BCI-Sonics

About BCI-Sonics

BCI-Sonics, also known as Huachao Shenkong (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., is a Shanghai-based company developing a next-generation brain-computer interface (BCI) platform that utilizes AI-powered, low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for non-invasive neuromodulation. The company has recently secured approximately RMB 100 million in a series of angel financing rounds to advance its technology and commercialization efforts. The angel round was led by Matrix Partners China, and the subsequent angel+ round was co-led by Delian Capital and Daoyuan Capital. The core of BCI-Sonics' technology is the use of low-intensity focused ultrasound to modulate neural activity through mechanical effects, a departure from traditional electrical or magnetic stimulation methods. This approach, also known as transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), allows for deep brain penetration with high precision, targeting areas within 1.5mm. The technology works by generating minute mechanical pressure at the target, which physically alters neuronal membranes and opens mechano-sensitive ion channels to either induce or suppress neural impulses. The company's system is designed to overcome challenges like skull heterogeneity by using a hybrid acoustic field correction algorithm that reconstructs the acoustic field and compensates for phase variations in under 10 seconds. A key differentiator for BCI-Sonics is its full-stack, self-developed AI engine, which personalizes the neuromodulation protocol for each patient. This AI engine moves beyond a "one-size-fits-all" model by searching through a vast parameter space—including sound intensity, duty cycle, and beamforming—to generate an optimal treatment plan based on individual patient data, such as skull acoustic transparency and target depth. BCI-Sonics has developed what it claims is the world's first system to enable synergistic stimulation of both deep nuclei, like the thalamus, and the superficial cortex. The core team at BCI-Sonics possesses expertise across neural science, acoustic physics, and artificial intelligence, with experience spanning the entire medical device lifecycle from prototype to clinical registration and commercialization. The strategy and operations team includes individuals with backgrounds from top global universities who have experience in cross-border M&A and medical sector investments.