Periodic Labs Raises $300M to Automate Scientific Discovery with AI

Periodic Labs, a startup founded by Ekin Dogus Cubuk and Liam Fedus, has raised $300 million in seed funding to automate scientific discovery. The company aims to build labs where robots conduct physical experiments, collect data, and learn to improve, ultimately creating AI scientists. The first goal is to invent new superconductors, and the company hopes to collect fresh data for AI models to continue their evolution. The team has a who's who of backers, including Andreessen Horowitz, DST, Nvidia, and Jeff Bezos.

Periodic Labs, a startup co-founded by Ekin Dogus Cubuk and Liam Fedus, has raised a substantial $300 million in seed funding to automate scientific discovery. The funding round, which closed on September 30, 2025, was led by a distinguished group of investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, DST, Nvidia, Accel, Elad Gil, Jeff Dean, Eric Schmidt, and Jeff Bezos Former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science^[1].

Periodic Labs aims to create AI scientists and autonomous laboratories where robots conduct physical experiments, collect data, and learn to improve. The company’s initial goal is to invent new superconductors that could potentially outperform existing materials and require less energy. Additionally, Periodic Labs hopes to discover other innovative materials and collect fresh data for AI models to continue evolving Former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science^[1].

The team behind Periodic Labs is composed of renowned researchers who have contributed to significant AI and materials science projects. Cubuk, who led the materials and chemistry team at Google Brain and DeepMind, worked on an AI tool called GNoME that discovered over 2 million new crystals in 2023. Fedus, a former VP of Research at OpenAI, was instrumental in creating ChatGPT and led the team that developed the first trillion-parameter neural network Former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science^[1].

The funding round underscores the growing interest in using AI to automate scientific discovery. While Periodic Labs is not the only startup pursuing this goal, its backing by prominent investors indicates confidence in its potential to make significant advancements in materials science Former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science^[1].

In a related development, Nvidia Corp’s market capitalization reached $4.5 trillion on September 30, 2025, as its shares rose over 2% to an all-time high. The stock’s momentum is driven by aggressive AI-related deals and increasing investor confidence. Nvidia’s recent investment of $100 billion in OpenAI and a $5 billion investment in Intel Corp. further highlights the company’s expanding role in artificial intelligence infrastructure Nvidia’s Market Cap Crosses $4.5 Trillion As AI Momentum Gains Pace^[2].

As Periodic Labs and Nvidia continue to push the boundaries of AI and materials science, their efforts could significantly impact various industries, from technology to energy and healthcare.