CoreWeave will make Monolith's AI tools available to engineers, speeding design decisions and product innovation.
Imperial artificial intelligence spinout Monolith AI has been acquired by the US cloud computing company CoreWeave.
Based on PhD research carried out by Dr Richard Ahlfeld in the Department of Aeronautics, Monolith was set up to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to complex physics and engineering problems.
"Monolith was founded to put AI directly into the hands of engineers, enabling them to create breakthrough technologies," said Dr Ahlfeld, the company's co-founder and chief executive.
During his PhD, Dr Ahlfeld worked with NASA on flight physics and uncertainty quantification, experience that later informed Monolith's approach to using AI in high-stakes engineering environments. The tools it offers, including anomaly detection, test plan optimisation and next-test recommendation, can help engineers make faster, more reliable decisions without requiring in-house AI or coding expertise.
Since it was founded in 2016, Monolith has worked with leading engineering companies such as Nissan, BMW and Honeywell, and claims breakthroughs in the motorsports, automotive, aerospace and battery industries.
Scaling up
The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, will allow Monolith's tools to be offered through CoreWeave's cloud and computing platform. "Joining CoreWeave will allow us to scale our mission dramatically," Dr Ahlfeld said.
According to CoreWeave, combining its AI cloud with Monolith's simulation and machine learning capabilities will offer industrial and manufacturing companies a way to shorten R&D cycles and accelerate product development and design.
"Every leader we meet across the industrial and manufacturing sectors knows AI can transform their business," said Brian Venturo, co-founder and chief strategy officer at CoreWeave. "What they need are the right tools to use the technology to solve intractable physics and engineering problems. Those challenges have historically slowed industrial innovation, and Monolith has closed that gap."
Imperial connections
Monolith AI was founded by Dr Ahlfeld and Professor Francesco Montomoli. In 2018, Dr Ahlfeld took part in Techcelerate, a programme run by Imperial Enterprise Lab designed to help early career researchers hone their entrepreneurial skills and explore the commercial potential of their research. This came with a grant worth £30,000 for 'customer discovery' work.
I'd strongly encourage new students to explore their entrepreneurial options and test their ideas, rather than heading straight into consulting or banking. Dr Richard Ahlfeld Co-founder and CEO, Monolith AI
"It could not be spent on scientific research, software development, product development, or any form of engineering, just on chatting with experts to better understand the current landscape of advanced product development and the state of the art in machine learning," Dr Ahlfeld recalls. "So for three months, I travelled around the world and asked questions."
The insights he gained strengthened the business case for the company, and in 2019 Monolith was able to raise £1.9 million in seed funding, following up in 2021 with a £8.5 million Series A round, and in 2025 with a £21 million Series B.
In 2022, Monolith became a research partner at Imperial, working with the Dyson School of Design Engineering on manufacturability, funded by a £500,000 Innovate UK grant. More recently it has worked with Imperial battery spinout About:Energy on predicting how long electric vehicle battery packs will last. This will allow car companies to save time and costs by outsourcing complex degradation test plans that are traditionally completed in-house.
This exit showcases the tangible impact of Imperial's research and the strategic value of early-stage entrepreneurship and commercialisation support. Hiten Thakrar Head of SuperConnector
"Seeing Richard's journey with Monolith AI—from early customer and market discovery in the first Techcelerate cohort to this significant acquisition—validates the power of deeply understanding the engineering market's needs," says Hiten Thakrar, head of the SuperConnector entrepreneurship programmes at Imperial. "This exit showcases the tangible impact of Imperial's research and the strategic value of early-stage entrepreneurship and commercialisation support."
Dr Ahlfeld agrees. "I loved the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Imperial," he says. "Taking part in the Venture Catalyst Challenge was where I learned how to build my first pitch deck. Even nine years later, Imperial is still supporting me. Just last month, we were introduced to a major Japanese engineering company through its industry partner network. I'd strongly encourage new students to explore their entrepreneurial options and test their ideas, rather than heading straight into consulting or banking."
