Modulight Biotherapeutics Raises $12M to Transform Neuromodulation Through Light-Based Therapeutics
November 30, 2025
byFenoms Startup Research

Modulight Biotherapeutics has secured $12 million in Seed funding, marking a major milestone for one of the most ambitious approaches to treating neurological disorders today. Backed by a powerful syndicate that includes Jibe Ventures, LocalGlobe, Nexus NeuroTech Ventures, Redseed, Secret Chord Ventures, Fresh Fund, Saras Capital, SilverArc Capital, and Sha’ar Mivnim, the company is pioneering a new class of treatments using optogenetics - a rapidly advancing field that uses light to precisely control targeted neural circuits.
Led by Yotam Eldar, Modulight Biotherapeutics is developing a next-generation neuromodulation platform that aims to restore balance in the brain for patients whose neural activity has become dysregulated due to disease. Instead of relying on medication that acts systemically or devices that stimulate the brain broadly, the company’s approach is ultra-specific, programmable, and designed for long-term safety.
This investment positions Modulight Biotherapeutics at the forefront of a field that could redefine how neurological conditions are treated globally.
The Growing Crisis in Neurological Health
Neurological disorders are one of the fastest-growing global health burdens. Over one billion people worldwide suffer from a diagnosed neurological condition, and the incidence continues to rise due to aging populations and improved detection. In the U.S. alone:
- 1 in 5 adults lives with a neurological or psychiatric disorder.
- Neurological diseases account for over $800 billion annually in medical and productivity costs.
- Current treatment options fail to work effectively for a large share of patients - antidepressants help only 30–40% of users, epilepsy drugs leave 1 in 3 patients uncontrolled, and Parkinson’s treatment options still mainly manage symptoms rather than progression.
Traditional therapeutics - whether drugs or electrical stimulation - lack precision. They influence large regions of the brain, which often leads to side effects, inconsistent results, and limited personalization.
This is the gap Modulight Biotherapeutics aims to close.
A New Modality: Precision Neuromodulation With Light
Modulight’s platform centers on the idea that neurological disorders are not simply “chemical imbalances,” but complex circuit dysfunctions. Their solution uses optogenetics to target specific neuron populations, turning them on or off with light delivered through an implanted device.
The promise is enormous:
- More accurate modulation compared to electrical deep brain stimulation
- Fewer systemic side effects than pharmaceuticals
- Programmability, allowing ongoing personalization as diseases progress
- Long-term stability, reducing the need for rotating medications
For patients living with treatment-resistant conditions, this level of precision could redefine quality of life.
The approach is not theoretical - optogenetics has already proven effective in controlled research environments for conditions such as epilepsy, depression, chronic pain, and neurodegenerative decline. Modulight is now engineering the translation of those breakthroughs into human therapeutic use.
The Insight: True Innovation Happens When You Replace the Interface, Not the Intervention
Here’s the value drop founders will appreciate deeply:
The biggest breakthroughs in medicine don’t only come from discovering new molecules - they come from reinventing the interface between technology and biology.
Modulight isn’t trying to out-compete pharmaceutical giants by finding the next neurochemical pathway. Instead, they are reinventing how we access the brain.
That shift - from chemistry to circuitry - unlocks a new competitive frontier. Once the delivery interface becomes the standard for precise neuromodulation, every future therapeutic in the category will be built on top of it. That means:
- enduring defensibility
- long-term adoption cycles
- infrastructure-level dominance
It’s the same pattern seen in robotic surgery, insulin pumps, cardiac pacing devices, and cochlear implants. The companies that built the interface became the category leaders - not those who built the individual tools on top.
Modulight Biotherapeutics is positioning itself as that foundational layer for neurological therapy.
Why This Market Is Ready Now
Several macro trends explain why investors are pouring into next-generation neuromodulation:
- The neuromodulation market is projected to surpass $20 billion by 2030, growing at ~12% CAGR.
- Mental health treatments have seen declining effectiveness with traditional drugs, fueling demand for device-based precision therapies.
- Optogenetics publications and patents have risen more than 250% in the past decade, showing accelerating scientific validation.
- Governments and healthcare systems are prioritizing innovative neurological solutions due to rising costs and disability rates.
The convergence of unmet clinical need, maturing science, and digital-tunable therapeutic platforms creates a rare “early inflection point.” Modulight enters this landscape at exactly the right moment.
What Comes Next for Modulight Biotherapeutics
With fresh capital, the company will accelerate:
- Preclinical validation of its neuromodulation system
- Integration of implantable optoelectronic technology
- Development of light-responsive genetic constructs optimized for safety
- Regulatory preparation for first-in-human studies
- Expansion of its neuroscience, biomaterials, and hardware engineering teams
Their long-term goal is clear: to establish a safe, programmable, minimally invasive neuromodulation system capable of treating multiple neurological disorders from a single platform.
This is not just a new therapy - it is a new therapeutic category.
As the world moves toward ever more personalized medicine, Modulight Biotherapeutics stands at the vanguard of a movement that could permanently reshape neurological care.









