Alain Richardt
Founder at Atomic Tessellator
Alain Richardt is the founder of Atomic Tessellator, an Auckland deep-tech startup using artificial intelligence and physics to speed up the discovery of new materials, including alternatives to rare-earth elements. He came to chemistry from a programming background, having worked on distributed infrastructure at Google before building anomaly-detection systems for a cryptomining startup. In April 2026, Atomic Tessellator raised $13 million at a $50 million valuation, led by Crane Venture Partners with In-Q-Tel, Icehouse Ventures, Global From Day One and Outset Ventures participating. On In The Blink Of AI, Richardt discussed accelerating materials discovery with AI and quantum chemistry.
In their own words
From Accelerating Discovery: Alain Richardt on AI, Quantum Chemistry, and the Future of Materials Science · In The Blink Of AIIt is certainly easier to teach a programmer physics than teach a physicist programming.
Career
- Now Founder · Atomic Tessellator
- Earlier Software Engineer, distributed infrastructure · Google
Sources: nztechpodcast.com
Key moments
Jump straight to the part of Accelerating Discovery: Alain Richardt on AI, Quantum Chemistry, and the Future of Materials Science you want.
- 2:21 Alain’s Early Chemistry Adventures Favourite Element (Molybdenum)
- 5:12 Mercury Experiments: Crazy Ideas Influential Teachers
- 8:19 Why Alain Founded Atomic Tessellator: Fixing Broken Chemistry Tools
- 11:38 Force Field vs. Quantum (DFT) Simulations Explained
- 15:25 How Cloud Computing AI are Revolutionising Chemistry Simulations
- 17:53 Promising Applications: Fusion Reactors Plasma-Facing Materials
- 23:08 When AI Simulations Go Rogue: Unexpected (and Expensive) Results
- 26:04 Decoding AI Headlines: Schrödinger’s Cat Quantum Computing Explained
- 35:09 Measuring Success as a Founder: Experimental Parity New Material Discoveries
- 41:39 Hot Takes: Periodic Table Merch, Atomic Cocktails, and the Joy of Being a Rebel Founder
Connections
Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction Updated 25 September 2026
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