Former Neuralink co‑founder’s Science Corp targets blindness with $230M round
A bold new effort to restore vision using an electronic implant in the eye has attracted major investor backing. Science Corp, the neurotechnology startup founded by Max Hodak, a former co‑founder of Neuralink, has reportedly raised about $230 million to develop a chip that could one day help people with profound vision loss see again.
How the eye‑implanted chip is designed to work
The company is developing a high‑density retinal implant that sits at the back of the eye and interfaces directly with surviving nerve cells. Tiny electrodes on the chip are designed to stimulate the retina with precise patterns of electrical activity, effectively bypassing damaged photoreceptors.
By pairing this hardware with advanced AI algorithms and external imaging systems, Science Corp aims to translate visual scenes into neural signals that the brain can interpret as light, shapes and motion. While this would not restore natural sight, it could provide functional vision—enough to navigate environments, recognize large objects and gain greater independence.
A new front in the neurotech race
Unlike Neuralink, which focuses on brain‑computer interfaces implanted directly in the cortex, Science Corp is targeting the visual system through the eye, a route that may present different surgical and regulatory challenges. The company is positioning its platform as a potential treatment for conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and advanced macular degeneration, where the retina’s light‑sensing cells are destroyed but downstream neural pathways remain partly intact.
Safety, regulation and realistic timelines
Experts caution that such implants face rigorous testing for long‑term safety, durability and image quality. Any device that resides in the eye must withstand constant motion, fluid exposure and the risk of inflammation or scarring. Regulatory agencies will demand robust clinical evidence before approving use in humans beyond tightly controlled trials.
Still, the scale of the new funding suggests growing confidence that retinal neuroprosthetics are moving from speculative concept toward practical medical device. If Science Corp can demonstrate even partial restoration of vision with acceptable risk, its eye chip could mark a major milestone for both neurotechnology and patients living with irreversible blindness.