CloEE Raises €520k to Enhance AI-Driven Manufacturing Solutions

CloEE, based in Helsinki, raises €520k in pre-Seed funding to enhance its AI-driven manufacturing platform. The funding will help expand sales in the US, Italy, and Nordics. Key investor Miro Vertanen highlights their potential for significant impact amid a growing AI in manufacturing market.

CloEE, a promising Helsinki-based startup, has just wrapped up a pre-Seed funding round, securing an impressive €520,000. This round, led by angel investor Miro Vertanen and backed by the Innovestor Angel Co-fund, aims to bolster the company’s AI-driven platform for discrete manufacturing. The funds will help them enhance their current offerings and spread sales across Nordics, Italy, and the US.

Founded in 2022, CloEE wants to address the pressing need for affordable, user-friendly manufacturing solutions. CEO Oleksandr Zadorozhnyi stated, “We are developing CloEE in direct response to manufacturers’ need for an affordable, truly plug-and-play solution”. He emphasized that while AI holds great promise, its effectiveness heavily relies on quality data. He noted that a staggering 70% of manufacturers struggle to achieve even half of their equipment’s full efficiency due to poor data practices.

CloEE’s platform isn’t just a concept. According to Zadorozhnyi, their success often leads to customers becoming impromptu brand advocates, citing how one client naturally expanded the use of CloEE’s system without extra promotion. They’re currently beta-testing with a US partner who operates 100 facilities and are finalizing a three-year contract for ten of them.

CloEE leverages generative AI to sift through real-time data from various sources, including equipment and management systems, helping manufacturers attain high efficiency and better sustainability. With experience linking 25,000 machines across 25 nations, they tackle challenges such as equipment downtime, delays in delivery, and soaring energy costs.

Miro Vertanen, the lead investor, praised CloEE for driving a transformation in manufacturing, saying it brings about meaningful results on the bottom line, particularly for mid-sized enterprises navigating this digital wave. “Their hands-on experience with over 100 IoT deployments, combined with their ability to execute at a fast pace, makes them exceptionally well-suited for international expansion,” he added.

Reportedly, CloEE’s AI tools have helped clients generate annual revenue growth as high as €867,000, slashed energy consumption by 30%, and dramatically decreased emergency stops by 95%. These results hint at a way to implement solutions that maximize savings without hefty projects or disruptions.

Moreover, CloEE’s ability to boost operational efficiency through effective automation can skyrocket productivity by 20-30% and cut quality defects by 15-25%. Such improvements, even modest ones like reducing equipment downtime by just 10%, can lead to significant benefits.

In terms of implementation speed, their solution can be set up in the cloud, offline, or on-premise within two weeks with no complex setups required. Andrea Beretta from Cariplo Factory lauded CloEE’s tech and strategy, stating that it showcases a robust approach to industrial manufacturing.

The global market for AI in manufacturing is predicted to leap from €5.1 billion in 2024 to over €199.5 billion by 2034, driven by a surge in AI automation, predictive maintenance, and quality controls. North America and Asia-Pacific are leading this charge, embracing these technologies more than anyone else.

Julia Sabitova, the COO, emphasized their commitment to collaborating with universities to tackle industry challenges. Highlighting the looming skills gap—projected to reach over 8 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030—she noted, “CloEE is designed for the new generation of engineers,” stressing the importance of making technology more approachable and understandable.

Currently armed with an eight-member team and an R&D hub in Helsinki, CloEE is aimed at securing its first 20 recurring customers by 2025, after which they plan to seek additional funding focusing on R&D, particularly in using AI agents to innovate in traditional manufacturing sectors.

CloEE’s recent funding marks a significant step for the company as it looks to scale its AI-driven manufacturing solutions across diverse markets. With impressive early results and a clear vision for the future, this startup aims to redefine production efficiency and support the next generation of engineers. As the demand for smarter manufacturing technologies grows, CloEE seems poised to make a meaningful impact.

Original Source: www.eu-startups.com