akeno Funding News-German AI Startup akeno Secures €4.5M To Automate Production Planning

The funding round was led by Cusp Capital, with support from TS Ventures and another.vc.

“Anyone who plans their production based on outdated master data runs the risk of losing their competitive edge,” says Co-founder and CEO Alexander Ebbrecht. “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 was founded in 2021 by Alexander Ebbrecht, Dmitrij Direktor, and Steffen Ramm to solve a big problem in manufacturing: outdated production plans. Their software uses real-time production data to automatically adjust schedules, offering a smarter alternative to traditional tools like SAP.

This approach has already attracted major companies like BASF Coatings, SunChemical, and Beckers Group.

Akeno’s platform is made for industries that rely on precise and flexible processes, such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food production. The software works with a company’s existing systems and uses data like machine status and material availability to spot possible issues and improve planning.

Its self-learning algorithms get better over time, helping to make production scheduling more accurate and efficient.

In test projects, Akeno’s software has shown it can predict machine downtime, find unexpected gaps in production, and reassign tasks automatically—without needing a human to step in.

The rollout with BASF Coatings is a major step, with the company saying Akeno has strong potential to improve and streamline global production operations.

“BASF Coatings is excited to be working with akeno on an innovative project to enhance its production planning and scheduling. Their product promises to bring a new level of optimisation and comprehensiveness to our processes,” explains a representative of BASF Coatings.

The funding will help akeno triple the size of its team, speed up product development, and support its global expansion. The company has already entered the Chinese market and plans to expand into North America and more parts of Asia next.

“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,” says Dr Maximilian Rowoldt, Investor and General Partner at Cusp Capital. “akeno has the potential to become a central building block in the digital infrastructure of industrial companies and to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.”

Akeno is leading the way in industrial AI by moving from fixed schedules to smart, learning-based systems for production planning a big advantage in an industry where timing is critical.

About Akeno

Akeno is a company that helps businesses manage product data and improve the customer experience. They focus on Product Information Management (PIM) and product data intelligence. They also offer AI-powered tools for planning and scheduling production, especially in industries like chemicals and pharmaceuticals.