Indian startup Scimplify has raised $25 million in an all-equity strategic round led by Hitachi Ventures to expand its AI-powered production of specialty chemicals and critical materials. The Bengaluru-based company, valued at $250 million after the investment, counts customers Henkel and Teknor Apex among new investors. This funding round increases Scimplify’s total equity funding to $80 million, following a $40 million Series B round in March 2025, according to techcrunch.com.
Founded in 2023, Scimplify uses AI and advanced computational tools to accelerate the discovery and production of materials critical to sectors like semiconductors, defense, and energy. The startup has shortened the traditional timeline for delivering finished materials from customer requirements to as little as two months. Existing investors Accel India, Bertelsmann India Investments, Omnivore, and 3one4 Capital also participated in the round, which aims to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers by streamlining complex manufacturing and supply chain processes, techcrunch.com reported.
The deal highlights growing global efforts to diversify supply chains for specialty chemicals and critical materials, which are essential for high-tech manufacturing and strategic industries. Scimplify’s approach contrasts with the slow, complex process of scaling promising chemistry into commercial products, a challenge faced by many manufacturers. The startup’s valuation jump from $150 million in early 2025 to $250 million reflects increasing investor confidence in AI-driven innovation within materials science, according to techcrunch.com.
Scimplify’s latest funding round underscores the rising importance of AI in materials production as geopolitical tensions prompt companies to seek alternatives to Chinese suppliers. The startup’s total equity funding now stands at $80 million, positioning it to accelerate growth in key markets such as semiconductors, defense, and energy, techcrunch.com noted.