Scimplify raises $25 million to ease China’s stranglehold on critical chemicals using AI

The Bangalore-based start-up, valued at $250 million, uses AI agents to design and coordinate the manufacture of chemicals outside China.

Founded in 2023 in Bangalore, Scimplify has just completed a $25 million strategic round led by Hitachi Ventures, which includes two of its clients, Henkel and Teknor Apex, as well as its historical investors (Accel India, Bertelsmann India Investments, Omnivore, 3one4 Capital). The company is now valued at $250 million and has raised $80 million in total.

AI agents for specialty chemicals

Its in-house platform, Scinode, relies on specialized agents who offer synthesis routes, organize production with a network of partner factories and monitor quality and regulatory requirements. The objective: to develop manufacturing processes much faster than usual and to offer manufacturers an alternative to Chinese suppliers.

Scimplify claims more than 1,000 customers in more than 40 countries and an annualized turnover of about $200 million, tripling in one year. The United States now weighs 60 million (30% of the total), and energy, electronics and defense account for nearly half of sales. About 7.5 million will go to American expansion and 2 million to the development of Scinode; the company is also targeting Japan and an annual rate of $400 million within twelve months.