Neuralink Secretly Gathers Additional Capital Worth IDR 667 Billion

JAKARTA Neuralink, a neurotechnology company owned by Elon Musk, has obtained additional venture capital from investors worth 43 million US dollars (Rp667 billion) according to a TechCrunch report.

The submission to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shows that Neuralink's capital has increased. From the previous 280 million US dollars (Rp4.3 trillion) to 323 million US dollars (Rp 5 trillion).

According to SEC data, Neuralink has amassed 32 new investors. The number of these investors may affect the value of the company. Although Neuralink has not disclosed, the company is known to be worth $5 billion.

Not long ago, four members of the United States House of Representatives (DPR) encouraged the SEC to investigate Neuralink. The company is considered to have deceived investors regarding the safety of brain implants they did.

The DPR representative sent a letter to the SEC with an attachment to medical records regarding Neuralink's trials of monkeys-like animals. They explained that at least 12 monkeys were injected dead due to implant problems.

The deaths of the monkeys due to paralysis, seizures, and swelling of the brain are considered to be related to Neuralink's safety. The company is considered to have violated SEC regulations.

Before the four MPs filed an investigation, Neuralink was indeed a heated debate. In early 2022, Neuralink was accused of deliberately molesting monkeys by the Doctors Committee for Responsible Treatment (PCRM).

This hasty test left thousands of animals psychologically and chronically tortured. However, Neuralink still obtained permission for clinical trials directly to humans in May 2023 as evidence of violations was not found.