Post #162

Ex-OpenAI VP and DeepMind materials chief just raised the largest seed round of 2025. Periodic Labs closed $300M seed to build AI scientists that automate materials discovery. Founded by Liam Fedus (ChatGPT co-creator, ex-OpenAI VP) and Ekin Dogus Cubuk (led DeepMind's GNoME project that discovered 2M+ new crystals). • $300M seed led by a16z, DST, Nvidia, Accel • Backers: Jeff Bezos, Eric Schmidt, Jeff Dean • Pre-money valuation: $1B • Goal: Room-temperature superconductors • Team: 25+ researchers from Meta, OpenAI, Samsung How it happened: • Cubuk built GNoME at DeepMind → discovered 2M crystals • Fedus co-created ChatGPT → left OpenAI as VP Research • March 2025: Co-founded Periodic Labs • Recruited 25+ top AI/materials researchers • Pitched autonomous labs + fresh training data angle • Closed $300M from tech elite in 6 months Takeaway: Elite AI talent + hard science focus = mega rounds. Source: TechCrunch Brewed by Startup Beaker.