Key takeaways
- Top pick: Neuralink, best for: People with paralysis joining implant trials, and the researchers running them. Neuralink received FDA authorization to begin its first human clinical study in May 2023.
- Also near the top: Neko Health and Precision Neuroscience, best for: Hospitals mapping brain activity during surgery.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Medtech Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Neuralink ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.0.
Neuralink leads for brain implants, with a $650 million Series E and its device in human trials, and
Neko Health leads preventive body scanning with clinics already open.
Precision Neuroscience has an FDA-cleared brain interface, and
Science Corp sells a vision-restoring retinal implant in Europe.
Best Medtech Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  NeuralinkNeuralink received FDA authorization to begin its first human clinical study in May 2023. | People with paralysis joining implant trials, and the researchers running them | 97.0 | Not public |
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| 2 |  Neko HealthNeko raised $260 million in January 2025 before its $700 million Series C in July 2026. | Adults who want a yearly preventive health check | 95.7 | £299 |
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| 3 |  Precision NeuroscienceThe FDA cleared Layer 7 in April 2025 for implantation of up to 30 days. | Hospitals mapping brain activity during surgery | 94.4 | Custom |
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| 4 |  Science CorpScience Corp says PRIMA is the first brain-computer interface device to receive CE marking for restoring form vision. | Eye clinics treating geographic atrophy in Europe | 93.1 | Not public |
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| 5 |  SynchronSynchron says its Series D will fund pivotal trials ahead of a Stentrode launch. | Patients with severe paralysis seeking a less invasive implant | 91.8 | Not public |
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| 6 |  Medical Microinstruments (MMI)Symani holds a CE mark and FDA authorization for use in the US. | Hospitals doing reconstructive and microsurgery | 90.5 | Custom |
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| 7 |  ForSight RoboticsForSight's $125 million Series B in June 2025 was raised to address surgeon shortages and rising demand for eye surgery. | Eye surgery centres facing surgeon shortages | 89.2 | Custom |
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| 8 |  Noah MedicalGalaxy received FDA clearance for robotic navigated bronchoscopy in March 2023. | Pulmonology teams diagnosing early lung cancer | 87.9 | Custom |
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| 9 |  Capstan MedicalIntuitive Ventures, the investment arm of Intuitive Surgical, is an investor in Capstan. | Structural heart teams treating valve disease | 86.6 | Custom |
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| 10 |  Field MedicalFieldForce received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in December 2024. | Electrophysiologists treating ventricular tachycardia | 85.3 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Fully implanted, wireless high-channel brain implant
Neuralink, founded in 2016 and based in Fremont, California, makes an implantable brain-computer interface that lets people with paralysis control computers with neural signals. It raised a $650 million Series E in June 2025.
PROS- Best-funded and most visible BCI programme
- Fully implanted and wireless
CONS- Investigational, not approved for sale
- Requires brain surgery
- Best for
- People with paralysis joining implant trials, and the researchers running them
- Where it falls short
- It requires brain surgery to implant the device.
- Pick something else if
- you want a non-invasive solution.
97.0
02
Full-body preventive health scans
Neko Health, founded in 2018 in Stockholm, runs clinics with its own non-invasive full-body scanning system for preventive health checks. It raised a $700 million Series C in July 2026 ahead of its US launch.
PROS- Clinics open to paying customers
- Scan takes about an hour
CONS- Screening, not diagnosis or treatment
- Limited number of clinic locations
- Best for
- Adults who want a yearly preventive health check
- Where it falls short
- It offers screening rather than diagnosis or treatment.
- Pick something else if
- you need a diagnosis.
95.7
03
Thin-film cortical interface on the brain's surface
Precision Neuroscience, founded in 2021 and based in New York, makes the Layer 7 cortical interface, a thin electrode array that records brain activity from the surface of the brain. It closed a $250 million Series D in September 2026, led by Pershing Square and the Ackman-Oxman Institute.
PROS- FDA-cleared device in clinical use
- Does not penetrate brain tissue
CONS- Clearance limited to 30-day use
- Permanent implant still in development
- Best for
- Hospitals mapping brain activity during surgery
- Where it falls short
- It is limited to short-term use and lacks a permanent implant option.
- Pick something else if
- you need long-term or permanent brain monitoring.
94.4
04
PRIMA retinal implant that restores some sight
Science Corp, based in Alameda, California, makes PRIMA, a wireless retinal implant paired with camera glasses that restores some central vision to people with geographic atrophy from dry macular degeneration. It raised $230 million in March 2026 and launched PRIMA commercially in Europe in July 2026.
PROS- CE marked and launching commercially in Europe
- Strong clinical trial results
CONS- Restored vision is low resolution
- Not approved in the US
- Best for
- Eye clinics treating geographic atrophy in Europe
- Where it falls short
- It is not approved in the US.
- Pick something else if
- you live in the United States.
93.1
05
Stentrode BCI implanted through a blood vessel
Synchron, founded in 2016 and based in Brooklyn, New York, makes the Stentrode, a brain-computer interface delivered through a blood vessel rather than open-brain surgery. It raised a $200 million Series D in November 2025, led by Double Point Ventures, bringing total funding to $345 million.
PROS- No open brain surgery needed
- Moving toward a pivotal trial
CONS- Fewer electrodes than surface or penetrating arrays
- Not yet approved for sale
- Best for
- Patients with severe paralysis seeking a less invasive implant
- Where it falls short
- It is not yet approved for sale.
- Pick something else if
- you need a commercially available device today.
91.8
06
Symani robotic microsurgery
MMI, founded in 2015, makes the Symani Surgical System, a robot for open microsurgery that uses tiny wristed NanoWrist instruments. It raised a $125 million Series D in October 2026.
PROS- Robot built specifically for microsurgery
- Large recent funding round
CONS- Specialist use case
- Early in US rollout
- Best for
- Hospitals doing reconstructive and microsurgery
- Where it falls short
- It is still early in its US rollout.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate widespread availability.
90.5
07
Robotic eye surgery
ForSight Robotics, founded in 2020 and based in Yokneam, Israel, is building a robotic platform for eye surgery, starting with cataract procedures. It raised a $125 million Series B in June 2025.
PROS- Targets a very high-volume procedure
- Large Series B for its stage
CONS- Not yet cleared for sale
- Early clinical stage
- Best for
- Eye surgery centres facing surgeon shortages
- Where it falls short
- It is not yet cleared for sale.
- Pick something else if
- you need a commercially available solution.
89.2
08
Galaxy robotic bronchoscopy
Noah Medical, founded in 2018 and based in San Carlos, California, makes Galaxy, a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system for locating and sampling lung lesions. It raised a $150 million Series B in April 2023.
PROS- FDA cleared and in clinical use
- Focused on early lung cancer diagnosis
CONS- Single clinical area
- Competes with larger incumbents
- Best for
- Pulmonology teams diagnosing early lung cancer
- Where it falls short
- It serves only a single clinical area.
- Pick something else if
- you need solutions for multiple medical specialties.
87.9
09
Robot-delivered heart valve replacement
Capstan Medical, founded in 2020 and based in Santa Cruz, California, is developing a robotic platform with catheter-delivered implants for mitral and tricuspid valve replacement. It raised a $110 million Series C led by Eclipse, taking total funding above $150 million.
PROS- Combines implant and robot in one system
- Backed by Intuitive Ventures
CONS- Still in clinical trials
- Not approved for sale
- Best for
- Structural heart teams treating valve disease
- Where it falls short
- It is not approved for sale yet.
- Pick something else if
- you need an approved device now.
86.6
10
FieldForce pulsed field ablation
Field Medical, founded in 2022 and based in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, is developing the FieldForce pulsed field ablation system to treat ventricular tachycardia. It raised a $35 million Series B in July 2025, taking total funding to $75 million.
PROS- FDA Breakthrough Device designation
- Targets a hard-to-treat arrhythmia
CONS- Pivotal trial still under way
- Not approved for sale
- Best for
- Electrophysiologists treating ventricular tachycardia
- Where it falls short
- The device is not yet approved for sale and its pivotal trial remains under way.
- Pick something else if
- you need an FDA-approved treatment now.
85.3
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Medtech Startups?
Neuralink ranks first on Lister. Neuralink, founded in 2016 and based in Fremont, California, makes an implantable brain-computer interface that lets people with paralysis control computers with neural signals. It raised a $650 million Series E in June 2025.
What are the top 10 Medtech Startups?
1. Neuralink; 2. Neko Health; 3. Precision Neuroscience; 4. Science Corp; 5. Synchron; 6. Medical Microinstruments (MMI); 7. ForSight Robotics; 8. Noah Medical; 9. Capstan Medical; 10. Field Medical.
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