Warhound raises $200 million for genetically engineered working dogs
The funding values the startup at $1.2 billion. Anduril will supply hardware and software for equipment intended to assist dogs and their handlers.
Warp Sciences launches with $215 million for drug-discovery robots
Former OpenAI science lead Kevin Weil announced the startup, with Lightspeed leading funding at an $865 million valuation.
Kevin Weil, who previously led science at OpenAI, announced the launch of Warp Sciences and said it had raised $215 million to automate drug-discovery laboratory work. In a post on X, Weil put the AI startup’s valuation at $865 million.
The financing was led by Lightspeed. IVP, Premji Invest and Lux Capital also invested in the round.
Warp Sciences trains robots to make compounds selected by researchers as promising and then test them. Human chemists will wear cameras and sensor gloves while training the robots in laboratory tasks. The company aims to shorten drug discovery by using robots capable of working around the clock.
Weil also hopes to bring the work back to the United States and shield drug development from geopolitical supply-chain risks. Biotech companies have long relied on contractors in China, including WuXi AppTec, for labor-intensive synthesis work involving thousands of molecular variations.