Benchling

Benchling launched Benchling AI on October 7, 2025, providing scientists a command center for AI agents and predictive models within scientific workflows. Features include Deep Research Agent (analyzes experimental data and literature), Compose Agent (converts notes to notebook entries), and Data Entry Agent (structures unstructured data). The platform integrates AlphaFold, Chai-1, and Boltz-2 models. One biopharma client reduced mouse model selection from 20 to 2 candidates, saving eight months of in-vivo research. Free for academic scientists; serves 1,300+ biotech companies and 7,500 academic institutions.

Benchling laid off 12% of workforce in 2023.

Benchling, the life sciences R&D software platform valued at $6.1B, laid off 74 employees (9% of workforce) in April 2023. The cuts primarily impacted the marketing team. Founded by MIT students in 2012, Benchling had filed for IPO in late 2021. Former employees cited "massive over-hiring during high growth phase" and "overambitious goals and targets" when macroeconomic factors hit their SaaS customer base. No additional layoffs reported through 2024.