Chai Discovery logo
AI/ML
Biotech/Pharma

Chai Discovery

Chai is a research lab working on AI to unlock biology. Our models design new molecules for new medicines. We are changing how biologists develop drugs, just as language models are changing how engineers write code.

San Francisco office· 14 roles

CORE INFO

$231M
Total Funding
Series B
Round
2024
Founded
11-50
Team Size
San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters

Chai Discovery is a biotechnology company that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance drug discovery processes, enabling pharmaceutical researchers to design and evaluate new molecules more efficiently. Their AI-driven platforms, such as Chai-1 and Chai-2, are particularly beneficial for pharmaceutical teams aiming to target areas that traditional methods have struggled to address.

  • Chai Discovery raised $130 million in a Series B funding round in December 2025, led by General Catalyst and Oak HC/FT, reaching a valuation of $1.3 billion.bloomberg.com
  • The company has established partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Pfizer, to deploy their AI models and accelerate drug discovery efforts.linkedin.com
  • Chai Discovery was recognized in Forbes' AI 50 list in 2026, highlighting its prominence in the AI-driven biotech sector.forbes.com

WHY WE WOULD WORK AT CHAI DISCOVERY

Revolutionary Mission

Join a team dedicated to transforming drug discovery by treating biology as an engineering discipline, enhancing the precision and speed of new medicine design.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Work with advanced AI-driven platforms like Chai-1 and Chai-2, designed to predict molecular interactions and accelerate therapeutic development.

Collaborative Culture

Be part of a small, dynamic team of innovators where collaboration and creativity drive the development of groundbreaking solutions in biotech.

Strong Funding Backing

Benefit from significant financial support, including a recent $130 million Series B funding round, ensuring stability and resources for ambitious projects.

Notable Partnerships

Contribute to impactful projects with major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer, enhancing drug discovery efforts that can change lives.

Innovative Work Environment

Experience a culture that fosters innovation and encourages the exploration of new ideas, making a real difference in the biotech landscape.

MARKET AND TRACTION

TOTAL FUNDING

✦ KEY METRIC
  • Chai Discovery has raised approximately $231 million in total funding.

  • The most recent funding round was a Series B, where the company secured $130 million at a valuation of $1.3 billion.
  • NOTABLE CUSTOMERS

  • Chai Discovery has established partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Pfizer.

  • These partnerships aim to leverage Chai Discovery's AI-driven platforms to enhance drug discovery processes.
  • KEY METRICS

    ✦ KEY METRIC
  • Chai Discovery was founded in 2024 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

  • The company has a team size ranging from 11 to 50 employees.
  • GROWTH TACTICS

  • Chai Discovery utilizes AI-driven platforms like Chai-1 and Chai-2 for molecular structure prediction and antibody design.

  • Their innovative approach aims to accelerate therapeutic development workflows, targeting areas that traditional methods have struggled to address.
  • MARKET POSITION

  • Chai Discovery is positioned within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, focusing on drug discovery and molecular modeling.

  • The company aims to revolutionize biology by treating it as an engineering discipline, enhancing the precision and speed of new medicine design.
  • PRODUCT AND TECH

    Chai-1 Platform

    Chai-1 is an AI-driven platform designed for molecular structure prediction, enabling researchers to efficiently generate and assess novel molecules based on specific target inputs, significantly reducing the need for extensive empirical screening.

    Chai-2 Platform

    Chai-2 focuses on antibody design, leveraging advanced AI models to enhance the precision and success rates of antibody development, thereby accelerating the therapeutic discovery process.

    AI-Driven Drug Discovery

    Chai Discovery employs artificial intelligence to predict and reprogram biochemical molecule interactions, transforming traditional drug discovery methods and enabling pharmaceutical teams to target previously challenging areas.

    Engineering Biology Approach

    The company's mission is to treat biology as an engineering discipline, which enhances the speed and precision of new medicine design, ultimately revolutionizing therapeutic development workflows.

    Partnerships with Pharma

    Chai Discovery has established strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer, facilitating the deployment of their AI models to accelerate drug discovery efforts.

    COMPANY CULTURE

    Values

  • Innovation through AI-driven solutions

  • Commitment to precision and speed in drug discovery

  • Collaboration with pharmaceutical partners

  • Treating biology as an engineering discipline

  • Focus on improving therapeutic development workflows
  • Operating Principles

  • Emphasizing data-driven decision making

  • Encouraging open communication and teamwork

  • Prioritizing continuous improvement and learning

  • Adapting quickly to new scientific advancements

  • Fostering a culture of experimentation and risk-taking
  • Benefits

  • Competitive salary and equity options

  • Opportunities for professional development and training

  • Flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance

  • Access to cutting-edge technology and resources

  • Collaborative environment with industry leaders
  • Learning & Growth

  • Regular workshops and training sessions

  • Mentorship programs with experienced professionals

  • Encouragement to pursue advanced education and certifications

  • Access to industry conferences and networking events

  • Support for innovative research projects
  • Team Cadence

  • Agile project management methodologies

  • Regular team meetings to align on goals

  • Bi-weekly check-ins to discuss progress and challenges

  • Open forums for sharing ideas and feedback

  • Celebrating team successes and milestones together
  • HIRING SIGNAL

    14
    Open roles right now
    Snapshot via live ATS poll
    Net new roles in the last 90 days
    Available once weekly history accrues
    90-Day VelocityV2 · BACKFILL
    Trend builds weekly as historical rows accrue
    By Function
    Breakdown of open roles
    Data · 2
    Other · 4
    GTM · 1
    Operations · 1
    Engineering · 6
    Top Locations
    Where hiring is concentrated
    Remote-eligible postings counted separately
    San Francisco office
    14
    SourcesGreenhouseLeverAshbyWorkableSmartRecruitersRipplingRecruiteeFallback · Wellfound, YC Work-at-a-Startup, careers-page scrape

    KEY COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Filter
    11 announcements · ranked by importance
    Dec 15, 2025FUNDINGOpenAI-backed biotech firm Chai Discovery raises $130M Series B at $1.3B valuation | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
    Dec 15, 2025FUNDINGChai Discovery Announces $130 Million Series B To Transform Molecular Discoverybusinesswire.com
    Aug 8, 2025FUNDINGAI Molecular Design Startup Chai Discovery Secures $70M Series A | Built In San Franciscobuiltinsf.com
    Apr 16, 2026AWARDChai Discovery | Company Overview & Newsforbes.com
    Jan 16, 2026FOUNDER PROFILEFrom OpenAI’s offices to a deal with Eli Lilly — how Chai Discovery became one of the flashiest names in AI drug development | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
    Apr 23, 2026FOUNDER PROFILEReport: Chai Discovery Business Breakdown & Founding Story | Contrary Researchresearch.contrary.com
    Jan 1, 2024FUNDINGChai Discovery | Silicon Valley Investclubinvestclub.sv
    Nov 20, 2025PRESSDrug-like antibody design against challenging targets with atomic precisionchaidiscovery.com
    Jun 30, 2025PRESSChai-2: Zero-shot antibody design in a 24-well platechaidiscovery.com
    Jun 30, 2025PRESSOpenAI-backed Chai Discovery solves computational antibody designtwitter.com
    Sep 10, 2024PRESSChai-1: Decoding the molecular interactions of lifechaidiscovery.com