MoleculeMind Secures Over RMB 100 Million in Pre-A Funding to Advance AI-Driven Protein Design Platform MoleculeOS

On February 20, AI protein design platform company MoleculeMind announced that it had received a strategic investment of over 100 million yuan, led by Cathay Biotech, a leader in synthetic biology, with participation from Legend Capital. HongShan, the lead investor in the angel round, also added to its investment. This round of financing will be used for further development of the AI protein optimization and design platform MoleculeOS, as well as exploration of applications in fields such as macromolecular drug design and synthetic biology. Having been established for only one year, MoleculeMind has quickly completed two rounds of financing.

MoleculeMind stated that, after receiving strategic investment from Cathay Biotech, the two parties will also engage in deep cooperation at the business level. Leveraging MoleculeMind's self-developed AI protein optimization and design platform, MoleculeOS, and integrating Cathay Biotech’s over 20 years of industry experience in synthetic biology, they will jointly promote the upgrading of synthetic biology production lines and the development of new products.

MoleculeMind was founded by Professor Jinbo Xu, a globally renowned computational biologist and "pioneer of AI protein folding." Based on the team's years of experience in AI-driven protein structure prediction and design, MoleculeMind has independently developed MoleculeOS, China’s first fully functional AI-powered protein prediction and design platform. Using data-driven AI methods, it rapidly identifies, modifies, or even designs from scratch the most suitable proteins, thereby revolutionizing research and development paradigms in areas such as macromolecular drug design, synthetic biology, and environmental protection.

Currently, MoleculeMind has built full-scenario AI capabilities for protein discovery, optimization, and design based on the MoleculeOS platform. The calculation results of more than ten key AI algorithms, including de novo protein design, protein optimization, protein and complex structure prediction, protein-protein docking, protein side-chain prediction, and protein function prediction, are globally leading.

Professor Jinbo Xu, founder and chief scientist of MoleculeMind, stated, "By combining MoleculeMind's world-leading AI protein technology with Cathay Biotech's multiple top-tier product lines and comprehensive industry layout, this partnership will drive the deep application of AI protein technology in the field of synthetic biology, promote the intelligent upgrading of the entire biomanufacturing process, and develop new materials with greater market value as well as social and environmental benefits."

Dr. Liu Xiucái, Chairman of Cathay Biotech, stated: "The success of Cathay's industrialization projects demonstrates that synthetic biology methods can produce products more competitive than those made through chemical processes. The collaboration between Cathay and MoleculeMind will introduce AI technology into the biomanufacturing R&D system, significantly improving the research efficiency of new technologies and products from a scientific starting point."

He Zhiqiang, Senior Vice President of Lenovo Group and President of Lenovo Ventures, stated: "MoleculeMind, based on its self-developed protein prediction and design platform 'MoleculeOS,' is accelerating the implementation of AI algorithm-driven protein structure-related work, which will lead to rapid advancements in biologics and synthetic biology. Lenovo Ventures will continue to leverage the advantages of CVC 2.0 to empower the rapid growth of MoleculeMind."

HongShan Partner Yang Yunxia stated: "HongShan has been closely monitoring the transformative impact of AI technology on the life sciences field. Professor Xu Jinbo has years of experience in the AI protein computation domain and has led MoleculeMind to quickly establish and deepen its platform in China. We are delighted to see the academic-industry transformation of Professor Xu's team, swiftly securing in-depth collaborations with outstanding industry players. We believe MoleculeMind will continue to bring surprises."

Cathay Biotech is the first synthetic biology company to go public in China and a global benchmark enterprise in the biomanufacturing industry. The company focuses on the research, development, production, and sales of synthetic biomaterials, with a comprehensive R&D platform encompassing gene editing, bioconversion, biochemical engineering, biosynthesis, and modification of biomaterials, as well as multiple production bases. Cathay Biotech's core intellectual property portfolio includes bio-based long-chain dicarboxylic acids, bio-based pentamethylenediamine, and a series of bio-based polyamide products, which have consistently maintained a leading position in both global R&D and product markets. These products are widely used in various fields such as automotive, electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, construction, transportation, and consumer goods.

Legend Capital is Lenovo's global technology industry fund, aiming to integrate Lenovo's global resources, using investment and incubation as means to layout the future of technology. The main investment areas are: edge computing, cloud, big data, artificial intelligence, AI + industry, etc. Legend Capital has invested in more than 200 outstanding companies, including over 10 IPO companies such as CATL, and more than 40 unicorns in various sub-sectors. At the same time, it owns more than 10 subsidiaries and innovative businesses such as SHAREit, Angxiang Smart Healthcare, Lenovo Cloud Technology, and Lenovo Knows Communication.

HongShan has always been committed to helping entrepreneurs build enduring great companies, bringing global resources and valuable historical experience to its portfolio companies. As the "entrepreneurs behind entrepreneurs," HongShan focuses on investment opportunities in three areas: technology, consumer, and healthcare. Over the past 17 years, HongShan has invested in more than 900 companies characterized by distinct technological features, innovative business models, and high growth and development potential.