Sandbox AQ, an artificial intelligence and quantum company spun out of Google parent Alphabet in 2022, has acquired Vancouver-based quantum and computational chemistry startup Good Chemistry for an undisclosed amount.
Founded in 2021 by Arman Zaribafiyan as a spin-off of quantum computing company 1QBit and backed by investors including Green Sands Equity and Accenture Ventures, Good Chemistry provides cloud-based tools to accelerate materials design. Good Chemistry’s platform allows chemistry developers to build chemical simulation applications and workflows using algorithms from quantum chemistry and machine learning, as well as quantum computing.
Sandbox AQ Vice President Nadia Carlsten said in a press release that the acquisition will expand Sandbox’s global reach, in addition to adding “proven technology” to its portfolio, including simulation technology and major customers such as Dow Chemical ). Carlsten added that new investors are also part of the deal – all Good Chemistry backers have joined Sandbox AQ’s investor base.
“Good Chemistry’s software and existing partnerships will allow us to quickly accelerate bringing the benefits of advanced simulation and artificial intelligence tools to more customers,” said Carlsten. “Combining our capabilities will provide Sandbox AQ with an advanced and reliable An expanded computing platform for high-precision chemical simulations at a scale that enables impactful use cases such as the synthesis of new drugs and materials.”
Sandbox AQ sees simulation increasingly at the heart of its work, which spans drug discovery and materials design across agriculture, defence, energy, medical and manufacturing. Through Good Chemistry, the company has acquired 25 computational and quantum chemists, artificial intelligence and software engineers, and quantum computing scientists who specialize in leveraging simulation technologies; notably, Zaribafiyan will join Sandbox as product director of simulation platforms, while Good Chemistry employees will take on roles within Sandbox’s existing simulation team.
“The rapid advances in artificial intelligence, quantum, cloud and high-performance computing have created endless opportunities for companies like Good Chemistry and Sandbox AQ to reshape the way we think about chemistry and find ways to make products safer, stronger, and more cost-effective. sustainable approach and reshape the fabric of our world,” Zaribafyan said in a prepared statement. “[Tapping] Broader Sandbox AQ coverage and domain expertise will enhance the capabilities of our platform. “
As part of the acquisition, Sandbox AQ said it will integrate Good Chemistry’s software Qemist Cloud and Tangelo into its enterprise software portfolio. Qemist allows users to leverage quantum chemistry through simulations, while Tangelo allows them to conduct chemical experiments across quantum cloud providers and hardware devices.
Good Chemistry is Sandbox’s second acquisition. In 2022, it acquired Cryptosense, an enterprise-focused software-as-a-service cybersecurity and encryption startup.
