{
  "id": 8196527,
  "title": "Amsterdam’s Phosphoenix raises €1.3 million to advance neuroprosthetic system for people with profound blindness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/amsterdams-phosphoenix-raises-1-3-million-to-advance-neuroprosthetic",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-18T07:22:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EU-Startups",
    "slug": "eu-startups",
    "url": "https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/09/amsterdams-phosphoenix-raises-e1-3-million-to-advance-neuroprosthetic-system-for-people-with-profound-blindness/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amsterdam-based MedTech startup Phosphoenix has raised €1.3 million to advance its neuroprosthetic system for individuals with profound blindness. The financing, which includes support from existing investors TTT Medtech Fund, FIRST Fund, and Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, as well as a new investment from ROM InWest, will be utilized for preparations for a first-in-human clinical study and further development of the neurostimulation system.\n\nThe neuroprosthetic system, developed by Phosphoenix, aims to stimulate nerve cells in brain regions responsible for visual perception, bypassing damage to the retina or optic nerve. The core of the system is the Fountain Probe, a high-density neural interface containing over 1,000 microelectrodes, designed for implantation in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the brain. This approach allows for direct stimulation of the brain, bypassing the eyes and interfacing with the visual system.\n\nPhosphoenix's glasses and pocket processor, equipped with a camera, capture video feeds and convert them into electrical stimulation instructions in real-time through advanced AI techniques. These instructions induce artificial visual percepts, or phosphenes, resulting in an interpretable image for the user.\n\nThe company's long-term goal is to restore meaningful functional vision to people with profound blindness, addressing the significant impact blindness can have on autonomy, mobility, and quality of life. Phosphoenix, founded in 2019 by Prof. Pieter Roelfsema, Prof. Xing Chen, and Dr. Bert Monna as a spin-off from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, is a prime example of how scientific innovation from the Netherlands can translate into societal impact.",
  "summary": "Phosphoenix, an Amsterdam-based MedTech startup developing a neuroprosthetic system for people with profound blindness, has completed a €1.3 million financing round to support preparations for its first-in-human clinical study and the further development of its neurostimulation system. The round includes continued support from Phosphoenix’s existing investors, including TTT Medtech Fund (managed…",
  "key_points": [
    "Amsterdam-based Phosphoenix raises €1.3 million for neuroprosthetic system.",
    "System aims to stimulate visual perception nerve cells, bypassing eye damage.",
    "Phosphoenix develops high-density neural interface (Fountain Probe) for brain implantation."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}