Ex-Anthropic Researchers in Talks to Raise $175M at $1B Valuation

Former Anthropic researchers are in talks to raise $175 million at a $1 billion valuation for a new startup focused on AI-driven research and development for scientific fields like biology and materials science, according to The Information.

The report, published recently, says the startup would apply AI to fundamental scientific research—an area that has drawn increasing interest from both venture capital and big tech companies looking for the next frontier in AI applications.

The timing is notable: Anthropic itself is in the midst of a massive fundraising effort, reportedly in talks for a $10 billion round at a $350 billion valuation, per CNBC. But the ex-researchers' new venture represents a bet that specialized AI for scientific discovery could command its own market.

The ex-Anthropic researchers would join a growing field of AI-for-science startups. The approach—using foundation models to accelerate research in biology, materials science, and other domains—has attracted significant capital as investors look for AI applications beyond chatbots.