Opentrons Raises $40M to Expand Lab Automation

The big picture: New York-based laboratory automation company Opentrons Labworks Inc. has raised $40 million in Series E financing to expand its robotics and artificial intelligence capabilities for scientific research.

Why it matters:

• Accelerating Discovery: Millions of scientists spend significant time on manual lab work, which automation can free up for more impactful discovery.
• AI-Driven Research: The investment addresses the critical gap between AI-generated hypotheses and the physical execution of experiments in laboratories.
• Market Reach: Opentrons has deployed over 11,000 robots globally, serving 90% of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and top-ranked U.S. research universities.

How it works:

• Integrated Platform: The Opentrons Flex platform combines laboratory robotics with advanced software and AI to automate complex experimental workflows.
• AI-Guided Experiments: Systems are designed to connect AI-generated experimental plans directly with physical laboratory execution, enabling iterative research and data collection.
• Open Architecture: An open, API-driven design allows researchers and developers to integrate Opentrons robots into broader automation systems, enhancing accessibility across diverse lab environments.

The catch: The increasing adoption of AI in scientific discovery highlights the need for robust, scalable physical automation. While Opentrons offers an open platform, the challenge lies in seamlessly integrating diverse research technologies and ensuring broad accessibility across varying lab budgets and technical expertise, especially as new competitors emerge in the rapidly evolving AI-driven lab space.

Key Facts

• Company: Opentrons Labworks Inc.
• Amount: $40M
• Round: Series E
• Investors: Avego (lead), BroadOak Capital Partners, SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, Sands Capital, Lerer Hippeau, Y Combinator
• Sector: Laboratory Automation
• Headquarters: New York, US