Ex-OpenAI Science Lead Weil Launches Warp Sciences With $215 Million for Lab Automation

Former OpenAI science lead Kevin Weil has launched Warp Sciences, an AI startup that trains robots to synthesize and test drug compounds, raising $215 million at an $865 million valuation, Weil announced on X. Lightspeed led the round, with participation from IVP, Premji Invest and Lux Capital. Warp Sciences employs human chemists wearing cameras and sensor gloves to train robots to perform lab tasks, aiming to automate wet-lab work and enable round-the-clock drug discovery. Weil said the company intends to reshore molecule synthesis work long outsourced to Chinese contractors such as WuXi AppTec, reducing geopolitical supply-chain risk across drug development. The startup did not disclose a timeline for commercial deployment or additional financial terms.