MintNeuro, an Imperial spinout developing semiconductor technology for minimally invasive neural implants, has raised £1 million.

The company’s latest capital raise will help it develop it novel semiconductor technology aimed at driving a new generation of implantable devices for treating neurological conditions.

Neural implants offer a possible treatment for neurological conditions, but are bulky. “Our semiconductor-based approach is fundamentally reshaping what neural implants can achieve,” said Professor Constandinou.

The funding round led by Empirical Ventures included investment from the Imperial College Enterprise Fund and the conversion of a loan note from MedTech SuperConnector.

Neurological conditions affect over one billion people worldwide. In the UK, as many as one in six individuals are affected by the conditions, which include stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease.

Many of these conditions are underserved by current treatments, and neural implants offer a promising alternative route to develop effective, long-term solutions.

But traditional technologies used in neural implants are bulky and power intensive, relying on invasive surgery that increases patient risk. These hurdles limit access to neural implants as a therapeutic intervention.

Reshaping what neural implants can achieve

MintNeuro uses advanced semiconductor technology to make neural implants smaller, more efficient and scalable, with the aim of enabling the mass production of cost-effective neural devices.

The spinout is based on research by the Next Generation Neural Interfaces Lab led by co-founder Professor Tim Constandinou of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Unlike conventional implants, its compact, low-power chips enable modular designs adaptable to various neurological conditions, offering sensing, stimulation, and processing capabilities to enhance both functionality and accessibility.

A collaborations with Imperial and King's is targeting epilepsy monitoring, while a partnership with Amber Therapeutics targets urinary incontinence, with potential for Parkinson's, dementia and depression.

“Our semiconductor-based approach is fundamentally reshaping what neural implants can achieve,” said Professor Constandinou, who serves as the company's Chief Technology Officer.

“By offering a customisable, compact solution that integrates seamlessly into medical devices, we’re empowering a new era of neural interfaces that are not only more powerful but also less invasive. This marks a transformative shift in neurological care.”

“Millions of patients with neurological disorders face limited treatment options,” said Dr Dorian Haci, CEO and co-founder.

“Our goal is to bridge that gap with safer, more accessible, and effective neural technology. This investment accelerates our chip development and enables us to expand our team of experts, bringing game-changing neural implants to clinicians for the benefit of patients everywhere.”

Targeting breakthroughs

MintNeuro’s innovative semiconductor solutions have already gained considerable traction through strategic partnerships with leading institutions and medical device companies. Collaborations include the NIHR-funded DREAM project with Imperial College London and King’s College London and Hospital, targeting development of a breakthrough device for epilepsy monitoring, with a first-in-human study planned for next year.

Additionally, MintNeuro’s partnership with Amber Therapeutics, which has recently secured $100 million in funding, is focused on developing a neuromodulation therapy chipset through an Innovate UK Smart grant. This technology initially targets mixed urinary incontinence, with the potential for future applications of the MintNeuro chipset in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and depression.