Phantom Neuro secures $19M to expand non-invasive neural prosthetics

Austin-based neurotech startup Phantom Neuro raises $19 million in Series A to advance its AI-driven prosthetic control platform Phantom X.

Phantom Neuro, a neurotechnology company headquartered in Austin, has secured $19 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round, aiming to push forward the development and testing of its neural interface platform, Phantom X. The round was led by Ottobock, a leading name in the prosthetics industry, with continued support from Breakout Ventures and Draper Associates, as well as new backers including Actual VC and METIS Innovative. With this round, Phantom Neuro’s total funding now stands at $28 million.

Focus on clinical milestones and product scalability

The capital will be directed toward multiple critical stages in the platform’s progress, such as preclinical studies, regulatory submissions, and completion of first-in-human trials. Alongside these medical milestones, the company plans to enhance Phantom X for broader use in robotic and assistive device applications. Strategic involvement by Ottobock on the company’s board is expected to facilitate Phantom Neuro’s entry into global markets, aligning regulatory and commercialization strategies.

A company born from clinical frustration

The concept behind Phantom Neuro stems from the personal journey of its co-founder and CEO, Dr. Connor Glass. Initially preparing for a military career, Glass’s path changed after a series of stress fractures. Observing a brain surgery during medical school steered him toward neuroscience, where he became aware of a significant gap between robotics and patient care. Despite advancements in robotic technology, many amputees were not adopting prosthetic limbs, primarily due to limited functionality and control. This realization led to the founding of Phantom Neuro in 2020, as a spin-out from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Phantom X: bypassing the brain with subdermal sensors

Unlike traditional systems that require brain implants, Phantom X works by implanting a thin, flexible sensor just under the skin. The sensor sits on muscle tissue and detects neural signals that are naturally produced when a person imagines movement. These signals are then interpreted by AI algorithms, which convert them into control inputs for prosthetic limbs. The approach is designed to avoid the risks of invasive brain surgery while still achieving high accuracy and responsiveness.

The company states that Phantom X achieves 94% accuracy across 11 essential hand and wrist gestures, all while being deployable through a relatively simple outpatient procedure. The platform has been recognized by the FDA with both Breakthrough Device and Targeted Acceleration Pathway (TAP) designations, supporting a faster review process.

Strategic voices underline long-term vision

“Our partnership with Ottobock accelerates Phantom X’s path to market and lays the groundwork for a future where assistive devices truly function as natural extensions of the human body,” said Dr. Connor Glass, founder and CEO of Phantom Neuro. Ottobock CEO Oliver Jakobi noted that Phantom Neuro is “transforming the way people interact with assistive devices,” adding that the company's minimally invasive neural interface represents a meaningful step forward.

As interest in wearable robotics and neural control technologies continues to rise, Phantom Neuro is positioning itself to bridge the gap between advanced lab innovations and real-world clinical application.