Swiss-based Viso raises €8.7M to make and deploy AI vision apps for businesses

Schaffhausen-based Viso, a no-code computer vision platform to build, deploy and operate AI vision applications, announced that it has raised $9.2M (approximately €8.73M) in a seed round of funding. 

The investment was led by Accel, a global VC firm supporting innovative teams from startup to growth stages. The firm has backed companies like Facebook, Spotify, and Slack among others.

Angel investors and industry experts, including Mehdi Ghissassi (DeepMind), Mihai Faur (UiPath), Remy Lazarovici (Celonis), James Isilay (Cognism), and Stef van Grieken (Cradle), also participated in the round.

Andrei Brasoveanu, Partner at Accel, says, “While various companies have developed point solutions targeting different aspects of the computer vision application lifecycle, there are remarkably few end-to-end infrastructure platforms to unify different tools, models and solutions, particularly for non-technical users.”

“As computer vision continues to penetrate multiple industries, from transport and agriculture through to health, Viso has built a horizontal platform to finally give businesses access to computer vision capabilities at scale.”

“We’re extremely impressed by the early traction Viso has achieved so far and look forward to supporting Nico and Gaudenz on the journey ahead,” adds Brasoveanu.

Building and deploying vision-based enterprise applications

Advances in AI, GPU hardware, and deep learning have made computer vision more accessible, yet challenges persist in deploying and scaling vision-based enterprise applications. 

Technical expertise and infrastructure are key barriers to production, hindering widespread adoption despite high demand. 

Computer vision finds applications across industries, from manufacturing and logistics to city management and restaurant operations, transforming images into valuable insights. However, implementation challenges, such as limited applications, outdated hardware, and technical complexity, have impeded progress in the field.

Founded in 2018 by Gaudenz Boesch and Nico Klingler, Viso offers an all-in-one solution for businesses to create, deploy, and scale computer vision applications seamlessly. 

The company’s Viso Suite, an end-to-end enterprise vision platform, simplifies the entire process, from data handling and configuration to deployment and monitoring.

With a no-code interface, businesses can build advanced vision applications in days, not months. Viso’s platform supports various cameras, integrates with the latest ML frameworks and computing hardware, and requires no extensive technical expertise, enabling adoption and integration for enterprises.

The platform offers a modular and flexible architecture, allowing businesses to customise applications to their specific requirements. 

Users can integrate their preferred components or use Viso’s pre-built modules, empowering businesses to train employees and enhance internal capabilities through the platform’s self-serve functionality.

Capital utilisation

Viso claims to have gained momentum since its platform launch in spring 2022. The company, bootstrapped until now, plans to use the raised funds to enhance its platform and expand its globally distributed team.

Co-founder Gaudenz Boesch says, “When we founded Viso in 2018, our core mission was to make disruptive technologies like computer vision widely accessible to all companies, not just those with the resources and expertise to fully utilise it. Since then, the demand for computer vision-based applications has exploded in nearly every industry.”

“However, due to the high cost, complexity and scarcity of technical expertise, many companies still aren’t able to benefit from vision-based applications at scale. That’s why we’ve built an all-in-one infrastructure solution to enable businesses to develop, deploy and scale computer vision applications faster, more successfully and at lower cost.”

“We’re excited to partner with Accel and bring computer vision capabilities to companies across the globe,” adds Boesch.