Former OpenAI science lead launches Warp Science to automate wet labs with robots — SkimNews
Get the Tech newsletter
Daily tech — startups, AI labs, chips, the launches that shape the next decade. Free.
- Kevin Weil launched Warp Sciences, a startup using AI and robotics to automate wet-lab work in drug discovery, after serving as OpenAI's former science lead
- Warp Sciences raised $215 million at an $865 million post-money valuation, with funding led by Lightspeed and including IVP, Premji Invest, and Lux Capital
- Warp Sciences aims to reshore pharmaceutical compound synthesis currently outsourced to contractors in China, citing geopolitical supply-chain risks as a key motivator
- Warp Sciences' robots are trained by human chemists wearing cameras and sensor gloves, enabling 24/7 operation to accelerate the testing and creation of drug candidates
Why it matters: Pharma companies face long delays and geopolitical exposure in drug development; by automating lab work domestically, Warp Sciences cuts reliance on overseas contractors and shortens discovery timelines. The $215M raise signals strong investor bet on AI-robotics integration in biotech infrastructure.
Ask SkimNews
