PhysicsX wants to give engineers AI superpowers

This UK-based company is committed to driving significant advancements in both environmental sustainability and human health through its technological solutions.

Origins and mission

Founded with a vision to leverage AI in engineering, PhysicsX has set out to address some of the most pressing challenges in industrial design and operations. The company’s mission is to utilise AI and simulation technologies to create more efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly solutions for complex engineering problems. By doing so, PhysicsX aims to not only enhance industrial performance but also contribute to global efforts in climate change mitigation and healthcare improvement.

Core technologies and services

PhysicsX specialises in developing sophisticated AI algorithms and simulation models that can predict and optimise the performance of various systems and products. Its technology portfolio includes:

• AI-driven design optimisation: by integrating AI into the design process, PhysicsX enables the creation of more efficient and innovative products. Its AI tools can analyse vast amounts of data to identify optimal design parameters, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with traditional trial-and-error methods
• Simulation engineering: PhysicsX uses advanced simulation techniques to model the behaviour of systems under various conditions. This allows engineers to predict how products will perform in real-world scenarios, enabling them to make data-driven decisions that enhance reliability and efficiency
• Climate impact solutions: one of the key areas PhysicsX focuses on is developing technologies that help industries reduce their carbon footprint. Its AI and simulation tools are used to design systems that are not only more efficient but also have a lower environmental impact. This includes optimising energy consumption, reducing emissions, and improving the overall sustainability of industrial operations
• Healthcare innovations: in the healthcare sector, PhysicsX applies its expertise to improve medical devices and systems. Its technologies help in designing more effective diagnostic tools, enhancing the performance of medical equipment, and developing new solutions that can improve patient outcomes

Future directions

Looking ahead, PhysicsX aims to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI and simulation technologies. The company plans to expand its reach into new markets and industries, constantly evolving its solutions to meet the ever-changing demands of modern engineering.

In November 2023, raised $32M in a Series A round led by General Catalyst. Standard Investments, NGP, Radius Capital, and KKR co-founder and co-executive chairman, Henry Kravis, also participated in the round.

The funding will accelerate PhysicsX’s growth across customer delivery, platform engineering, and fundamental research, so that the company can be a more effective engineering partner to its customers, expand the capabilities of its tooling, and advance its AI models and methods.

As part of the round, entrepreneur Jim Baum, General Catalyst XIR (Executive in Residence), has joined the company’s Board, bringing over 25 years of experience growing and managing cutting-edge technology businesses including at Netezza, Endeca, and PTC. Jeremy Palmer, former Chairman and CEO of QuantumBlack and a former Senior Partner at McKinsey, has also joined as Chairman.

Robin Tuluie, Founder and Co-CEO of PhysicsX, said: “Engineering design processes were transformed by numerical simulation and the availability of high-performance compute infrastructure. The move from numerical simulation to deep learning represents a similar leap and will unlock new levels of product performance and ways of practicing engineering itself. PhysicsX exists to help pioneer and enable that transformation, giving engineers and manufacturers superpowers in bringing new technologies to the real world.”

Jacomo Corbo, Co-founder and Co-CEO PhysicsX, said: “Our customers are designing the most important technologies of our time, including wind turbines, aircraft engines, electric vehicles, semiconductors, metals, and biofuels . They are exceeding the limits of today’s Computer Aided Engineering tooling- which is the basis for our own collaboration with them and is the starting point for the problems we set our technology against. We’re delighted that this financing will enable us to partner more deeply with our customers to enable breakthrough engineering.”

Larry Bohn, Managing Director, General Catalyst, said: "PhysicsX expands engineering boundaries in crucial sectors, led by a team deeply skilled in simulation engineering and machine learning. With credibility, customer relationships, and technical expertise, we believe PhysicsX is poised to transform engineering in complex industries. This aligns with our vision for industrial transformation and positions PhysicsX with the opportunity to create a category-defining company in advanced industries."