Guidewheel provides a FactoryOps platform that connects to any machine via non-invasive sensors that clip onto a machine’s power draw to deliver a real-time "heartbeat" into an AI system. The platform aims to bring cloud and AI capabilities to every machine on the factory floor, enabling teams to reduce lost production time, increase efficiency, and track energy and carbon for sustainability goals. Customers report an average of 41% more production from existing assets, and the company says it works with hundreds of manufacturers globally, including names like General Motors, Kimberly Clark, Johnson & Johnson, and U.S. Steel. Guidewheel has recently released Scout, an AI-powered predictive maintenance feature that detects early warning signs to prevent downtime and quality defects. The company plans to accelerate product development, scale its AI team, and invest in Customer Success to support a rapidly growing customer base. Guidewheel was founded out of Stanford and is described in the filing from San Francisco. Guidewheel builds a cloud-based SaaS platform that connects to small, industry-standard IoT sensors on factory equipment to stream electrical and operational data into real-time monitoring and historical reports. Its software alerts plant managers and maintenance staff to issues, helping minimize equipment downtime and improve overall equipment effectiveness by roughly 10%–20% for some customers. Energy and carbon reductions are a consequential benefit as customers extract more production from existing assets rather than building new capacity. Pricing is sensor-based rather than per-seat, and the company aims for the system to pay for itself within the first month of use. Guidewheel was founded by CEO Lauren Dunford and co-founder Weston McBride, leveraging their manufacturing experience to target under-digitized plants. The company plans to use new funding to add features such as real-time scoreboards and throughput forecasting. Guidewheel (formerly known as Safi) is a San Francisco, CA–based manufacturing tech company founded out of Stanford University and led by CEO Lauren Dunford. It provides a cloud-powered FactoryOps platform that clips onto any machine on the factory floor to digitize operations and deliver real-time visibility. The plug-and-play solution is designed to reduce lost production and improve performance. The company has expanded quickly to 100+ plants across Mexico, East Africa, and the USA. Guidewheel has raised a total of $12M to date, including an $8M Series A. It intends to use the new funds to accelerate growth, expand operations, and broaden its business reach.

Total raised

$48M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Aug 2024