CuspAI, a Cambridge-based startup, has secured $30 million in a seed funding round led by Hoxton Ventures, alongside Basis Set Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Founded by Chad Edwards and Max Welling, the company aims to transform material design using generative AI technologies.
Traditional methods involve creating materials and then using computers to assess their properties. CuspAI reverses this approach by using generative AI to design materials based on desired properties. Chad Edwards, CEO, explains, “If you can put materials or molecules in and get properties out, why not put properties in and get materials and molecules?” This innovative approach promises to unlock new possibilities in material science.
Competitive Landscape
CuspAI enters a competitive field dominated by players like Schrodinger and Dassault Systemes, which provide computational chemistry and material simulation tools. Newer entrants such as Orbital Materials, leveraging AI from Google’s DeepMind team, are also making strides in material discovery.
The core of CuspAI’s platform functions akin to a search engine for materials. It accelerates the evaluation of vast numbers of novel structures, enabling the discovery of materials tailored to specific applications. This capability heralds what Edwards calls the “materials-on-demand” era, where precise material properties can be designed and synthesized.
Max Welling, co-founder of CuspAI, brings extensive AI expertise, previously serving as a Distinguished Scientist at Microsoft Research and Qualcomm, and as a professor at the University of Amsterdam. Chad Edwards complements this with a background in chemistry and deep tech commercialization at Google, BASF, and Quantinuum.
Strategic Focus Areas
CuspAI sees immediate applications in carbon capture and storage. Their AI-designed materials include molecular sponges that selectively absorb carbon dioxide from the air. These materials can release captured carbon dioxide upon heating, offering flexible solutions for climate change mitigation.
CuspAI has partnered with Meta on its open science project to discover new materials addressing climate change. The collaboration aims to leverage AI, including Meta’s OpenDAC initiative, to accelerate the development of novel DAC (Direct Air Capture) sorbent materials. Yann LeCun, VP and Chief AI Scientist at Meta, expressed confidence in CuspAI’s potential to advance affordable carbon capture technologies.
Future Outlook and Investment
With backing from notable investors such as LocalGlobe, Northzone, and Touring Capital, among others, CuspAI is well-positioned for growth. The funding will support product development, AI model refinement, and expansion of their material discovery capabilities.
CuspAI stands at the forefront of leveraging AI to revolutionize material science. By enabling the rapid design and evaluation of novel materials, the company seeks to address pressing global challenges and drive innovation in sustainable technologies.
In summary, CuspAI’s ambitious vision and robust AI-driven approach have the potential to reshape the future of materials engineering, offering scalable solutions to critical environmental and industrial needs.
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