Ex-OpenAI product chief Kevin Weil seeks $750M valuation for AI science startup
What's the deal? Kevin Weil, the former chief product officer of OpenAI, is raising $150 million in a seed round for a new AI science startup at a valuation of at least $750 million, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.
The details: The startup remains in stealth, and terms are not finalised and could still change. Sources say Weil has pitched it as a way to gather scientific data for AI models. Weil did not respond to a request for comment.
Why now? Weil left OpenAI earlier this year, where he served as chief product officer and later oversaw science initiatives, including Prism — a workspace designed to bring frontier models into scientists' workflows. Before OpenAI, he held product roles at Meta and TwitterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and he sits on the boards of Cisco and Stoke Space.
By the numbers: A $150 million seed is unusually large. It ranks in the 99.6th percentile of all seed rounds recorded in the sector, drawn from a sample of 10,996 comparable deals.
What's the endgame? Weil's raise reflects a wider shift in AI's focus, from chatbots to science. A growing number of OpenAI and GoogleDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → alumni are launching startups that promise to speed scientific discovery, from designing new drugs to running autonomous experiments.
The signal: Weil is one of several senior OpenAI leaders heading for the exits. Former chief operating officer Brad Lightcap announced his departure after eight years to start "something new," while Fidji Simo stepped down as CEO of applications in July. Their moves point to a fresh wave of founders betting that AI's next frontier lies in the lab.
Read more: Business Insider
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