The Venture Codex

Led · Equity · Dec 2023

Blickfeld develops full-stack LiDAR solutions combining compact sensors (notably the Qb2) with proprietary perception software called Percept to deliver real-time 3D data and actionable insights. The Qb2 is described as the first industrial smart LiDAR sensor with integrated perception software and is in mass production. The company supplies solutions for bulk goods volume monitoring and security applications, with customers including Levenseat and EEW Energy from Waste GmbH, and deployments at critical infrastructure such as airports and power stations. Blickfeld plans to use the new proceeds to accelerate sales, double revenue in the coming years, expand marketing and sales efforts, and further develop LiDAR technology for industry-specific applications. The company highlights recent high growth and sales achievements as drivers for additional investor commitment. Founded in 2017 and based in Munich, Blickfeld positions its products for markets in Europe, North America, and China. Blickfeld produces high-resolution 3D LiDAR sensors and associated software that act as the 'eyes' for autonomous vehicles. Its technology targets autonomous mobility and IoT applications and is also used in smart city management, warehousing, construction, mining, and security. The company plans to continue developing its sensors and software and pursue international expansion, particularly in the US and Asia. Founded in 2017 by Dr. Mathias Müller, Dr. sc. Florian Petit, and Rolf Wojtech and based in Munich, Blickfeld positions itself as a key component supplier for autonomous transportation. Financially, Blickfeld has raised a total of $56 million to date and has now secured a €15 million debt financing from the European Investment Bank via the European Fund for Strategic Investments. Company leadership said the EIB support demonstrates the firm's maturity and will enable faster expansion. Blickfeld, founded in 2017 and based in Munich, develops and produces high-performance, mass-producible LiDAR sensors and perception software. Its product lineup includes series-produced 3D-LiDAR sensors Cube 1 and Cube Range 1 for multiple industrial applications. The company has executed large-scale rollouts such as passenger flow detection at airports and bulk-material volume measurement in warehouses, and sells through resellers in 13 countries including Germany, Canada, China, and Japan. Blickfeld extended its Series A to $31M and will use the funds to expand into new markets, further develop sensors and perception software, and open offices in the US and Asia. Early in 2022 it plans to add perception software with object detection, classification, tracking, and counting to address industry, smart traffic, security, UAVs, and people analytics. The company also intends to significantly grow its headcount with a focus on the sales team to support international expansion. Blickfeld designs and manufactures solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software that deliver high-resolution, three-dimensional environmental data with strong performance in adverse conditions and a compact form factor. Its patented technology is positioned for industrialized, highly automated production to meet mass-market requirements. The sensors are targeted at autonomous driving as well as smart cities, logistics, industrial applications and security solutions. Blickfeld plans to use new financing to ramp up production, qualify core LiDAR components for the automotive market, and expand application development and sales teams for industrial markets. The company has grown to a team of over 100 people since founding and is based in Munich. The business recently closed a Series A financing round with participation from strategic and venture investors. Blickfeld develops LiDAR sensors for environmental detection targeting autonomous driving, robotics, and Internet of Things applications. Its technology combines commercial off-the-shelf components with proprietary patented silicon micromirrors. The company says the patented approach makes high-tech LiDAR suitable for mass production, though it has not yet delivered on that promise. Blickfeld employs more than 35 people and plans to expand engineering, automotive, computer science, business development, marketing, and sales teams. Management says recent technical progress and international demand validate the efficiency of its solution. The company intends to use the seed financing to accelerate bringing its first series product to market.

Participated · Series A · May 2022

Synergies builds an augmented analytics and business-intelligence platform that delivers easy-to-use, AI-powered, search-driven analytics and AI-generated insights for medium-sized manufacturers. The company developed its core AI analytics architecture with MIT. Founded in 2016 by Michael Chang, Synergies operates about 70 employees across Shanghai, Taipei, Guangzhou, Singapore, and Boston and is described as Boston, MA-based. Its product is designed to accelerate decision-making processes for manufacturers through augmented analytics. The company intends to use recent funding to accelerate hiring, market expansion, and product development. Company website listed in the article is https://synergies.com.tw/.

Participated · Series A · May 2022

Synergies offers an augmented analytics platform that uses machine learning to analyze operational data and recommend actions to improve supply chain, yield, and production capacity. Its software makes practical suggestions — for example, how much supply to procure or how to retool a product line to maximize capacity at lower cost — and continually refines models as new data comes in. The company targets price-sensitive mid-sized factories that lack the resources to build full data platforms, positioning its product as an easy-to-use, lower-overhead alternative. Synergies was mostly bootstrapped early on but has recently taken venture funding to accelerate hiring, market expansion, and product development. It serves nearly 100 customers (about 80% in Greater China), including mid-sized factories run by Foxconn and Fuyao, and employs roughly 70 people across Shanghai, Taipei, Guangzhou, Singapore, and Boston. The firm also notes preliminary projects with Nokia around industrial 5G, though no large-scale partnership has been established.