Ex-OpenAI and DeepMind Researchers Launch Periodic Labs with $300M Seed Round

Former researchers from OpenAI and DeepMind are making waves in the AI and materials science space with the launch of Periodic Labs , a startup focused on automating scientific discovery. The company emerged from stealth this week, revealing a $300 million seed round backed by a constellation of tech industry leaders, including Andreessen Horowitz, DST, Nvidia, and Accel . The round values Periodic Labs at approximately $1 billion , an impressive figure for a months-old company.

Periodic Labs was founded by Liam FedusDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → , former Vice President of Research at OpenAI and one of the architects behind ChatGPT, and Ekin Dogus CubukDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → , who led materials and chemistry teams at Google Brain and DeepMind. The startup brings together a small but formidable team of researchers who have previously worked on major AI and materials science projects, including OpenAI’s Operator agent and Microsoft’s MatterGen AI for materials discovery.

The startup’s mission is ambitious: to create AI scientists and autonomous laboratories capable of conducting physical experiments, iterating, collecting data, and learning independently. Its first focus is the development of next-generation superconductors , aiming for materials that perform better while potentially using less energy than current options. Beyond superconductors, Periodic Labs seeks to generate a wealth of fresh experimental data that can further advance AI-driven scientific research.

While early-stage AI labs and academic projects have explored automating chemistry and materials discovery since 2023, Periodic Labs stands out due to its team’s pedigree, substantial funding, and billion-dollar valuation . Investors are betting on the founders’ rare expertise and the potential to accelerate discovery in materials science at unprecedented speed.

The startup’s approach marks a shift from traditional AI models trained on internet data. By producing original experimental results , Periodic Labs aims to expand the frontier of scientific knowledge while creating AI systems that continue to evolve with new, high-quality data.

With a mix of deep tech, autonomous lab systems, and generative AI , Periodic Labs is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and materials innovation, capturing the attention of investors and the broader scientific community alike.

Source:
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