Neuralink, the brain-machine interface company founded by Elon Musk, has silently secured an additional $43 million in venture capital, as disclosed in a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This funding follows the company’s previous round led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, which was increased from $280 million to $323 million in early August, involving participation from 32 investors.
While Neuralink has not publicly disclosed its current valuation, a June report from Reuters suggested the company was valued at approximately $5 billion based on private stock transactions. Established in 2016, Neuralink has pioneered a revolutionary device resembling a sewing machine, designed to implant ultra-thin threads into the brain. These threads are connected to a custom chip equipped with electrodes capable of reading information from clusters of neurons.
While brain-signal-reading implants have been in existence for decades, Neuralink’s key innovation lies in making these implants wireless and increasing the number of electrodes for enhanced functionality. In May, Neuralink received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human clinical trials, following a previous rejection. The company initiated its first human trials, recruiting participants under an investigational device exemption granted by the FDA.
However, Neuralink is facing heightened scrutiny due to allegations of a toxic workplace culture and unethical research practices. Former employees, speaking anonymously, described a workplace characterized by a “culture of blame and fear,” where Musk reportedly undermined management by encouraging junior employees to communicate directly with him regarding issues and complaints.
By August 2020, only three of the eight founding scientists remained at the company, highlighting internal conflicts arising from a clash between rushed timelines and the slow pace of scientific progress. In 2022, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) accused Neuralink and its former research partner, UC Davis, of mistreating monkeys involved in hardware testing. The alleged mistreatment reportedly caused psychological distress and chronic infections due to surgeries.
Reports from Reuters and Wired indicated that testing procedures were expedited due to Musk’s insistence on quick results, resulting in complications during electrode installations, including partial paralysis and brain swelling. Neuralink underwent nearly a year of federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for potential animal welfare violations. The USDA ultimately found “no evidence” of breaches, except for a self-reported incident from 2019. However, the PCRM contested the investigation’s results.
In November 2023, U.S. lawmakers called on the SEC to investigate Neuralink for allegedly omitting details about the deaths of at least twelve animals that underwent surgical implantation of its devices.
This recent funding injection raises questions about Neuralink’s financial position and its ability to navigate challenges amidst growing concerns about workplace practices and research ethics. As the brain-machine interface industry advances, Neuralink’s journey reflects not only technological innovations but also the ethical considerations and controversies inherent in pioneering groundbreaking neuroscience solutions.