Kevin Weil, ex-OpenAI science lead, launches Warp Sciences with $215M to automate wet labs

Kevin Weil, former science lead at OpenAI, announced on X on Oct 23 that he has launched Warp Sciences, an AI startup focused on automating wet-lab work for drug discovery. The company has raised $215 million at an $865 million valuation, in a round led by Lightspeed with participation from IVP, Mayfield, Lux Capital, Premji Invest, and Menlo Ventures.

Warp Sciences plans to train robots to perform lab tasks such as synthesizing and testing promising compounds identified by researchers. Human chemists wearing cameras and sensor gloves will demonstrate the procedures to the robots. By enabling robots to work around the clock, the company aims to accelerate drug discovery.

Weil also framed the startup as a way to reshore laboratory work that biotech firms have long outsourced to contract research organizations in China, such as WuXi AppTec, in order to insulate drug development from geopolitical supply-chain risks.