Hamburg-based Akeno, a tech company that provides real-time automated production planning, has raised €4.5M in seed funding to advance its AI-based software.
The round was led by Cusp Capital, with participation from TS Ventures and another.vc.
Dr. Maximilian Rowoldt, Investor and General Partner at Cusp Capital, says, “Akeno uses the increasingly available operational technology data for AI-based, real-time optimised production planning. The solution achieves impressive results such as higher plant utilisation and reduced working capital.”
“The focus is currently on the chemical industry, but other batch industries such as pharmaceuticals and food are also benefiting. However, many companies are still working with outdated tools and reactive processes. akeno has the potential to become a central building block in the digital infrastructure of industrial companies and to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.”
Next-gen production planning
Founded in 2021 by Alexander Ebbrecht, Dmitrij Direktor, and Steffen Ramm, Akeno has developed a software platform that responds to breakdowns in conventional production planning systems.
The platform enables real-time adjustments and automation of planning tasks, with the goal of reducing unused capacity and excess inventory.
It is designed for use in sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and metalworking, where production involves parallel processes, capacity limits, system strain, and frequent disruptions, including raw material variation, shifting production times, and machine failures.
Akeno’s software moves away from fixed schedules and general assumptions in production planning. It analyses operational data in real time, including machine status, material availability, and capacity utilisation.
Based on this input, the software calculates likely process sequences and generates adaptive plans. These plans adjust continuously and increase in accuracy through repeated use.
Co-founder Alexander Ebbrecht says, “Anyone who plans their production based on outdated master data runs the risk of losing their competitive edge. Our long-term vision is to fully automate production planning, enabling our software to autonomously adapt to real-world events and conditions and optimise production plans in real time.”
Akeno’s software identifies possible disruptions and bottlenecks before they affect production. When a delay or change occurs, such as extended machine runtime or a newly available time slot, the system suggests immediate adjustments to order scheduling. This allows production to continue without interruption. Companies including BASF Coatings, Beckers Group, and SunChemical use Akeno’s solution.
Capital utilisation
Akeno will use the funds to triple its team and expand into additional industries. After entering the Chinese market, the company is preparing to move into North America and other parts of Asia.
The seed round marks Akeno’s first major step since its founding in 2021 and sets the stage for scaling its technology.
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