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Peter Thiel, OpenAI fund back Queenslander brain tech start-up Coherence Neuro

Reported by Afr
Oct 21, 2026· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Coherence Neuro, a Queensland-based brain technology start-up, raised $65 million in a funding round led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and the OpenAI Startup Fund, according to the Australian Financial Review.
  • • Founders Fund, which Peter Thiel's venture firm is described as having $24 billion in assets, joined the OpenAI Startup Fund in backing the round.
  • • Coherence Neuro is co-founded by Australian electrical engineer Elise Jenkins and is trialling an implantable device designed to treat brain cancer.
  • • The OpenAI Startup Fund has previously invested in artificial intelligence start-ups including Harvey AI, placing the round within its broader AI portfolio.
Summary
Coherence Neuro, a Queensland-based brain technology start-up, has raised $65 million in a round led by Founders Fund, the San Francisco venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel, and the OpenAI Startup Fund, according to the Australian Financial Review. The publication describes Founders Fund as a firm with $24 billion under management.

The start-up was co-founded by Australian electrical engineer Elise Jenkins. Its core product is an implantable device that is currently being trialled for the treatment of brain cancer. The article's primary source provides limited technical detail on the device's development stage or clinical timeline.

The participation of the OpenAI Startup Fund is notable given its track record. The fund has previously invested in artificial intelligence companies including Harvey AI, the legal AI platform. The round signals continued interest from AI-focused investors in neurotechnology applications, though the original report does not detail the specific role AI would play in Coherence Neuro's platform.

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Sources

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AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

Afr Peter Thiel, OpenAI fund back Queenslander brain tech start-up Coherence Neuro