Former OpenAI science lead launches Warp Science to automate wet labs with robots

Former OpenAI science lead Kevin Weil has launched Warp Sciences, a new AI startup focused on automating lab work for drug discovery. The company, which trains robots to make and test promising compounds identified by researchers, has raised $215 million at an $865 million valuation, according to Weil, who announced the startup and funding on X.

The round was led by Lightspeed, with participation from IVP, Premji Invest, and Lux Capital.

For years, biotech companies have outsourced the most labor-intensive work of synthesizing thousands of variations of molecules to contractors in China, such as WuXi AppTec. With Warp Sciences, Weil hopes to reshore that work and insulate the entire drug development process from geopolitical supply-chain risks.

Wearing cameras and sensor gloves, the startup’s human chemists will train robots to perform various lab tasks. By automating wet-lab work, Warp Sciences aims to accelerate drug discovery using robots that can operate around the clock.