As manufacturers across industries strive to reduce their reliance on Chinese suppliers, Indian startup Scimplify has raised $25 million to expand its AI-powered approach to producing specialty chemicals and critical materials. Key growth markets include semiconductors, defense, and energy.
Funding Details
The all-equity strategic round was led by Hitachi Ventures, with customers Henkel and Teknor Apex joining as new investors. Existing backers Accel India, Bertelsmann India Investments, Omnivore, and 3one4 Capital also participated. The round values the Bengaluru-based startup at $250 million after the investment, up from $150 million after a $40 million Series B round in March 2025. This latest investment brings Scimplify’s total equity funding to $80 million.
Accelerating Materials Discovery
The growing adoption of AI and advanced computational tools has accelerated materials discovery and research. However, turning promising chemistry into commercially available products at scale remains a slow and complex process. Manufacturers need to:
- Develop production processes
- Qualify facilities
- Meet stringent quality standards
- Navigate supply chains limited to a handful of countries
Scimplify is seeking to shorten that process. Co-founder Sachin Santhosh stated that in some cases, the startup has gone from receiving a customer’s requirements to delivering the finished material in just two months, compared to the typical 12 to 18 months.
Production Process
Once it receives an order, Scimplify develops chemical manufacturing processes at its research facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, then transfers them to partner factories for commercial production. Its proprietary AI platform, Scinode, helps coordinate the work by identifying suitable production routes and manufacturing facilities, while tracking quality and regulatory requirements. Santhosh explained:
