Exclusive-AI lab Lila Sciences tops $1.3 billion valuation with new Nvidia backing

Core Insights - Lila Sciences has raised $115 million in an extension funding round, increasing its valuation to over $1.3 billion, reflecting strong investor interest in AI-driven scientific discovery [1][2] - The total Series A funding for Lila now stands at $350 million, with overall capital raised reaching $550 million [1] Company Overview - Founded in 2023, Lila Sciences aims to create "scientific superintelligence" by integrating specialized AI models with automated laboratories [2] - The company has existing investors including Flagship Pioneering, General Catalyst, and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority [2] Funding Utilization - The newly raised funds will be used to accelerate the development of "AI Science Factories," which are facilities equipped with robotic instruments controlled by AI for continuous experimentation [3] - Lila has signed a lease for a 235,500-square-foot facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, marking one of the largest lab leases in Greater Boston this year [3] Commercial Strategy - Lila plans to open its platform to commercial customers, providing access to its AI models and automated labs through enterprise software [4] - The platform has attracted interest from companies in sectors such as energy, semiconductors, and drug development, although specific names were not disclosed [4] Unique Approach - Unlike many AI labs that focus on training large language models, Lila's strategy emphasizes generating proprietary scientific data through innovative experiments [5] - The company believes that future leadership in AI for science will depend on owning the largest automated lab rather than just the biggest data center [5] Vision and Impact - Lila aims to significantly accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, with the co-founder and CEO emphasizing the potential for AI models to help scientists solve problems more rapidly [6] - The company claims its platform has already facilitated thousands of discoveries across various fields, including life sciences, chemistry, and materials [7] - Lila will partner with other companies and startups for clinical trials and scaling new energy breakthroughs, rather than undertaking these processes independently [7]