Cambridge, October 19, 2025
News Summary
Lila Sciences, an artificial intelligence startup, has secured a $350 million funding round, enabling it to lease 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge. This lease represents one of the largest life science real estate deals in Greater Boston and underscores a pivotal advancement in a challenging lab market. The company aims to achieve scientific superintelligence by utilizing AI to conduct autonomous life sciences experiments while planning to expand its workforce by 2025.
Cambridge — Lila Sciences, an artificial intelligence startup, has closed a $350 million funding round and is leasing 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge. The lease is one of the largest life science real estate deals in Greater Boston in 2025 and represents a notable transaction in an otherwise flat lab market.
Key details
Lila Sciences, an artificial intelligence startup, has closed a $350 million funding round. The company is leasing 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge. This lease is one of the largest life science real estate deals in Greater Boston in 2025, marking a rare highlight in a flat lab market.
Funding, origins and valuation
Lila Sciences was incubated with Flagship Pioneering and emerged from stealth mode in March 2025. An initial $200 million was seeded into Lila by Flagship and a group of investors. The Series A round completed in 2025 elevated the company to a valuation near $1.23 billion, granting Lila unicorn status after its Series A funding round.
Operations, goals and technology
Geoffrey von Maltzahn, CEO of Lila, stated the company aims to achieve scientific superintelligence by integrating AI into the scientific method. Lila Sciences aims to build a platform for fully autonomous laboratories capable of conducting life sciences experiments with minimal human involvement. The company’s technology combines large scientific datasets with AI to automate hypothesis generation, experiment design, and result interpretation.
The recent funding will enable Lila to further develop its superintelligence platform and open new hubs in Boston, San Francisco, and London. The company currently has approximately 100 employees and intends to double its workforce by the end of 2025. The leadership team includes notable figures such as geneticist George Church and experts in various scientific fields.
Lease specifics and campus plans
Lila will occupy the top floor of 1 Alewife Park and all of 5 Alewife Park buildings. The Alewife Park campus encompasses 26.5 acres and is located near the MBTA Alewife Red Line station. IQHQ plans to develop five office and lab buildings at Alewife Park. IQHQ is converting the former W.R. Grace plant into a life sciences complex and the Lila lease represents a significant win for the developer.
IQHQ has a wider portfolio that includes 340,000 square feet of lab and office space in Andover and plans for a 1 million-square-foot tower. In addition to the Alewife Park campus, IQHQ is positioning multiple assets across the region to serve growing lab and office needs.
Market context and local presence
Approximately 46.2% of lab space in Cambridge’s Alewife submarket was available for lease in Q3 2025. Despite that elevated vacancy level, Lila Sciences has confirmed intentions to establish a long-term presence in West Cambridge. The size and visibility of this lease make it a prominent deal in the Greater Boston life sciences market for 2025.
Developer and tenant outlook
IQHQ representatives emphasized plans for a long-term partnership with Lila Sciences and the expected local research activity that the tenant will bring to Alewife Park. Lila’s stated aim to scale its autonomous-lab platform and open new hubs aligns with its lease commitment and recruitment goals in the Boston area.
What comes next
Lila will begin build-out and fit-out work within the leased space consistent with laboratory requirements and local permitting. The company plans to expand its employee base and accelerate development of its AI-driven research platform using the new capital infusion. IQHQ will advance development of the Alewife Park buildings as part of the campus plan.
FAQ
What funding did Lila Sciences close?
Lila Sciences, an artificial intelligence startup, has closed a $350 million funding round.
How much space did Lila Sciences lease and where?
The company is leasing 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge.
How significant is the lease?
This lease is one of the largest life science real estate deals in Greater Boston in 2025, marking a rare highlight in a flat lab market.
Where did Lila originate and what initial capital was provided?
Lila Sciences was incubated with Flagship Pioneering and emerged from stealth mode in March 2025.
An initial $200 million was seeded into Lila by Flagship and a group of investors.
What are Lila’s stated scientific goals?
Geoffrey von Maltzahn, CEO of Lila, stated the company aims to achieve scientific superintelligence by integrating AI into the scientific method.
Lila Sciences aims to build a platform for fully autonomous laboratories capable of conducting life sciences experiments with minimal human involvement.
The company’s technology combines large scientific datasets with AI to automate hypothesis generation, experiment design, and result interpretation.
What is the planned local footprint and campus details?
Lila will occupy the top floor of 1 Alewife Park and all of 5 Alewife Park buildings.
The Alewife Park campus encompasses 26.5 acres and is located near the MBTA Alewife Red Line station.
IQHQ plans to develop five office and lab buildings at Alewife Park.
What is IQHQ’s broader presence?
IQHQ has a wider portfolio that includes 340,000 square feet of lab and office space in Andover and plans for a 1 million-square-foot tower.
What are Lila’s workforce and valuation figures?
Lila Sciences has around 100 employees and intends to double its workforce by the end of 2025.
The company was officially valued at approximately $1.23 billion, entering unicorn status after its Series A funding round.
What market conditions were noted for Alewife?
Approximately 46.2% of lab space in Cambridge’s Alewife submarket was available for lease in Q3 2025.
Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Funding round | $350 million |
| Leased space | 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge |
| Initial seed | $200 million seeded by Flagship and a group of investors |
| Company valuation | Approximately $1.23 billion |
| Current employees | Around 100, with plans to double by end of 2025 |
| Alewife campus size | 26.5 acres |
| Local vacancy | Approximately 46.2% of lab space in Cambridge’s Alewife submarket available in Q3 2025 |
| IQHQ portfolio note | 340,000 square feet in Andover; plans for a 1 million-square-foot tower |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Lila Sciences Secures Major Lease at Alewife Park
Additional Resources
- Boston Globe: Lila AI Science Lab Space
- Wikipedia: Lila Sciences
- Boston Real Estate Times: Lila Sciences Lab Lease
- Google Search: Lila Sciences
- AI Media House: Lila Sciences Valuation
- Google Scholar: Lila Sciences
- HPC Wire: Lila Sciences Funding
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lila Sciences
- PR Newswire: Flagship Pioneering Unveils Lila Sciences
- Google News: Lila Sciences
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