Ex-OpenAI Researcher Seeks $500M for AI Science Startup
A former OpenAI researcher is seeking to raise $500 million for a new artificial intelligence startup focused on scientific applications, Forbes reported.
The fundraise, if completed, would be among the largest early-stage AI funding rounds of 2026.
OpenAI, the San Francisco-based maker of ChatGPT, has seen researchers leave in recent years to launch their own companies, with several departures resulting in new AI ventures.
The startup’s focus on scientific applications places it within a growing subsector that has drawn attention from investors and policymakers. Applications include drug discovery, materials science, climate modeling and biological research, areas that have drawn increased commercial and policy interest in recent years.
OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta AI and other leading AI organizations have all experienced personnel movement in recent years.
Details regarding the startup’s specific scientific focus, prospective investors and proposed valuation were not immediately available from the source material.
