Elon Musk's Neuralink Raises $9 Billion After Briefly Claiming 'Small Disadvantaged Business' Status

Elon Musk's Neuralink briefly claimed to be a "small disadvantaged business" before raising $650 million and being valued at over $9 billion. The filing was later corrected, stating the box was checked erroneously. Neuralink has completed human trials and plans to reach 20 implants by 2025. Despite progress, the company has faced criticism, including from the deaf community, and is backed by major investors.

Neuralink Corp., Elon Musk's brain implant company, has recently shared ambitious financial projections and market expansion plans. According to documents reviewed by Bloomberg [1], Neuralink expects to generate at least $1 billion in annual revenue by 2031, with plans to implant its chips in 20,000 people a year. By 2029, the company aims to perform 2,000 surgeries annually and generate $100 million in revenue with the Telepathy device, which enables communication between the brain and machines.

Neuralink's roadmap includes the launch of its Blindsight vision chip by 2030, aiming to perform 10,000 surgeries a year and bring in over $500 million. The company has also set a goal to establish five large clinics by 2031. These projections assume a conservative reimbursement of $50,000 per surgery.

The company's financial projections are part of a broader vision to treat diseases and gain unprecedented access to the human mind. Neuralink has completed human trials and plans to reach 20 implants by 2025. However, the company has faced criticism, including from the deaf community, and is backed by major investors.

Neuralink's recent filing to claim a "small disadvantaged business" status was later corrected, as it was found to be erroneously checked. Despite this, the company has raised $1.3 billion from investors and is now valued at $9 billion [2].

The integration of AI into Neuralink's devices is a key differentiator. The company's bionic eye project, currently tested in animal models, aims to integrate AI algorithms to translate visual data into neural signals, enabling users to recognize faces, read text, and navigate environments. This approach aligns with broader trends in medical technology, with the global BCI market projected to grow from $2.87 billion in 2024 to $15.14 billion by 2035 [2].

Neuralink's strategic collaboration with research teams in Spain and California underscores its ambition to transcend traditional BCI applications and expand into multi-sensory neuroprosthetics. This cross-border synergy mirrors trends in pharmaceutical R&D, where global partnerships streamline clinical trials and approvals.

However, Neuralink's progress must be contextualized against the broader Musk portfolio. The recent delays in Tesla's Robotaxi project and Starship development have fueled skepticism about aggressive timelines. Investors should weigh these risks against Neuralink's $50,000-per-surgery reimbursement model and plans for five large clinics by 2031.

Neuralink's success will depend on regulatory milestones, clinical validation, and scalability. The company's ability to demonstrate scalable outcomes in bionic vision could validate its valuation and attract capital from healthcare and AI-focused funds.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-23/neuralink-sees-1-billion-of-revenue-by-2031-in-vast-expansion
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/neuralink-bold-leap-bionic-vision-catalyst-future-ai-driven-healthcare-2507/