Periodic Labs is reportedly in advanced talks to raise at least $500 million in a new funding round that could value the company at $7.5 billion.
The fundraising effort marks a sharp rise for the San Francisco-based startup, which was founded less than a year ago and focuses on using artificial intelligence and automated laboratories to accelerate scientific discovery in physics and chemistry.
According to reports, the funding round is expected to be led by AMP, an investment vehicle created by former Andreessen Horowitz general partner Anjney Midha.
Sources familiar with the deal said investor demand has been extremely strong, with the round reportedly oversubscribed and discussions already taking place around an additional funding round at an even higher valuation.
If completed at the reported valuation, Periodic Labs’ value would rise nearly six times from the $1.3 billion valuation it received during its $300 million seed round announced in September 2025.
The company was founded by Liam Fedus, previously vice president of research at OpenAI, alongside Ekin Dogus Cubuk, a former research scientist at Google DeepMind.
Periodic Labs is developing what it describes as an AI scientist capable of conducting scientific experiments through autonomous robotic laboratories.
The company’s technology combines artificial intelligence models with automated lab systems designed to run thousands of experiments in areas such as chemistry and physics. The goal is to generate new scientific data and speed up the discovery of advanced materials.
One of the company’s current research areas involves searching for new superconductors capable of operating at higher temperatures. Such materials could eventually improve energy systems, electronics, and industrial technologies.
Periodic Labs is also working with companies in the semiconductor industry, where its AI-driven research tools are being used to support product development and scientific testing.
The startup has already attracted high-profile talent from major AI companies. Reports indicate the company has hired more than 20 researchers from firms including Meta, OpenAI, and DeepMind, with some employees reportedly leaving large compensation packages to join the venture.
The rise of Periodic Labs reflects a growing trend in the global artificial intelligence industry, where researchers are increasingly focusing on AI systems capable of scientific reasoning and autonomous discovery rather than only consumer chatbots.
Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, has repeatedly described scientific discovery as one of AI’s most important long-term uses.
Similarly, Demis Hassabis has argued that solving intelligence through AI could help solve major scientific and societal challenges, pointing to breakthroughs such as AlphaFold’s protein-folding research, which contributed to his Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024.
As investment in AI infrastructure and research accelerates globally, startups like Periodic Labs are attracting increasing attention from investors seeking to back technologies capable of transforming scientific research and industrial innovation.
