The Venture Codex

Participated · Series B · Dec 2024

Embotech is a Zurich, Switzerland–based company developing autonomous driving solutions for industrial logistics, with a focus on Automated Vehicle Marshalling (AVM) for car factories and Autonomous Terminal Tractors (ATT) for ports and yards. The company leverages real-time optimization technology developed since 2013 and offers a Level 4 AV kit using LIDAR, cameras and GPS with localization accuracy under 5 cm. Embotech has secured multi-year rollout contracts, notably with BMW to install its AVM solution in six passenger car factories worldwide by the end of 2025; the rollout began in late 2023 and is already operational in Dingolfing and Leipzig, with Regensburg in progress and Spartanburg planned. The AVM solution is currently driving hundreds of cars per day and is expected to scale to several thousands per day in early 2025. For port logistics, Embotech validated its ATT technology in a 24/7 port environment and is preparing a major rollout in the port of Rotterdam, with 30 electric ATTs slated for deployment over the next two years. The company intends to use recent funding to scale its AVM and ATT offerings across Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia. Embotech builds optimization and virtual-driver software (FORCESPRO and PRODRIVER) to enable L4 autonomy for vehicles and robotics on private grounds such as distribution centers, ports, car factories and mines. Its stack supports autonomous, fully electric vehicles that can perform all driving tasks and autonomously charge, and the company says few rivals combine L4 systems with autonomous charging robotics. Embotech’s technology has won multiple awards, most recently the Swiss Technology Award 2021. The team has grown to about 45 people while developing its core products. The company is deploying L4 systems into serial production for car OEM factory logistics starting mid-2022, has run 24/7 autonomous mining operations since late 2020, and plans logistics-yard production by end of 2022. Embotech plans to grow its team by 50% over the next two years and use the new capital to robustify products and accelerate deployments on private grounds. A partnership with ZF aims to develop complementary products, a global TaaS solution and an intelligent automated cruise control with predictive energy management.

Led · Series A · Jun 2024

FOSSA Systems uses a vertically integrated model to design and deploy low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, which the company says reduces constellation costs by an order of magnitude. Its approach is positioned to enable governments and corporations to deploy secure space strategies in months rather than years. The company has operational roots in Spain and Portugal and is led by founder Julián Fernández. Recent commercial and strategic traction includes selection into NATO’s DIANA program and expansion into the Japanese defense market. Financially, FOSSA announced a roughly €9.25 million financing round co-anchored by Índico Capital Partners to accelerate expansion and defense-market activities. Índico characterized its investment as a follow-on to earlier backing as part of a plan to scale the team into a global category leader.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2024

Hiboo offers a platform that analyses data from multi-brand industrial equipment fleets to generate performance insights, alerts and reports for optimized fleet management. The technology is designed to maximize productivity and improve energy efficiency while enabling customers to pilot their carbon trajectory and prepare sustainability reporting such as CSRD. The company currently processes data from 63,000 pieces of equipment across more than 100 countries. Hiboo plans to use new funding to expand headcount, further develop its product and accelerate international growth. The firm projects that by 2027 it will help customers save over 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂. Clément Bénard is CEO and co‑founder and highlights the role of Hiboo’s solution in reducing energy waste and supporting industrial decarbonization.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2023

SENSYN Robotics develops and operates an inspection-DX platform that uses drones and other devices alongside digital technologies to automate and streamline equipment inspections, disaster response, security monitoring and field operations. The company offers end-to-end support from scenario planning and proofs-of-concept to operational deployment, aiming to address labor shortages, aging infrastructure and increasingly severe disasters. It positions itself as a leading provider of social-infrastructure DX services and collaborates with industrial partners on joint solutions. The firm intends to use the newly raised funds to invest in service development and accelerate business expansion. Following this financing, cumulative fundraising stands at approximately ¥5.85 billion. Headquarters are in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

Participated · Series A · Aug 2023

SpotLight develops noninvasive subsurface surveillance solutions for geological CO2 storage using proprietary algorithms to analyze large volumes of subsurface data. Its technology emphasizes speed, enhanced deployability, and reduced need for intrusive fieldwork to improve monitoring of carbon storage. SpotLight demonstrated CO2 monitoring capability in the GreenSand pilot injection offshore Denmark in early 2023 and has projects onshore and offshore in Canada and Denmark. The company plans to expedite its product development roadmap and expand into emissions-intensive industries such as steel, concrete, and chemicals. Financially, SpotLight previously raised a €500,000 seed round in 2020 and has now completed a $6.68 million Series A to support growth and commercialization.