Inherent Secures $50 Million to Advance AI-Native Science
Inherent, a London-based AI lab, announced a successful $50 million Series A funding round on May 29, 2026. The round was led by Index Ventures, with additional participation from Radical Ventures. Inherent, founded by a team of former DeepMind researchers, is focused on developing AI systems capable of recursively self-improving to discover new knowledge.
Pioneering AI-Native Science
Inherent aims to build what it describes as "AI-native science," a new approach to scientific research that integrates human ingenuity with advanced AI systems. The company's AI platform, "Faraday," is named after the renowned English physicist Michael Faraday. This platform is designed to bridge the gap between traditional AI capabilities and the open-ended curiosity required for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
Leadership and Expertise
The founding team includes Tantum Collins, Edward Hughes, Louis Kirsch, and Kaloyan Aleksiev, who bring extensive experience from their previous roles at DeepMind and other tech companies. Collins and Hughes previously collaborated on cooperative AI research at DeepMind, while Aleksiev contributed to AI projects at Reka AI and Microsoft. Matt Clifford, co-founder of Entrepreneurs First and former UK government AI advisor, joins Inherent as an adviser. Clifford commented on social media, "Teddy, Ed, Kally and Louis are some of the most impressive, thoughtful and ambitious founders I've met."
Strategic Use of Funds
The $50 million raised will be utilized to further develop the Faraday platform, enhance the company's AI capabilities, and expand their research team. The funding will also support collaborations with academic and industry partners to push the frontiers of AI-driven scientific research.
Investors and Industry Impact
Index Ventures, the lead investor, is a venture capital firm known for backing innovative technology companies. Danny Rimer, a partner at Index Ventures, highlighted the unique approach of Inherent by stating, "Most AI is built to answer questions. What it can't do (yet) is figure out which questions are worth asking." This funding round marks a significant step for Inherent as it seeks to redefine the landscape of scientific research through AI innovation.
As Inherent emerges from stealth, the company is poised to make significant contributions to the development of AI systems that can autonomously generate and pursue novel scientific inquiries, potentially leading to new inventions and innovations. The combination of a strong leadership team and substantial financial backing positions Inherent as a key player in the evolving field of AI-native science.