Rescale Raises $115M to Make Engineering 1,000x Faster With AI
Despite economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, artificial intelligence continues to dominate the investment landscape. A prime example is Rescale, a rising force in AI-driven physics modeling, which just closed a $115 million Series D funding round. The round attracted a powerhouse roster of backers, including Nvidia and Foxconn, and added to a cap table already featuring Microsoft, Samsung, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, PayPal’s Peter Thiel, and Y Combinator’s Paul Graham.
Founded by Joris Poort, a former Boeing engineer who helped design the wing of the 787 Dreamliner, Rescale is at the forefront of a new category Poort calls “AI physics.” The platform accelerates physics simulations—such as testing aerodynamics for vehicles—by up to 1,000 times using advanced AI and data science. Its software is already trusted by industry giants like General Motors, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Samsung.
“AI physics is not yet standard practice across the board,” Poort says, “but it’s definitely the future. We thought this would be the right time to raise and invest aggressively into these growth areas.”
The timing aligns with broader trends. While the number of U.S. venture deals dipped slightly in Q1 2025 compared to the previous year, PitchBook data shows the total value of VC investment actually rose—driven overwhelmingly by AI, which accounted for 71% of all deal value.
Rescale’s mission is personal for Poort, who envisions building the tools he once wished he had at Boeing. With the new capital, he plans to scale up engineering hiring and expand the company’s AI product line.
“Accelerated computing is the engine of the AI industrial revolution,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. “With Rescale’s full-stack Nvidia software and infrastructure, industries can push the boundaries of AI-driven modeling and simulation.”
The round also drew support from the University of Michigan, Hanwha, Hitachi Ventures, Saudi Aramco’s Prosperity7, Translink Capital, and others—underscoring not only global investor confidence but also Rescale’s potential to tap into new international markets.
Poort credits the involvement of world-class investors not just for their capital but for their strategic value. “We always ask, what’s the unique contribution? What can Sam Altman help us with that no one else can?” he notes.
Still, he cautions founders against being dazzled by valuation alone.
“Valuation is temporary and control is forever,” Poort says. “Founders sometimes get too focused on the number, but if you give up control terms, those are usually permanent.”
As AI continues to reshape industries—from aerospace to energy—Rescale’s story is a clear signal: in this era of accelerated computing, the intersection of physics and AI is no longer theoretical—it’s the new frontier.
