Sacramento, CA – Persist AI, a trailblazing startup specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics for pharmaceutical formulation and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), has announced the successful closure of its $12 million Series A funding round.
The investment round was led by Spero Ventures and saw participation from a diverse group of strategic investors, including MBX Capital, Shimadzu Future Innovation Fund (managed by Global Brain Corporation), Eli Lilly & Company, SignalFire, Ford Street Capital, Purdue Ventures, Good AI Capital, Cartography Capital, Asymmetry Ventures, as well as existing backers like 2048 Ventures, Innospark, and Y Combinator.
Advancing Drug Formulation with AI and Robotics
Co-founded by Karthik Raman (CEO) and Christopher Shelner (COO), Persist AI is transforming how pharmaceutical companies design, test, and manufacture drug formulations. By combining predictive AI algorithms with automated robotic systems, the company enables remote formulation development through its Cloud Lab, an innovative online platform.
Persist AI’s platform facilitates high-speed formulation development by predicting optimal formulations using AI, and executing physical testing using robotic lab infrastructure—controlled entirely through a web interface. This approach accelerates R&D timelines while reducing manual labor and experimental error.
Use of Funds and Strategic Goals
With the newly raised capital, Persist AI plans to:
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Expand its robotic lab capabilities
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Build extensive data sets to enhance AI model training
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Increase the volume and variety of formulations its system can manage
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Support pharmaceutical clients with faster, cost-effective drug development workflows
The platform is currently capable of formulating:
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Long-acting injectables
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Tablets and capsules
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Topical drugs for cosmetics and medical use
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Injectable formulations
It supports a broad range of drug modalities including small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and antisense oligonucleotides, catering to both top-tier pharmaceutical giants and emerging biotech startups focused on chronic disease treatments.
Future Roadmap and Collaborations
Persist AI, an alumnus of Y Combinator’s 2023 cohort, is now set to collaborate with Nivagen Pharmaceuticals to build a GMP-certified manufacturing system for long-acting injectables at its Sacramento facility—marking a critical step toward commercial-scale drug formulation and production.