Epia Neuro is a San Francisco-based brain-computer interface company developing intent-driven neural technology to restore motor function and independence for stroke survivors and individuals with cognitive decline. The company advances work originally developed at iota Biosciences (founded 2017, now powered by Astellas) and built its lead product over approximately five years before launching publicly in April 2026. The team is led by CEO Michel Maharbiz, a serial entrepreneur, founder of iota Biosciences, and former UC Berkeley professor of Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering.

The platform centers on a proprietary epidural implant: a disk-shaped device placed within the skull in under an hour without piercing the dura, designed for broad neurosurgical adoption. The implant is externally invisible, wirelessly recharged, and modular enough to be upgraded over the patient's lifetime. Unlike conventional read-only BCIs, the system supports bidirectional sensing and stimulation at both cortical and deep-brain levels. Proprietary AI algorithms decode neural intent in real time, fuse it with contextual sensor data, and drive a lightweight grip-assist motor prosthetic designed for daily use.

The lead indication is stroke-related upper-limb motor impairment, structured as a dual-phase therapy supporting both active neurorehabilitation and long-term assistive living. The company estimates approximately 60,000 eligible US stroke survivors annually. First-in-human system demonstrations are planned for 2026 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, with planned expansion into cognitive decline and other neurological disorders.