Elon Musk looks on while President Donald Trump talks to reporters during a press event in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Elon Musk’s brain-tech company Neuralink has raised a massive $650 million in its latest funding round, marking a major step forward as it begins testing its brain chip in real patients.
The company announced the new funding on Monday, just as it launched human clinical trials for its brain-computer interface. Neuralink says the device is designed to help people with severe medical challenges regain control over their lives — including restoring movement, vision, and even speech — using their thoughts.
So far, five patients with complete paralysis are testing the implant. These individuals are reportedly able to operate phones, computers, and other devices with just their minds. The trials are taking place in three different countries, although the company didn’t reveal specific locations.
The device itself includes a small chip that reads brain signals and sends them to digital devices. Neuralink believes this kind of technology could one day be a game-changer for people with serious neurological conditions.
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Neuralink’s speech-restoring implant a “breakthrough device” status — a tag meant to speed up the review process for new medical tools with the potential to significantly help patients. Neuralink had already earned the same status for a device that aims to restore vision last year.
This FDA recognition means the company will get faster feedback and a quicker path toward approval, helping bring the devices to the people who need them sooner.
Neuralink’s fundraising effort attracted some of the biggest names in the tech investment world. Top backers included ARK Invest, Founders Fund, DFJ Growth, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Human Capital, Valor Equity Partners, G42, QIA, Vy Capital, and Lightspeed. According to sources, the company had already raised $600 million in a deal that valued it at $9 billion, and this fresh funding brings even more momentum.
Elon Musk, who leads several high-profile companies, recently announced that he is stepping down from his advisory role to former U.S. President Donald Trump. He said he wants to focus fully on his ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, Neuralink, and the social media platform X.
In a related development, xAI — another of Musk’s ventures focused on artificial intelligence — is reportedly planning a new funding round. Media reports suggest Morgan Stanley is helping the company line up $5 billion in debt financing. xAI is targeting a massive valuation of $113 billion and a $300 million share sale.
With fresh capital and a nod from health regulators, Neuralink appears set to push forward quickly. The combination of advanced technology, strong investor support, and high-profile leadership puts the company on a fast track toward changing how humans interact with machines — and how people with disabilities can reclaim control over their lives.
