Company Name: Artificial Living Brain Lab (ALBL)
Founded: 2015
Location: Erlangen, Germany
Overview
Artificial Living Brain Lab (ALBL) is a deep tech research company pioneering next-generation AI chips. Originating under the auspices of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Germany), ALBL develops novel materials and nanofabrication methods to create Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that mimic the performance of biological brains. Our innovation addresses one of AI’s most urgent problems: its unsustainable energy demand.
Breakthrough Innovation
Our NPUs leverage artificial living-like materials and brain-inspired architectures, enabling energy-efficient computation at a fraction of the power required by today’s AI chips. Key advantages include:
- Significantly reduced power consumption
- Lower cost and weight
- Scalability in production
These features make our chips ideal for edge AI, particularly in autonomous systems like drones and field robots.
Global Challenge
AI is becoming one of the largest drivers of global electricity consumption. The root of this problem is the energy inefficiency of current AI hardware. Without fundamental advances in AI chip design, the environmental and economic cost of AI will become unsustainable.
ALBL Solution
ALBL’s NPUs promise:
- Significantly reduced energy usage
- Improved autonomy in power-constrained environments (e.g., drones, robots)
Market Focus
We target:
- AI data centers and platform providers
- Manufacturers of autonomous drones and field robotics
- Defense and aerospace sectors needing compact, brain-like control systems
Team
Led by Dr. Dmitry A. Kukuruznyak, ALBL combines expertise in:
- Materials science of artificial living materials
- Neuromorphic and brain-inspired computing
- Nanofabrication and semiconductor process engineering
Dr. Kukuruznyak holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science (University of Washington, 2003) and has held research positions at National Institute for Materials Science (Japan), Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, and Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Germany).
Business Model
ALBL is a fabless company (like Nvidia). We design advanced NPUs and outsource fabrication to leading foundries (TSMC, etc.).
Our strategic options include:
- Sale of the entire lab and its IP to a major AI chip developer (preferred).
- Licensing of our proprietary technologies to chip manufacturers.
The preferred route is a strategic acquisition, allowing our innovation to scale without the capital risks of manufacturing.
Traction
- Working NPU prototypes demonstrating energy performance superior to current AI accelerators
- Global collaborations with academic and research foundries in Germany, China, Taiwan, Japan, and the US
- Featured in major media:
- Innovation & Tech Today: “Artificial Intelligence May Soon Come to Life“
- The Hill: “We are closer than you think to letting AI launch missiles“
Technology & IP
- Bio-inspired NPUs based on proprietary materials and structures
- Novel nanofabrication methods for low-power AI computation
- Novel artificial living-like materials
- Artificial living structures that mimic the function of biological neural networks
- Protected by trade secrets and patents in preparation
Funding Ask
To accelerate our impact and enhance visibility among top-tier chip manufacturers, ALBL plans to open a US-based division focused on:
- Filing US patents
- Building certified prototypes (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3–4)
- Partnering with industry leaders
We are seeking $2 million in pre-seed funding to:
- Establish the US facility
- Expand our engineering team
- Complete pilot programs with strategic partners
Goal:
Demonstrate a fully functional, energy-benchmarked NPU and position ALBL for acquisition by a global AI chip leader.
Why Now
As AI hardware hits a power and scalability bottleneck, deep tech innovation in materials and neuromorphic design is essential. ALBL offers a foundational solution for the next generation of autonomous intelligence—and is ready to scale with the right partners.