Alphabet Quantum spin-out Sandbox AQ gets good chemistry

AI and quantum firm Sandbox AQ, which was spun off from Google parent Alphabet in 2022, has acquired Vancouver-based quantum and computational chemistry startup Good Chemistry for an undisclosed amount.

Founded by Arman Zaribafian in 2021 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 lets chemistry developers create chemical simulation apps and workflows using algorithms in quantum chemistry and machine learning, as well as quantum computing.

In a press release, Sandbox AQ VP Nadia Carlston said the acquisition would expand Sandbox’s global presence, as well as add “proven technologies” including simulation techniques and key customers (such as Dow Chemical) to its portfolio. Carlston said new investors are also part of the deal – all of Good Chemistry’s backers have joined Sandbox AQ’s investor base.

“Good Chemistry’s software and existing partnerships will enable us to rapidly accelerate how we bring the benefits of advanced simulation and AI tools to more customers,” Carlston said. “Combining our capabilities will give Sandbox AQ an advanced and scalable computing platform for large-scale, highly accurate chemical simulations that enable impactful use cases such as new drug and material synthesis.”

Sandbox AQ sees simulation as the core of its work, which spans drug discovery and materials design in the agriculture, defence, energy, medical and manufacturing sectors. With Good Chemistry, the company gets 25 computational and quantum chemists, AI and software engineers and quantum computing scientists who are skilled in leveraging simulation techniques; Apparently, Zaribafian is joining Sandbox as product lead for simulation platforms, while Good Chemistry employees are taking roles in Sandbox’s existing simulation teams.

“Rapid advances in AI, quantum, cloud and high-performance computing have created opportunities for companies like Good Chemistry and Sandbox Accu to reimagine the way we think about chemistry, creating ways to make products safer, stronger and more sustainable. Has opened up endless opportunities to explore and reshape. The fabric of our world,” Zaribafian said in a canned statement. ,[Tapping] “The extensive Sandbox AQ reach and domain expertise will supercharge the capabilities of our platform.”

As part of the acquisition, Sandbox AQ says it will integrate Good Chemistry’s software, QMist Cloud and Tangelo, into its enterprise software portfolio. QMist lets users take advantage of quantum chemistry through simulation, while Tangelo allows them to conduct chemistry experiments across quantum cloud providers and hardware devices.

Good Chemistry is Sandbox’s second acquisition. In 2022, it purchased CryptoSense, an enterprise-focused software-as-a-service cybersecurity and encryption startup.