Maz Hodak formed Science Corp, a new company that focuses on brain interface development. (Image Credit: Fakurian Design/Unsplash)
Earlier this year, Max Hodak announced that he left Neuralink. However, uncertainties surrounded this news: nobody knew if he quit due to disagreements or if Elon Musk fired him for taking too long with clinical trials. Now, Hodak formed Science Corp, a brain interface company that has already raised more than $47 million from 14 investors. That amount doesn’t come close to Neuralink’s $363 million, but it’s still a strong start that could increase competition in the neurotech market.
Hodak also brought in some of Neuralink’s ex-employees to work with him at Science Corp. Alan Mardinly, former director of biology at Neuralink, made some changes to his LinkedIn profile, reflecting that he started working at a “stealth startup” in July 2021 and left the Neuralink role in August 2021. He also posted a link directed to Science Corp’s job page, urging interested applicants to join early.
Corey Wolin, a former Neuralink hardware engineer, also transitioned to Hodak’s new venture. He posted a link to the hiring page and removed associations with Nueralink on his LinkedIn profile. The new company’s hiring page, combined with the employees’ research background, suggests that Science Corp could be working on neuroscience tech, leveraging gene-modification and optogenetics.
For example, Mardinly’s projects focused on utilizing biological light-sensing receptors that read and encodes brain activity. The company also says it’s looking to hire experts in CRISPR gene modification technology, stem cell mass production, surgical tool production, and optics design. Each of these roles has some relation to Neuralink’s work but with more interest in bioengineering. The company also wants to hire veterinarian techs to perform animal trials.
Hodak’s’ Science Corp also brought in Jed McCaleb, CTO of cryptocurrency Stellar, to serve as the company’s director. He may involve Science Corp with the Astera Institute, a nonprofit focusing on “revolutionary engineering developments.” According to McCaleb, Astera aims to certify machine learning models for brain activity.
Hodak’s job at Neuralink involved overseeing the company’s operations, which included getting approval for clinical trials in paralyzed people. Additionally, Science Corp secured a substantial research facility in Alameda, CA, which has over 21,000 square feet of space.
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