones to watch. MintNeuro just got a major vote of confidence.