China's Zhentai raises tens of millions in Series B as brain-computer rehab reaches 500+ hospitals
What's the deal? Xi'an Zhentai Intelligent Technology has closed a Series B round worth tens of millions of yuan, co-led by Zhangjiang Science and Technology Investment and Cinda Future Industry Fund. It marks the company's first backing from state capital.
What does it do? Founded in 2018, Zhentai applies non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to medical rehabilitation. Its "BCI + VR + robot" system reads a patient's movement intent from brainwaves, delivers immersive feedback, and converts that intent into real limb motion — aimed at stroke and post-operative recovery.
By the numbers: The company holds four Class II medical device registrations, and its products have reached more than 500 hospitals and community facilities, serving several hundred thousand patients. It says a large-sample clinical trial showed roughly 30% better outcomes than passive training, with treatment time cut by nearly a third.
What's the money for? Proceeds will fund registration of a Class III BCI device, core technology research, and the national rollout of a three-tier "hospital–community–home" rehabilitation network. Zhentai previously raised capital from Lenovo Capital, MiraclePlusDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Suzhou Huyanglin Capital.
What's the endgame? Founder and chief executive officer Wang Haochong wants to move from rehabilitation into treatment, extending into cognitive and emotional disorders such as Alzheimer's, depression, and anxiety. In September, Zhentai set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Shanghai's Zhangjiang and began filing for Class III approval of an AI-driven BCI product.
Why now? Investors framed neural rehabilitation as one of the more mature, clinically valuable applications of BCI, a sector China lists among its priority future industries. Cinda called the field's commercial window an "industry explosion."
What could go wrong? Hospital coverage is not the same as sustained purchasing, usage, or revenue. Funding and distribution alone do not prove outcomes are reproducible or that the business model is mature.
The signal: Capital in China's BCI space is shifting from implant research toward rehabilitation deployment. While rival NeuracleDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has secured Class III registration for an implantable device, Zhentai's bet is on scale — real-world clinical data from hundreds of hospitals, now backed by state money, as the foundation for its next products.
Read more: 36kr.com
Image credit: texas_mustang
