Nanochap
Nanochap (暖芯迦) is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company designing neural interface and biosensing chips for medical device manufacturers, wearable health OEMs, and brain-computer interface applications. It sells chips, modules, and a high-resolution visual BCI implant via direct B2B sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nanochap does
Nanochap (暖芯迦电子科技有限公司) is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company founded in 2014 that designs neural interface and biosensing chips for medical, health-monitoring, and brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. The company is headquartered in Hangzhou with R&D operations in Shenzhen and Melbourne, Australia, and additional offices in Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City. Nanochap's product portfolio spans three layers: chips (the core), evaluation modules, and finished devices. Its chip roadmap is organized under two sub-brands — 'Yuanshen' (元神) for neural stimulation chips including NNC_Pstim320 (320 channels), NNC_ENS001, and NNC6121, and 'Jiugan' (九感) for biosensing chips including NNC_EPC001 (vital signs SoC), NNC_BMS002 (biomolecular signal processing), NNC_BAF003 (ultra-low-power physiological AFE), and NNC_BMS003 (ultra-low-power electrochemical sensing for continuous glucose monitoring). Its flagship is the high-resolution Visual BCI (V-BCI), an implantable retinal/visual cortex prosthesis system for blind patients, with a second-generation 1280-channel version launched in October 2025.
The underlying technology combines mixed-signal SoC design with proprietary packaging: the company holds patented ultra-short pulse laser bio-glass hermetic packaging that enables implants under 16mm² with lifespans exceeding 10 years versus an industry average under 3 years. V-BCI uses 4-chip cascading to achieve 1280 signal acquisition and stimulation channels, with the world's highest-density feedthrough at 100μm pitch and 2μm flexible polyimide electrodes. Stimulator chips integrate ARM Cortex-M0 MCUs with multi-channel drivers capable of arbitrary waveforms up to 250kHz, supporting applications from EMS, TENS, IFT, CES to cochlear implants and DBS. Sensor chips integrate RISC-V or ARM cores with high-precision ECG/EEG/EMG/PPG analog front-ends and 16- to 24-bit ADCs.
Nanochap operates a B2B hardware sales model, selling components and modules to medical device manufacturers, health and wearable device OEMs, beauty equipment makers, and smart home IoT companies via direct sales with dedicated product-line sales managers, sample-request forms on nanochap.cn, and quote-based pricing. Revenue streams are bio-chip sales, module/board sales, and — once commercialized — finished V-BCI devices. The company markets through its website, WeChat official accounts, technical documentation, and industry events. Founded by Yang Jiawei (PhD, University of Melbourne) with a core team from the Melbourne Neuroengineering Center, the company has grown to 51-100 employees, holds 80+ patent applications (10 Chinese invention patents granted, 13 international), and has secured National Specialized 'Little Giant' Enterprise certification and selection under China's National Key R&D Program.
Nanochap firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nanochap
- Legal name
- 暖芯迦电子科技有限公司
- Website
- https://nanochap.cn
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Nanochap (暖芯迦) is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company designing neural interface and biosensing chips for medical device manufacturers, wearable health OEMs, and brain-computer interface applications. It sells chips, modules, and a high-resolution visual BCI implant via direct B2B sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nanochap industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biomedical Semiconductor Chips
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK)
Keywords
Where Nanochap is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices5 records
Markets served
Nanochap business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Bio-chip Sales: Sale of semiconductor chips including neural stimulation chips (ENS001, NNC6121, Pstim320), biosensor chips (EPC001, BMS002, BAF003) to medical device manufacturers and health technology companies. Revenue generated from component sales in B2B model.
- Module/Board Sales: Sale of detection and stimulation modules (EPCM001 series, BMSM series) and development boards for customer evaluation and product integration.
- Device Sales: Sale of finished devices including high-resolution visual brain-computer interface products (implantable body and external unit) for patients with retinal pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B component sales with sample requests |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Nanochap product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nanochap designs and manufactures semiconductor bio-chips (neural stimulation and biosensor SoCs), integrated detection and stimulation modules, and a high-resolution visual brain-computer interface (V-BCI) implant system. Products are sold as OEM components and modules to medical device manufacturers, wearable/consumer health electronics makers, beauty equipment producers, and smart home/IoT device integrators.
Product overview
Nanochap (暖芯迦) is a biotechnolog company specializing in neural interface and biosensing chip R&D, offering a portfolio of semiconductor chips and modules for health monitoring and neurostimulation applications. The product portfolio comprises three main categories: (1) Brain-computer interfaces — the V-BCI visual prosthesis for blind patients; (2) Bio chips — divided into neural stimulation chips (NNC_Pstim320, NNC_ENS001, NNC6121) and biosensing chips (NNC_EPC001, NNC_BMS002, NNC_BAF003, NNC_BMS003); and (3) Modules — including vital signs detection modules (EPCM001A/B/C/F/G series for ECG, EEG, EMG, pulse, body fat) and stimulation modules (NNC6121MH/MI/MK series). The chips serve as the core processing units while modules provide ready-to-integrate subsystems for OEM manufacturers. The company also develops associated development boards for each chip platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 九感: Product brand for biosensing chips including EPC001, BMS002, BAF003 series chips
- 元神
Products and services
- High-Resolution Visual Brain-Computer Interface (V-BCI) Retinal and visual cortex implant system (implantable body plus external unit) designed to restore vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. First generation features 320 stimulation channels; second generation extends to 1280 channels using 4-chip cascade architecture.
- NNC_Pstim320 Programmable High-Density Neural Stimulation Chip
Quantifiable outcome
- Implant lifespan exceeds 10 years, vs industry average <3 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Nanochap
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Nanochap technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Nanochap partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nanochap competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Medtronic: Medtronic is a global leader in neuromodulation and implantable medical devices (DBS, SCS, sacral nerve stimulation), overlapping with Nanochap's broader neurostimulation chip roadmap (ENS001, NNC6121) into clinical-grade implantable systems.
- Texas Instruments: Texas Instruments is a leading supplier of low-power analog front-ends and AFEs widely used in wearable vital-signs monitoring (ECG, PPG, bioimpedance) — the same functional category as Nanochap's BAF003 and EPC001 SoCs. It competes for the same OEM design slots in consumer wearables and medical devices.
- Analog Devices: Analog Devices offers precision analog front-ends, electrochemical sensor AFEs, and bio-sensing ICs (including for continuous glucose monitoring) that compete directly with Nanochap's BMS002 and BMS003 electrochemical/biosensor chips in medical and wearable OEM designs.
- Boston Scientific: Boston Scientific's neuromodulation business (Vercise DBS, Spectra SCS) targets similar indications and end customers as Nanochap's high-channel stimulation chips, and is a broad incumbent with established clinical, regulatory, and distribution infrastructure that Nanochap must compete against for OEM partnerships.
Direct peers
- Blackrock Microsystems: Blackrock Microsystems designs and manufactures neural interface chips, electrode arrays, and stimulation systems used in BCI research and clinical neuroprosthetics. It is directly comparable to Nanochap in mixed-signal neural stimulation ASICs and high-channel-count acquisition systems.
- Pixium Vision: Pixium Vision develops retinal implant systems (e.g., PRIMA) for patients with retinitis pigmentosa and AMD — the same indication Nanochap's first-generation retinal V-BCI targets. Both companies compete in the visual prosthesis space with chip-based stimulation implants.
- Neuralink: Neuralink is developing high-channel-count brain-computer interfaces, including its Blindsight visual prosthesis program that directly competes with Nanochap's V-BCI for restoring vision in blind patients. Both target the same implantable, high-resolution visual neuroprosthesis market with comparable chip-cascading architectures.
- Cortigent (formerly Second Sight Medical Products): Cortigent is developing the Orion visual cortical prosthesis to restore vision via cortical stimulation, directly competing with Nanochap's second-generation 1280-channel V-BCI on the visual cortex side. Both companies target blindness restoration through implantable cortical stimulators.
Emerging players
- Paradromics: Paradromics is building a high-data-rate brain-computer interface using custom chip technology. It is an emerging peer in implantable neural-interface silicon and competes with Nanochap for engineering talent and clinical partnerships in high-channel-count neural recording and stimulation.
- Synchron: Synchron is developing a stent-based brain-computer interface for paralyzed patients, representing an emerging BCI peer. While it focuses on motor rather than visual restoration, it competes for BCI clinical-trial talent, regulatory attention, and the broader implantable neurotech market that Nanochap addresses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nanochap social profiles
Digital presenceNanochap financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nanochap leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nanochap funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nanochap M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nanochap
What does Nanochap do?
Nanochap designs and manufactures semiconductor bio-chips (neural stimulation and biosensor SoCs), integrated detection and stimulation modules, and a high-resolution visual brain-computer interface (V-BCI) implant system. Products are sold as OEM components and modules to medical device manufacturers, wearable/consumer health electronics makers, beauty equipment producers, and smart home/IoT device integrators.
Is Nanochap a public or private company?
Nanochap is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nanochap founded?
Nanochap was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Nanochap based?
Nanochap is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Nanochap make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bio-chip Sales are the primary driver. The others are module/Board Sales and device Sales.
Who are Nanochap's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Medtronic, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices and Boston Scientific. Direct peers are Blackrock Microsystems, Pixium Vision, Neuralink and Cortigent (formerly Second Sight Medical Products). Emerging players are Paradromics and Synchron.
Does Nanochap have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nanochap.
What industry is Nanochap in?
Nanochap's product category is Biomedical Semiconductor Chips. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAK, Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.