Apprentice raises $7.5 million to expedite lab work with AI and AR

Apprentice.io, a startup developing a conversational AI and augmented reality platform for pharmaceutical, biotech, and chemical companies, today announced it has raised $7.5 million. CEO and cofounder Angelo Stracquatanio says the capital will enable Apprentice to scale to accommodate customer growth attributable to the pandemic. A shortage of lab workers is hastening the adoption of automation-driven "augmentation" technologies. An American Society for Clinical Pathology study revealed that the increasing workload is compelling lab managers to hire recent graduates or candidates with bachelor's degrees but no laboratory training. Automation and digital guidance tools like Apprentice's can upskill young professionals while ensuring quality standards aren't compromised.