Amsterdam’s CuspAI secures €28M to create GenAI-driven search engine

Using a 'Molecular Search Engine’ to reduce CO2

Amsterdam-based CuspAI has just announced a €28 million ($30M) investment coming from their seed finance round. They are on a mission to transform how materials are designed and developed using AI and, in the process, aim to tackle climate issues. Mainly by eliminating manual research of CO2-binding materials as it is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process. CuspAI’s use of AI will greatly accelerate this research.

Large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) installations, which store CO2 in underground gas fields, are becoming more common. These installations can be placed near industrial emitters or can filter CO2 directly from the air (Direct Air Capture, DAC). While these technologies are critical in the fight against climate change, there is growing interest in materials that naturally bind CO2, such as volcanic rocks, glacier chunks, and cement.

This is where CuspAI comes in, using AI to identify and optimise materials with CO2-binding properties (that can bind to CO2 and be stored without emitting the gas back into the atmosphere). The company’s platform, described as a 'molecular search engine,' scans for existing and potential material combinations that could serve as effective CO2 binders. This method offers an alternative to traditional CCS and DAC, with the added benefit that CO2 bound to solid materials is less likely to leak back into the atmosphere.

Amsterdam’s growing climate tech and AI sector

As the world grapples with climate change, CuspAI’s AI-driven approach to discovering CO2-binding materials could play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gases. This Amsterdam start-up shows the city’s efforts to find new and innovative solutions for the climate crisis. 

It joins other cleantech startups like Skytree, which focuses on carbon capture technology, Watermeln, which specialises in green energy, and Seenons which targets waste management technology. Amsterdam is becoming a hub for climate technology solutions, drawing global attention and investment including €100 million for its Climate Tech Portfolio Fund II.

Read more about Amsterdam’s role in energy and cleantech.