In the fast-paced world of startups, every funding round becomes a valuable case study for aspiring entrepreneurs. The recent news surrounding London-based startup, CuspAI, which is reportedly in talks for a staggering $100 million funding round, has stirred excitement across the innovation landscape. If successful, this would mark a significant leap for the AI-driven materials discovery company that previously secured $30 million in seed funding. But beyond the headlines, there are lessons, tools, and inspirations for startup founders looking to grow their own ventures this year.
Insights from CuspAI’s Journey: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn
1. The Value of Problem-Solving Technology
CuspAI developed an AI-powered platform described as a "search engine for materials", enabling users to specify desired properties and automatically generating the chemical compositions to match these specifications. Their focus on solving real-world problems, like climate challenges and sustainability, has positioned them as a frontrunner in the AI-driven material science sphere.
Lesson: Ensure your startup addresses significant and impactful problems, especially those aligning with global trends, such as climate tech and sustainability.
2. Early Success with Seed Funding
In 2024, CuspAI raised $30 million in a seed round led by prominent VCs like Hoxton Ventures, proving that high-value ideas attract high-value investments.
Lesson: Invest time in crafting a compelling pitch to engage top-tier investors, and work on validating your idea early through platforms like the F/MS Sandbox, which offers personalized idea validation with guidance from an AI co-founder such as PlayPal.
How Entrepreneurs Can Apply Similar Strategies
Step-by-Step Guide for Startups:
- Identify a Problem Worth Solving
- Like CuspAI’s focus on advanced materials and climate-oriented solutions, founders should deeply explore pain points that resonate with market needs.
- Use AI to Amplify Your Impact
- Utilizing AI to speed up innovation and efficiency, as CuspAI does, can make your startup more attractive to investors.
- Find the Right Funding Opportunities
- Discover grants or funding programs tailored to your startup’s vision using the F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer. It automatically scans EU-level grants and drafts customizable applications based on your startup’s specifics, saving countless hours.
- Validate Your Startup Idea Early
- Participate in startup incubators or use digital tools like the SANDBOX provided by Fe/male Switch. This platform allows entrepreneurs to systematically validate their idea through structured actions, feedback loops, and AI guidance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in 2025
- Chasing Trendy Ideas Without Substance: Just because a market trend is booming doesn’t mean it aligns with your vision. Focus on authenticity and gut-driven innovation.
- Overlooking Legal Clauses in Agreements: Early-stage startups often overlook the importance of legal documents, leading to harmful outcomes later on. Use services like AI Startup Lawyer to analyze shareholder agreements, term sheets, or incubator contracts before committing.
- Avoiding Feedback: Avoid building in a silo, external feedback from mentors, potential customers, or platforms like PlayPal and Mean CEO can save ideas from critical flaws.
Tools for Entrepreneurs in 2025
1. PlayPal
Developed by Fe/male Switch and founded by Violetta Bonenkamp, PlayPal acts as your AI co-founder. From personalized advice to creating Standard Operating Procedures for startup tasks, PlayPal bridges the gap between uncertainty and structured action.
2. F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer
Don't waste time navigating complicated European funding options. With this tool, entrepreneurs can quickly find applicable grants and draft tailored applications optimized for competitiveness.
3. AI Startup Lawyer
Protect yourself from startup pitfalls without hiring expensive lawyers. Upload agreements and receive insights about risks, language, and negotiation opportunities specific to startup contracts.
The Learning Mindset: Lessons from Violetta Bonenkamp
Founder stories like Violetta Bonenkamp’s offer inspiration to entrepreneurs worldwide. Bonenkamp, who developed PlayPal and Fe/male Switch, is globally recognized for her multidisciplinary expertise in education, AI, deeptech, IP, finance, neuroscience, and beyond. Her work introduces “gamepreneurship,” a unique methodology coupling gamification and entrepreneurship simulations.
Learn more about Violetta’s philosophy here.
Conclusion: Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in 2025
CuspAI’s journey underscores the potential in harnessing tech for critical global challenges while strategically securing funds to scale operations. For startup founders, replicating this success requires focus, validation, and leveraging tools designed to streamline the difficult journey of entrepreneurship.
Whether it’s tapping into AI-powered helpers like PlayPal, securing EU grants using grant finder tools, or navigating legal landmines with AI Startup Lawyer, 2025 offers entrepreneurs a wealth of resources.
Startup dreams can become startup achievements, if paired with insights, preparation, and smart technology. So, go ahead and build your own success story inspired by CuspAI’s massive milestones.
Tags: Startup news, climate tech, entrepreneurship tips, 2025 startup tools.
FAQ
1. What is CuspAI and what do they specialize in?
CuspAI is a London-based startup that develops an AI-powered platform described as a "search engine for materials." The platform allows users to specify desired material properties and generates chemical compositions to meet these requirements, with a focus on climate tech solutions like carbon capture. Read more about CuspAI’s material discovery platform
2. How much funding did CuspAI secure in its seed round?
CuspAI raised $30 million during its 2024 seed round, which was led by prominent venture capitals like Hoxton Ventures, Lightspeed, and Northzone. Learn about CuspAI’s $30M seed announcement
3. What is the latest funding round for CuspAI?
As of August 2025, CuspAI is reportedly in talks to raise $100 million, aiming to scale its AI-driven materials discovery platform further. Check out the latest news on CuspAI’s funding round
4. Why is CuspAI focusing on climate tech?
CuspAI is directing its AI applications toward climate-oriented solutions like carbon capture because its founders believe it addresses a significant global need. This aligns with broader societal decarbonization goals.
5. Who are the founders of CuspAI?
The company was founded by Prof. Max Welling and Dr. Chad Edwards in 2024. Both founders have significant expertise in artificial intelligence and material science. Learn about the CuspAI founders
6. How does CuspAI’s technology work?
CuspAI uses artificial intelligence to act as a "search engine for materials," enabling users to input specific material properties. The platform then proposes chemical compositions matching those specifications, accelerating the innovation process for industries like clean energy and manufacturing.
7. What industries could benefit from CuspAI’s technology?
CuspAI’s platform can benefit industries such as clean energy, carbon capture, manufacturing, and water treatment. Its versatility reflects the growing demand for sustainable and efficient materials.
8. Has CuspAI formed any partnerships to further its goals?
Yes, in early 2025, CuspAI announced a partnership with Finnish chemicals company Kemira Oyj to develop materials that could remove "forever chemicals" (e.g., PFAS) from water supplies.
9. What lessons can entrepreneurs learn from CuspAI’s funding journey?
Entrepreneurs can learn the importance of aligning their solutions with global challenges, like climate tech, and crafting compelling pitches to attract high-value investors early on. Tools like Fe/male Switch’s PlayPal or AI Grant Finder can also help streamline validation and funding processes. Explore tools like PlayPal for startup growth
10. What makes CuspAI a standout in the AI-driven material science sector?
CuspAI’s emphasis on using AI for real-world, impactful problems like climate tech solutions makes it a frontrunner. Their ability to raise significant funding within a year of launching also highlights exceptional execution and vision. Understand more about AI-driven material startups
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
