Blackrock Neurotech
Blackrock Neurotech is a private Salt Lake City-based brain-computer interface company developing FDA-cleared implantable microelectrode arrays and neural data-acquisition systems. It supplies 1,000+ neuroscience research laboratories globally and is commercializing the MoveAgain BCI platform for paralysis patients following a $200 million Tether investment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blackrock Neurotech does
Blackrock Neurotech (legal name Blackrock Microsystems Inc., DBA Blackrock Neurotech) is a privately held brain-computer interface company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a regional office in Hanover, Germany. The company designs and manufactures implantable microelectrode arrays — anchored by its FDA 510(k)-cleared Utah Array / NeuroPort Electrode and supporting data acquisition hardware (NeuroPort NSP, NeuroPlex E, Cerebus, CerePlex Direct, CereStim R96) — that record and stimulate neural activity at single-neuron resolution. Its products are used by more than 1,000 research institutions across 53 countries and have been deployed in 38 of the 67 global intracortical BCI clinical-trial participants, accumulating more than 30,000 days of in-patient implant data with zero FDA-reported serious adverse events.
The company's commercial strategy operates on two tracks. First, it sells research-use hardware, headstages, software (Central, cbSDK, brPY, CereStim API) and licensing of electrode know-how to academic and medical-research customers, generating the bulk of current revenue through enterprise field sales. Second, it is transitioning to a regulated medical-device business via the MoveAgain BCI Platform — which received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2021 — to serve patients with paralysis, ALS, and other neurological disorders, with future product lines including the patent-pending Neuralace 10,000+ channel flexible interface and a speech-decoding BCI. In April 2024, Tether Evo acquired a controlling stake through a $200 million investment to accelerate this commercialization, and the company has added scaled medical-device leadership (CTO Jeff C. Jensen, CFO Nathan A. Smith) and clinical-trial partnerships (University of Pittsburgh RNEL, Caltech, Stanford, BrainGate2) to support the pivot.
Blackrock Neurotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blackrock Neurotech
- Legal name
- Blackrock Microsystems Inc.
- Website
- https://blackrockneurotech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Blackrock Neurotech is a private Salt Lake City-based brain-computer interface company developing FDA-cleared implantable microelectrode arrays and neural data-acquisition systems. It supplies 1,000+ neuroscience research laboratories globally and is commercializing the MoveAgain BCI platform for paralysis patients following a $200 million Tether investment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blackrock Neurotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brain-Computer Interface Technology
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Implantable Neuromodulation & Neurostimulation (SCS/DBS/VNS/PNS) (HLAHAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Neurosurgical Implants & Cranial/CMF (Cranial Plates, Dural Repair, Shunts) (HLAHAEAD), Neurological Monitoring (EEG, Seizure/Sleep/Neuro Wearables) (HLAHACAE)
Keywords
Where Blackrock Neurotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Blackrock Neurotech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Research Products Sales: Sale of neurophysiology research tools including electrode arrays, headstages, data acquisition systems, and stimulators to research institutions and universities worldwide. Products include Utah Array, NeuroPort, Cerebus, CerePlex, CereStim, and NeuroSnap product lines.
- MoveAgain Commercial BCI Platform: Planned commercialization of the MoveAgain BCI platform as a medical device for patients with paralysis. Received FDA Breakthrough Designation in 2021 and aims to be commercially available to broader patient population.
- Licensing and Technology Transfer: Licensing of proprietary electrode technology and BCI know-how to research institutions and clinical partners. Technology developed with and licensed from University of Utah and other academic partners.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Blackrock Neurotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blackrock Neurotech develops and manufactures implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, including microelectrode arrays, neural signal processors, digital headstages, and stimulators used by research institutions worldwide. The company is also commercializing the MoveAgain BCI platform, an FDA Breakthrough Device-designated medical device enabling patients with paralysis to control digital devices by thought.
Product overview
Blackrock Neurotech offers a comprehensive neurotechnology platform centered on implantable brain-computer interface systems. The core portfolio includes the NeuroPort System (FDA-cleared neural signal processor), NeuroPlex E digital headstage (FDA-cleared), Utah Array and NeuroPort Electrode 96 (gold-standard microelectrode arrays), CereStim R96 neurostimulator, and Cerebus/CerePlex Direct data acquisition systems. Supporting products include NeuroSnap clinical headstages (A8, D), NeuroSnap Bridge and Splitter Box for clinical research integration, and Noldus EthoVision XT behavioral tracking integration. The MoveAgain BCI Platform represents the company's first commercial product targeting patients with paralysis, while Neuralace (10,000+ channel next-generation interface) is in development. The platform enables applications in motor restoration, speech decoding, sensory feedback, and neuroprosthetics through proprietary neural signal processing and decoding algorithms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Utah Array High-channel-count microelectrode array with up to 128 electrodes per array used for cortical recording and stimulation in neuroscience research.
- NeuroPort Electrode 96 FDA 510(k)-cleared microelectrode array for human neural recording, the only FDA-cleared microelectrode array capable of recording hundreds of neurons from the human cortex.
- NeuroPort System FDA-cleared biopotential signal processing system that records from 32 to 512 channels with real-time deterministic closed-loop capabilities for human BCI applications.
- NeuroPlex E FDA-cleared next-generation digital headstage providing noise-free high-fidelity transmission and recording of extracellular spikes and local field potentials with 128 channels at 16-bit resolution.
- CerePlex Direct Cost-effective MRI-compatible data acquisition system delivering low-noise neural signal recording in a plug-and-play package, supporting up to 256 channels.
- Cerebus Neural Signal Processor Highly-configurable multichannel data acquisition system for animal neurophysiology experiments with closed-loop capabilities and up to 512 channel recording.
- CereStim R96 Fully programmable 96-channel neurostimulator with current-controlled biphasic charge-balanced rectangular stimulation, capable of producing up to 16 simultaneous stimuli from 100μA to 10mA.
- MoveAgain BCI Platform First commercial implantable BCI platform enabling patients with paralysis to control digital devices and interact with computers by thinking. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation received in 2021.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000+ days of safe in-patient BCI research with zero FDA-reported serious adverse events
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Blackrock Neurotech
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Blackrock Neurotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability5 records
Feature11 records
Blackrock Neurotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- CognixionminorDistribution agreement for Axon-R, a non-invasive multi-modal BCI research technology. This partnership expands access to non-invasive BCI research capabilities.
- Noldus Information TechnologycoreOfficial collaboration announced at Society for Neuroscience 2024 (#SfN24) integrating Noldus EthoVision XT behavioral tracking software with Blackrock's electrophysiology systems. The integration enables real-time synchronization of neural activity and behavioral data, creating a unified platform for behavioral and neural research.
- University of Pittsburgh Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (RNEL)corePartnership to expand BCI clinical trials with in-home portable system, extending geographic reach and number of participants. Pitt RNEL is scaling future BCI studies enabling more people with paralysis to participate from their homes. Pitt was among the first research centers to implant Blackrock's BCI in human participants.
- AE StudiominorCollaboration to advance training and calibration in the MoveAgain BCI platform. AE Studio, which won the Neural Latents Benchmark Challenge with their AE Decoder Solution, is developing improved machine learning models and algorithms to decrease calibration requirements and improve user experience for paralyzed patients.
- ClearPoint NeurocorePartnership with industry leader ClearPoint Neuro to develop custom navigation solutions including consumables, hardware, software and robotics to streamline and scale BCI implantation while reducing surgical complications.
- Caltech Andersen LabcoreResearch collaboration for neural implant studies including Galen Buckwalter and James Johnson studies. Galen Buckwalter received six Utah arrays across motor, sensory, and frontal cortices as part of Caltech-led study.
- University of Southern California (USC)coreResearch collaboration with Caltech for neural implant studies. Galen Buckwalter study involves NIH-funded research on neural prostheses for spinal cord injuries conducted by Caltech and USC under Dr. Richard Andersen.
- BrainGate2 Clinical TrialcoreBlackrock Neurotech contributes 96-channel microelectrode arrays to the BrainGate2 clinical trial, which made precise decoding of neural signals possible for research including Stanford University finger decoding studies.
- Battelle and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CentercoreClinical trial collaboration where Ian Burkhart became the first person to use a BCI implant to control muscle stimulation for hand movements. This groundbreaking trial demonstrated restoration of voluntary muscle control.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Blackrock Neurotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paradromics: Emerging implantable BCI company developing high-data-rate Connexus interface for medical and eventually consumer applications. Directly comparable as a next-generation intracortical BCI competitor pursuing FDA pathway.
- Neuralink: Elon Musk-backed implantable BCI company developing the N1 chip and R1 surgical robot. Competes head-to-head with Blackrock's Utah Array and MoveAgain platform for human intracortical BCI applications in paralysis and beyond.
- Synchron: Endovascular BCI company whose Stentrode device is delivered via blood vessels, avoiding open brain surgery. A direct competitor in motor/communication restoration for paralysis patients, with FDA breakthrough designation and implanted patients in the US/Australia.
- Precision Neuroscience: BCI company developing the Layer 7 cortical interface, a thin-film electrode array designed for high-resolution recording. Targets both clinical applications and eventual consumer use, directly competing in intracortical BCI space.
Broad incumbents
- Medtronic: Largest neuromodulation incumbent with Activa PC DBS, Intellis SCS, and Percept PC with BrainSense. Has the manufacturing scale, FDA infrastructure, and neurosurgeon relationships that any commercial BCI must eventually navigate; potential acquirer or competitor in adjacent indications.
- Abbott: Through its St. Jude acquisition, Abbott markets the Infinity DBS and Proclaim SCS systems for neuromodulation. A broad incumbent in implantable neuro devices with established reimbursement and clinical workflows that overlap with Blackrock's MoveAgain commercial targets.
- Boston Scientific: Markets the Vercise DBS and WaveWriter SCS systems and is actively investing in next-gen neuromodulation including brain-computer interface research. A broad incumbent competitor with deep neurosurgery channel access.
Emerging players
- Cognixion: Non-invasive BCI company developing the Axon-R wearable and previously the AXON-R/Talker AAC device. Already in distribution partnership with Blackrock for Axon-R, making it both a partner and a non-invasive competitor for communication restoration in paralysis/ALS.
Others
- ClearPoint Neuro: MRI-guided neurosurgical navigation and drug delivery company that partners with Blackrock on implantation workflows. Acts as the enabling surgical infrastructure layer for Blackrock's commercial BCI rollout rather than a direct competitor.
- BrainGate: Academic consortium conducting the longest-running intracortical BCI clinical trials, including BrainGate2 which uses Blackrock's Utah Array. Functions as both a critical clinical evidence generator and the de facto research-validation channel for Blackrock's implant technology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blackrock Neurotech social profiles
Digital presenceBlackrock Neurotech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Blackrock Neurotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blackrock Neurotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Blackrock Neurotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blackrock Neurotech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blackrock Neurotech
What does Blackrock Neurotech do?
Blackrock Neurotech develops and manufactures implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, including microelectrode arrays, neural signal processors, digital headstages, and stimulators used by research institutions worldwide. The company is also commercializing the MoveAgain BCI platform, an FDA Breakthrough Device-designated medical device enabling patients with paralysis to control digital devices by thought.
Is Blackrock Neurotech a public or private company?
Blackrock Neurotech is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Blackrock Neurotech founded?
Blackrock Neurotech was founded in 2008. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Blackrock Neurotech based?
Blackrock Neurotech is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blackrock Neurotech make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are moveAgain Commercial BCI Platform and licensing and Technology Transfer.
Who are Blackrock Neurotech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paradromics, Neuralink, Synchron and Precision Neuroscience. Broad incumbents are Medtronic, Abbott and Boston Scientific. Cognixion is listed as an emerging player. Others are ClearPoint Neuro and BrainGate.
Does Blackrock Neurotech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blackrock Neurotech.
What industry is Blackrock Neurotech in?
Blackrock Neurotech's product category is Brain-Computer Interface Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAK, Implantable Neuromodulation & Neurostimulation (SCS/DBS/VNS/PNS), with a secondary code of HLAHAEAD, Neurosurgical Implants & Cranial/CMF (Cranial Plates, Dural Repair, Shunts). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3845.