Science Corporation Raises $230 Mn to Advance BCI Implant for Vision Restoration

The device is designed to restore functional vision in patients with conditions such as macular degeneration and other retinal disorders

California-based Neurotechnology startup Science Corporation has raised $230 million in Series C funding to accelerate the development of its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology designed to restore vision in patients with severe retinal diseases.

The funding round, which included participation from investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, IQT, and Quiet Capital, brought the company’s total capital to approximately $490 million.

Founded in 2021 by Max Hodak, a former co-founder of Neuralink, the company is developing a retinal implant known as PRIMA.

The device is designed to restore functional vision in patients with conditions such as macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

The PRIMA system works by implanting a small electronic chip beneath the retina. The implant interacts with camera-equipped glasses that leverage AI to capture and convert visual information into signals that stimulate retinal cells, allowing patients to perceive visual patterns.

The new capital infusion is expected to support commercial deployment of the device, including scaling manufacturing capabilities, expanding clinical trials, and building operational infrastructure required for wider adoption.

The device's clinical trials showed that approximately 80% of participants experienced meaningful improvements in visual acuity, enabling some patients to recognise letters, numbers, and words.

Recently, the startup also partnered with Neurosoft Bioelectronics, a company developing minimally invasive, implantable BCI systems that leverage soft-materials engineering and AI to restore function in people with tinnitus, epilepsy, and other disorders.

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