Paradromics has achieved a significant breakthrough in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, marking a pivotal moment for neurotechnology and the future of communication for people with severe motor impairments. On May 14, at the University of Michigan, the Texas-based startup completed the first successful human implantation of its Connexus BCI, signalling its entry into clinical-stage operations and intensifying the race among neurotech innovators.
The procedure, performed during epilepsy resection surgery, involved temporarily implanting and then removing the Connexus device in roughly 20 minutes. The device, smaller than a dime and equipped with 420 micro-needle electrodes, was placed in the patient’s temporal lobe—a region crucial for processing auditory information and memory.
This demonstration not only proved the system’s safety for human use but also confirmed its ability to accurately record high-resolution neural signals at the level of individual neurons. Paradromics used a proprietary EpiPen-like instrument to facilitate the rapid and minimally disruptive implantation
The Connexus platform offers the potential to restore communication for individuals with conditions such as paralysis, ALS, or locked-in syndrome by decoding brain signals and translating them into digital commands. The system is designed to enable speech, text, and cursor control for users who have lost the ability to speak or move, with initial applications targeting those with severe neuromuscular disabilities.
Years of groundwork behind a 20-minute brain-computer breakthrough
Founded in 2015 by CEO Matt Angle, Paradromics has spent nearly a decade developing high-bandwidth BCIs and building a multidisciplinary team of over 60 experts in Austin, Texas. The company has raised over $105 million in venture funding and secured $18 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health and DARPA, reflecting strong confidence in its technology and mission.
Angle’s vision is to transform untreatable brain health conditions into solvable technology problems, and the company’s preclinical trials in sheep demonstrated both strong data quality and signal longevity—two sheep carried the device for over two-and-a-half years without signal degradation
Reflecting on the milestone, he said: “You do all of these steps, you validate the hardware, you have this really high degree of rational certainty that things are going to work, but still emotionally when it works and when it happens the way you expected it to, it’s still very, very gratifying.”
The procedure was conducted under Dr Oren Sagher, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Michigan. Dr Matthew Willsey, assistant professor of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering at the university, led the research component, including placement of the Connexus device. Willsey commented, “It’s absolutely thrilling. It’s motivating, and this kind of thing helps me get up in the morning and go to work.”
Paradromics’ brain-computer approach brings the signal closer to the source
While other brain-computer interface companies like Neuralink, Synchron, and Precision Neuroscience are also racing towards commercialisation, Paradromics is positioning its system as best-in-class. The Connexus BCI records neural activity at the level of individual neurons. Angle compares this approach to placing microphones inside a stadium instead of outside it.
According to the company, this high-resolution method enables more accurate decoding of brain signals. In preclinical trials with sheep, Connexus demonstrated strong data quality and signal longevity. Now, the focus is on proving those same attributes in human trials.
Though the Connexus system has not yet been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, Paradromics intends to begin a long-term clinical study later this year, pending regulatory approval. Institutions like the University of Michigan are able to use novel devices for research under provisions that allow low-risk testing.
Backing and future outlook
As of February, Paradromics has raised close to $100M, according to PitchBook data. The company entered into a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Neom earlier this year. This relationship is expected to support global scaling efforts, although no specific investment figure has been made public.
Paradromics’ CEO remains focused on the road ahead: “We’ve shown in sheep that our device is best in class from a data and longevity standpoint, and now we’ve also shown that it’s compatible with humans. That’s really exciting and raises a lot of excitement for our upcoming clinical trial.”
With commercialisation targeted before the end of the decade, Paradromics will continue refining its technology, pursuing regulatory milestones, and building its team as it moves closer to delivering real-world solutions for people with motor disabilities.
