Chai Discovery, an AI-driven biotech startup backed by OpenAI, raised $130 million in a Series B round at a $1.3 billion valuation to accelerate its AI-first drug discovery platform and commercial expansion[1][2].
Funding round details and investor syndicate Chai Discovery announced a $130 million Series B led by General Catalyst and Oak HC/FT, bringing the company’s total funding to more than $225 million[1][2]. Investors in the round include Menlo Ventures, OpenAI, Dimension, Thrive Capital, Neo, Yosemite, Lachy Groom, SV Angel, and new participants Glade Brook and Emerson Collective[1][2]. As part of the raise, Oak HC/FT’s Annie Lamont and General Catalyst’s Hemant Taneja are joining Chai’s board, according to the company statement[2].
Technology and product progress Chai builds foundation AI models tuned for molecular and antibody design—its stated aim is to create a “computer-aided design suite” for molecules that predicts and can reprogram biochemical interactions[1][2]. The company released Chai 1 last year and says Chai 2 is delivering significant improvements in success rates for de novo antibody design, bringing designs closer to drug-like properties and enabling work on previously intractable targets[1][6]. Chai’s leadership emphasizes the speed of progress in model capabilities, claiming tasks that looked like five‑year problems are being solved in weeks and that these models will unlock new first‑in‑class and best‑in‑class therapeutics[2].
Strategic use of proceeds and business plans Chai says it will use the Series B proceeds to accelerate research and product development and expand commercialization efforts as it scales collaborations with pharmaceutical partners[2]. The company has positioned itself in the growing sector where AI is used to shorten drug development timelines by improving molecular design and prediction workflows[1][4].
Market context and significance Chai’s raise and $1.3 billion valuation underscore investor interest in AI-native biotech startups that aim to transform biology from a discovery science into an engineering discipline[2]. The round follows Chai’s $70 million Series A and reflects broader industry momentum for AI-first drug discovery platforms that promise faster, cheaper paths to therapeutics compared with traditional methods[4][1].
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does Chai Discovery build? Chai Discovery builds foundation artificial intelligence models that predict and reprogram interactions between biochemical molecules, with a focus on de novo antibody design and other molecular engineering applications[2][1].
Who led the $130 million Series B and who else invested? The Series B was led by General Catalyst and Oak HC/FT; other participants included Menlo Ventures, OpenAI, Dimension, Thrive Capital, Neo, Yosemite, Lachy Groom, SV Angel, Glade Brook, and Emerson Collective[1][2].
How will Chai use the new funding? Chai intends to use the funding to accelerate research and product development and to expand commercialization and partnerships with pharma as it continues to build its molecular design platform[2].
What are Chai’s flagship models and capabilities? Chai launched Chai 1 and has since released Chai 2, which the company says improves success rates in de novo antibody design and gets designs closer to properties expected of real drugs[1][6].
How much has Chai raised to date and what is its valuation? With the $130 million Series B, Chai’s total funding exceeds $225 million and the company is valued at $1.3 billion after the round[1][2].
Why does this deal matter for biotech and AI investors? The deal highlights sustained investor appetite for startups that combine advanced AI with molecular biology to shorten drug development cycles; Chai’s valuation and backers signal confidence that model-driven molecular design can yield commercially valuable therapeutics at scale[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 12:00:45 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Reshapes AI Drug Design Competition**
Chai Discovery's $130M Series B at a $1.3B valuation, co-led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst with backers like OpenAI and Thrive Capital, positions it as a frontrunner in AI-driven drug discovery, evolving from its open-source Chai-1 molecular predictor in late 2024 to the Chai-2 zero-shot antibody design engine by summer 2025—boasting 86% of designs with therapeutic-grade characteristics.[1][2] Oak HC/FT highlights this as an "inflection point" in drug development, targeting biopharma's $290B annual spend amid declinin
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 12:10:28 AM
**WASHINGTON—** No direct regulatory or government response to Chai Discovery's $130M Series B funding at a $1.3B valuation has emerged as of December 15, amid broader federal moves to preempt state AI regulations impacting biotech AI firms like Chai. A leaked White House draft executive order under the Trump administration proposes empowering the DOJ to sue states such as California and Colorado over AI laws, withholding broadband funds, and conditioning federal grants on states dropping rules—aiming for a national AI framework to replace over 1,000 conflicting state bills that burden healthcare AI innovation.[4] This preemption push arrives as Chai advances its AI antibody design tools, following its $70M Series A in August.[1][2]
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 12:20:30 AM
Chai Discovery’s $130M Series B at a $1.3B valuation — co-led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst with participation from OpenAI, Thrive Capital and others — immediately tightens venture funding and technical leadership in AI-driven drug design, putting fresh pressure on competitors such as Absci, Recursion and other protein-design startups to accelerate productization and clinical partnerships[1][2]. Oak HC/FT argues the round validates Chai’s rapid roadmap (Chai-1 to Chai-2 with reported 86% therapeutic-like design characteristics), a claim that investors say will force rivals to match Chai’s capital intensity and translational
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 12:30:27 AM
**Chai Discovery secures $130M Series B at $1.3B valuation**, co-led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst with participation from OpenAI, Thrive Capital, and others, bringing total funding to over $225M following its $70M Series A in September 2025[1][2]. Technically, the AI platform predicts and reprograms biochemical molecule interactions, converting "what has traditionally been a lengthy iteration cycle into a computational process" to compress time to first-in-human studies and target undruggable molecules[1]. General Catalyst's Elena Viboch stated, "Chai's team is leading this transformation – advancing the technical frontier and expanding what's possible in therapeutics," with funds accelerating a
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 12:40:31 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Sparks Global AI Drug Hopes**
Chai Discovery's $130M Series B at $1.3B valuation, announced December 15, 2025, is poised to transform the global biopharma industry—where annual R&D spend exceeds **$290B**—by enabling programmable drug design, potentially reversing decades of declining ROI through AI models like Chai-2 that achieve **86%** success in zero-shot antibody designs.[1][2] International outlets including **Financial Times**, **Bloomberg**, and **Endpoints** have highlighted the breakthrough, while UK Government mentions underscore regulatory interest in accelerating AI-driven medicine worldwide.[3] Oak HC/FT stated,
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 12:50:30 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Reshapes AI Drug Discovery Landscape**
Chai Discovery's $130M Series B at a $1.3B valuation, co-led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst with new backers like OpenAI and Emerson Collective, signals a competitive surge in AI-driven drug design, challenging biopharma's $290B annual spend amid declining ROI.[1][2] Oak HC/FT highlights Chai's rapid evolution from its Chai-1 open-source model in late 2024 to Chai-2's de novo zero-shot antibody engine by summer 2025, where 86% of designs matched therapeutic viability—positioning it ahead of incumbents in programmable medicin
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 1:00:36 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Reshapes AI Drug Discovery Landscape**
Chai Discovery's $130M Series B at a $1.3B valuation, co-led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst with backers like OpenAI and Thrive Capital, vaults it into unicorn status amid biopharma's push for AI efficiencies—where annual R&D spend exceeds $290B yet ROI has declined over decades[1][2]. Oak HC/FT highlights Chai's rapid evolution from its open-source Chai-1 molecular predictor in late 2024 to the Chai-2 zero-shot antibody design engine by summer 2025, with 86% of designs matching therapeutic viability, positioning it t
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 1:10:31 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Sparks Global AI Drug Design Buzz**
Chai Discovery's $130 million Series B at a $1.3 billion valuation, announced December 15, 2025, is poised to revolutionize the $290 billion annual biopharma industry by transforming drug design into a "highly targeted and programmable discipline," according to lead investor Oak HC/FT, potentially addressing declining ROI amid ballooning costs worldwide[1][2]. International outlets including **Financial Times**, **Bloomberg**, and **UK Government** channels have spotlighted the AI unicorn's rapid evolution from Chai-1's open-source model in 2024 to Chai-2's 86% success rate i
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 1:20:29 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Sparks Global AI Drug Hopes**
Chai Discovery's $130 million Series B at a $1.3 billion valuation, announced December 15, 2025, is poised to transform the global biopharma industry—where annual R&D spending exceeds **$290 billion**—by enabling programmable drug design, potentially reversing decades of declining ROI worldwide[1][2]. Oak HC/FT, co-leading the round, hailed the San Francisco-based firm's evolution from its 2024 open-source Chai-1 model to Chai-2's **86%** success rate in zero-shot antibody designs viable for therapeutics, signaling an "inflection point" for engineere
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 1:30:35 AM
Chai Discovery raised a $130 million Series B led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst, valuing the AI drug-design startup at $1.3 billion and confirming its unicorn status, the company announced on Dec. 15, 2025[1][3]. Oak HC/FT said the round backs Chai’s rapid progress from an open-source structure model (Chai‑1) to a de novo antibody design engine (Chai‑2) with studies this year showing ~86% of designs matched therapeutic-like characteristics, and new investors include Thrive Capital, OpenAI, Emerson Collective and Glade Brook[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 1:40:30 AM
**BREAKING: Chai Discovery Achieves Unicorn Status with $130M Series B at $1.3B Valuation.** The San Francisco-based AI drug discovery firm, which predicts and reprograms biochemical molecule interactions, closed the round on December 15, 2025, co-led by **Oak HC/FT** and **General Catalyst**, with participation from **Thrive Capital, OpenAI, Dimension, Menlo Ventures, Lachy Groom, Yosemite, Neo, SV Angel, Emerson Collective**, and **Glade Brook**[1][2][3]. Oak HC/FT stated, "Chai’s mission is fundamentally centered on transforming the drug design process... What started as Chai-1 in late 202
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 1:50:33 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Consumer and Public Reaction to Chai Discovery's $130M Series B**
Social media erupted with enthusiasm following Chai Discovery's announcement of its $130M Series B at a $1.3B valuation, dubbing the AI drug discovery firm the "newest AI unicorn" as highlighted in their official news post linking to coverage in Endpoints, Business Wire, and Bloomberg[1][3]. Twitter users praised the rapid evolution from Chai-1's open-source model in late 2024 to Chai-2's 86% therapeutic-grade antibody designs by fall 2025, with one biotech analyst tweeting, "Chai's zero-shot engine could slash biopharma's $290B annual R&D spen
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 2:00:36 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Reshapes AI Drug Discovery Landscape**
Chai Discovery's $130M Series B at a $1.3B valuation, co-led by Oak HC/FT and General Catalyst with backers like OpenAI and Thrive Capital, catapults it into AI unicorn status, intensifying competition in a biopharma sector spending over **$290B** annually on therapies amid declining ROI[1][2]. Oak HC/FT highlights Chai's rapid evolution from the open-source Chai-1 model in late 2024 to the Chai-2 zero-shot antibody design engine by summer 2025—achieving **86%** designs viable for further therapeutic development—positionin
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 2:10:34 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B Hits $1.3B Valuation**
Oak HC/FT, co-leading the round, hails Chai Discovery's AI platform as a "paradigm shift" in drug discovery, transforming biopharma's "$290B annual spend" from inefficient cycles to programmable designs amid declining ROI[2]. The firm praises CEO Josh Meier's OpenAI background and rapid progress—from Chai-1's 2024 open-source model to Chai-2's 86% therapeutic-grade antibody designs by fall 2025—positioning Chai at drug development's "inflection point"[2]. Industry backers like General Catalyst and OpenAI signal strong conviction in Cha
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 2:20:31 AM
**BREAKING: Chai Discovery Hits $1.3B Valuation in $130M Series B, Experts Hail AI Drug Revolution**
Oak HC/FT, co-leading the round with General Catalyst, praises Chai's "novel technology" for shifting drug discovery from a "bespoke and circuitous journey into a highly targeted and programmable discipline," noting biopharma's $290B annual spend amid declining ROI.[2] The firm highlights Chai's rapid evolution from the open-source Chai-1 model in late 2024 to Chai-2's de novo antibody designs, where 86% showed therapeutic potential, signaling an "inflection point" in drug development.[2] Investors like OpenAI and Thriv