CuspAI Raises $30M, Secures Geoffrey Hinton, and Unveils Meta Partnership for Climate Tech

Revolutionizing Climate Tech: CuspAI Raises $30M, Secures AI Expert Geoffrey Hinton, and Unveils Meta Partnership

In a major development for the field of climate tech, CuspAI has announced that it has raised $30 million in seed funding and secured the renowned artificial intelligence (AI) expert Geoffrey Hinton to its advisory board. The Cambridge-based company specializes in developing algorithms for designing new and more efficient materials, with the aim of combating climate change. CuspAI intends to focus on creating materials for carbon capture and storage, a technology crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The significant seed funding obtained by CuspAI demonstrates the continued high value that investors place on AI businesses, as well as the success of the United Kingdom in attracting global AI investment. This eight-figure sum is an unusually large amount for an early-stage investment round, highlighting the immense potential that investors see in CuspAI. The fact that Hinton, often referred to as the “godfather of AI,” has joined the advisory board is a major achievement for the company. Hinton, at the age of 76, is one of the most prominent figures in the AI industry and made headlines when he resigned from Google last year.

London-based Hoxton Ventures led the funding round, with participation from Basis Set Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners. CuspAI was founded by Professor Max Welling, a former Vice President at Microsoft Research and Qualcomm, and Dr. Chad Edwards, a chemist with experience in deep-tech at Google and quantum computing firm Quantinuum.

Welling explained the company’s vision, stating, “Imagine a search engine not just for existing materials, but for all potential molecules and materials that could be created. Our AI can generate and evaluate new materials on demand.” He added, “Through careful process optimization and lab testing, we’re able to ensure that the materials we develop are synthesizable, stable, and ultimately useful in production.”

In addition to raising significant funding and recruiting Hinton, CuspAI has also announced a partnership with social media giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook. The company aims to collaborate with Meta on open science projects focused on the discovery of new materials to address climate change. Yann Le Cun, VP and Chief AI Scientist at Meta, expressed his confidence in CuspAI’s capabilities, saying, “The world needs fast progress on affordable carbon capture, and we believe that CuspAI’s team is in an excellent position to apply AI-based materials discovery to this pressing problem.”

This development marks a significant milestone for climate tech and highlights the accelerated pace of innovation in this field. The combination of CuspAI’s expertise in AI-driven materials design, the involvement of the esteemed Geoffrey Hinton, and the collaboration with Meta positions the company at the forefront of the fight against climate change.

With the potential to develop materials that can efficiently capture and store carbon dioxide, CuspAI is poised to contribute significantly to global efforts to mitigate the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. The use of AI and advanced algorithms in material discovery can revolutionize the process, enabling the identification and optimization of molecules and materials that are specifically tailored to meet desired environmental conditions.

As the urgency to address climate change intensifies, partnerships like the one between CuspAI and Meta become increasingly vital. By combining resources and expertise, these collaborations can propel scientific progress and facilitate the development of innovative technologies to combat climate change.

The entry of renowned figures like Geoffrey Hinton into the climate tech space further validates the field’s significance and potential. Hinton’s decision to join CuspAI underscores his belief in the company’s mission and its ability to make a tangible impact on the global climate landscape.

As the world grapples with the urgent and complex challenges posed by climate change, the work of companies like CuspAI becomes even more essential. By harnessing the power of AI and leveraging the expertise of industry leaders, CuspAI is well-positioned to push the boundaries of climate tech and drive meaningful change in the fight against climate change.