Accelerate Materials Innovation with Osium AI's Advanced Artificial Intelligence Solutions

As various industries explore the potential of artificial intelligence, French startup Osium AI is carving out a unique niche by focusing on research and development in materials science.

Founded by Sarah Najmark and Luisa Bouneder, Osium AI successfully secured $2.6 million in seed funding from investors including Y Combinator, Singular, Kima Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Raise Phiture, and several prominent business angels such as Julien Chaumond, Thomas Clozel, Isaac Oates, and Liz Wessel.

“During my undergraduate studies, I conducted research on materials, especially in the cosmetics sector. I observed that traditional materials development methodologies heavily relied on manual processes, characterized by trial and error and intuition,” Najmark shared.

Following her graduation, Najmark joined Google X, the innovative division of the tech giant, where she spent three years working on robotics and deep tech, co-authoring multiple patents. “As the tech lead, I had complete ownership over end-to-end artificial intelligence pipelines in robotics and system engineering,” she explained.

Her co-founder, Luisa Bouneder, spent three years developing data products for industrial companies, particularly in the materials sector. She echoed Najmark’s observations, emphasizing the inefficiencies of trial and error in the development process.

“Through discussions with various industrial firms, we recognized emerging sustainability challenges tied to the creation of new materials—such as lighter alternatives for aerospace and more durable, eco-friendly materials with optimized, greener manufacturing processes,” Najmark noted.

“It’s a topic that influences numerous industries, including construction, packaging, aeronautics, aerospace, textiles, and smartphones,” she added.

So, how does Osium AI operate? The company's innovative approach centers on enhancing the feedback loop between materials formulation and testing through data-driven methods. With its proprietary technology, industrial firms can anticipate the physical properties of new materials based on specific criteria. Furthermore, Osium AI assists in refining and optimizing these materials, drastically minimizing the trial-and-error mistakes typically encountered.

Several industrial companies are currently piloting Osium AI’s solution and are optimistic about its potential. “Our users reported that our solution could accelerate both the development and analysis of materials by a factor of ten. Even in the early stages of testing, we demonstrated tangible value,” Najmark revealed.

Osium AI is in its infancy; currently, it comprises just the two co-founders. However, the startup plans to expand its team soon and convert these initial contracts into solid business commitments. The company is already engaging with 30 industrial firms that could become future clients.