Discovery teams have embraced AI-driven design tools to accelerate drug discovery, but many lab managers are finding that physical operations haven’t kept pace. Tangible Scientific, a Boston-based startup, has launched with a focused mission: eliminate the compound logistics bottleneck that slows modern discovery programs.

The company was recently selected for the SLAS Innovation AveNEW program at SLAS 2026 and is positioning its platform as a way for biotech teams to achieve faster DMTA cycles—without building and maintaining internal compound management infrastructure.

Why Compound Management Is Slowing Down AI-Driven Discovery

Computational design cycles that once took months can now happen in days. However, the downstream work—compound synthesis, vendor coordination, sample handling, plating, and assay readiness—still often stretches into weeks or months.

For lab managers overseeing lean discovery teams, the operational strain is tangible. Compound operations are frequently fragmented across multiple CROs and vendors. Requests are routed through email, inventory records are updated manually, and shipment tracking can lack transparency. When discrepancies arise—such as a missing sample or delayed shipment—resolution may be slow and accountability unclear.

In many small and midsize biotechs, senior scientists become de facto compound managers, diverting time away from data analysis and experimental design to reconcile spreadsheets and track down materials. As compound libraries grow, this approach becomes increasingly fragile.

A Software-Orchestrated Model That “Feels In-House”

Tangible Scientific’s approach combines centralized compound custody with purpose-built software orchestration. The goal is to deliver compound management that “feels in-house”—with transparent tracking, structured ordering, and rapid delivery—while eliminating the fixed costs associated with building internal infrastructure.

Compounds are stored centrally, and requests flow through a structured digital system rather than informal email chains. Each request has visible status updates, and compounds are tracked with documented provenance from synthesis through every handling step.

In addition to logistics coordination, Tangible integrates complementary services such as ADME testing, small-molecule synthesis, and analytical support. This allows discovery teams to move from compound conception to experiment-ready material without navigating multiple disconnected vendors.

Key capabilities include:

• Real-time inventory and status visibility: Lab managers can see exactly where each compound sits in the workflow—received, solubilized, plated, or shipped—enabling more accurate experiment planning.
• Multi-user ordering interface: Any authorized team member can submit requests directly through a web interface, reducing gatekeeping and email misunderstandings.
• Centralized storage and reformatting services: Powder weighing, tube-to-plate transfers, aliquoting, and consolidation are handled as standardized operations.
• Chain-of-custody documentation: Complete provenance tracking supports faster issue resolution and clearer incident reporting.
• API-first systems integration: The platform connects to ELNs and LIMS so requests and status updates integrate into existing lab workflows.
• Same-day/next-day delivery in Boston: Local biotech partners can receive compounds with turnaround times comparable to internal operations, paired with full digital visibility.

The company reports that its model can reduce cycle times by 20–40%, helping teams realize more of the acceleration promised by AI-driven design tools.

Leadership with Deep Discovery Operations Experience

Tangible was founded by compound management veterans with more than 30 years of experience building internal operations at Millennium, Constellation, and Relay Therapeutics, combined with software and automation expertise from Arxspan (acquired by Bruker) and CambridgeSoft (acquired by PerkinElmer).

The leadership team includes:

• Ted Peters, Head of Lab Operations & Co-founder: Brings 30 years of full-scale drug discovery operations experience, including laboratory design, process implementation, scale-up, and team building across major biotech organizations.
• Jeff Carter, President & Co-founder: A science-driven founder of multiple drug discovery and enabling services companies, guiding Tangible’s vision for next-generation research operations as a service.
• Adham Chebbani, Head of Commercial & Co-founder: A scientist turned commercial leader focused on translating complex scientific and operational needs into scalable business and software solutions for R&D teams.

For lab managers under pressure to do more with leaner teams, Tangible’s model represents a shift toward operational outsourcing that emphasizes transparency, accountability, and integration—while preserving the speed and control of an internal compound management function.