Sandbox AQ, the innovative company in AI and quantum technology spun out of Google’s parent company Alphabet in 2022, has recently made a groundbreaking acquisition. The Vancouver-based quantum computing and computational chemistry startup Good Chemistry has been acquired by Sandbox AQ for an undisclosed amount.
“This acquisition will expand Sandbox’s global presence and add proven technologies, including simulation technologies, and major customers like Dow Chemical to our portfolio.”
– Nadia Carlsten, VP of Sandbox AQ
Founded by Arman Zaribafiyan in 2021, Good Chemistry was a spin-off of the quantum computing company 1QBit. With backing from investors such as Green Sands Equity and Accenture Ventures, Good Chemistry offered cloud-based tools that greatly accelerated material design processes. Their platform allowed chemistry developers to create chemical simulation apps and workflows using cutting-edge quantum chemistry and machine learning algorithms, as well as quantum computing.
In addition to expanding Sandbox AQ’s global presence and bringing in new technologies, the acquisition also includes Good Chemistry’s notable investors. All of Good Chemistry’s backers have now joined Sandbox AQ’s investor base, according to Carlsten.
“Good Chemistry’s software and partnerships will greatly enhance our ability to provide advanced simulation and AI tools to an even larger client base,” stated Carlsten. “By combining our capabilities, we now have an advanced and scalable computing platform for incredibly precise chemical simulation. This opens up numerous possibilities, such as new drug and material synthesis, that were previously thought to be impossible.”
Sandbox AQ has been focused on the importance of simulation in their work, which spans various industries such as drug discovery, material design, agriculture, defense, energy, medicine, and manufacturing. With the addition of Good Chemistry, Sandbox AQ now has access to 25 highly skilled computational and quantum chemists, AI and software engineers, and quantum computing scientists who are experts in utilizing simulation technology. It’s worth noting that Zaribafiyan will be joining Sandbox AQ as the head of product for simulation platforms, while Good Chemistry’s team will take on roles within Sandbox’s existing simulation teams.
“The rapid advancement of AI, quantum, cloud, and high-performance computing has provided endless opportunities for companies like Good Chemistry and Sandbox AQ to revolutionize the way we think about chemistry. Our goal is to discover ways to make products safer, stronger, and more sustainable, and ultimately change the world as we know it,” Zaribafiyan stated in a press release. “By tapping into Sandbox AQ’s broad reach and domain expertise, we are confident that our platform’s capabilities will be supercharged.”
As part of the acquisition, Sandbox AQ has announced that Good Chemistry’s software, Qemist Cloud and Tangelo, will be integrated into their enterprise software portfolio. Qemist Cloud allows users to utilize quantum chemistry through simulation, while Tangelo enables them to conduct chemistry experiments across multiple quantum cloud providers and hardware devices. This acquisition marks the second for Sandbox AQ, after buying Cryptosense, an enterprise-focused software-as-a-service cybersecurity and encryption startup, in 2022.
