Former OpenAI Science Lead Kevin Weil Launches Warp Sciences With $215M to Automate Wet Labs
Former OpenAI science lead Kevin Weil has launched Warp Sciences, a new AI startup focused on automating lab work for drug discovery . The company trains robots to make and test promising compounds identified by researchers. Weil announced the startup and its funding on X.
2026-10-26
Warp Sciences raised $215 million at an $865 million valuation, showing strong investor appetite for AI-driven drug discovery automation.
Lightspeed led the round, with IVP, Mayfield, Lux Capital, Premji Invest, and Menlo Ventures also participating.
The startup aims to bring molecule synthesis work now outsourced to Chinese contractors like WuXi AppTec back home, reducing geopolitical supply-chain risk.
Human chemists wearing cameras and sensor gloves will train robots that can run wet-lab tasks around the clock to speed up drug discovery.
Former OpenAI Science Lead Launches Warp Sciences
$215 Million Round Led by Lightspeed
Warp Sciences has raised $215 million at an $865 million valuation , according to Weil. Lightspeed led the round. IVP, Mayfield, Lux Capital, Premji Invest, and Menlo Ventures also participated.
Reshoring Molecule Synthesis From Chinese Contractors
For years, biotech companies have outsourced their most labor-intensive work, synthesizing thousands of variations of molecules, to contractors in China such as WuXi AppTec. With Warp Sciences, Weil hopes to reshore that work. The goal is to protect the entire drug development process from geopolitical supply-chain risks.
Chemists in Sensor Gloves Train Round-the-Clock Lab Robots
The startup's human chemists will wear cameras and sensor gloves to train robots to perform various lab tasks. By automating wet-lab work, Warp Sciences aims to speed up drug discovery. Its robots are designed to operate around the clock.