Hamburg-based startup akeno has raised €4.5 million in seed funding to tackle one of the biggest headaches in manufacturing: outdated production planning. The round was led by Cusp Capital, with support from TS Ventures and another.vc.
akeno’s platform brings a fresh approach to AI-driven production planning. Traditional systems often fall apart within days. In fact, 75% of a production plan’s value vanishes within just three days. Why? Because most planning tools don’t respond to change. This leads to unused capacity, wasted resources, and constant fire-fighting.
akeno’s solution works differently. It uses real-time data, learns from what happens on the factory floor, and updates plans automatically. This helps companies avoid delays and make better use of machines and people.
The company was founded in 2021 by Alexander Ebbrecht, Dmitrij Direktor, and Steffen Ramm. With the new funding, the team plans to grow fast—tripling headcount, entering new industries, and expanding into North America and Asia. akeno is already active in China and gaining traction in Europe.
Real-time data beats rigid rules
akeno’s software is built for industries where precision and timing are everything—such as chemicals, food, pharma, and metal. In these sectors, even small issues like raw material changes or machine breakdowns can disrupt entire production lines.
Instead of working with averages and fixed schedules, akeno uses actual data—like machine speed, material flow, and current output. It then predicts problems early and adjusts plans on the fly. The result? Less downtime, more output, and up to 30% higher efficiency.
Ebbrecht explains it clearly: most companies still plan based on spreadsheets or outdated master data. But the world doesn’t stay still. “If you can’t react to real-world changes, you fall behind,” he says.
akeno’s system doesn’t just reschedule one task—it optimizes across many goals. Whether the aim is faster delivery, lower inventory, or better energy use, the software finds the best way forward. And it improves over time by learning from each result.
Backed by results, not just promises
Major players like BASF Coatings, Beckers Group, and SunChemical already rely on akeno to boost performance. For example, if a line runs slower than expected, akeno suggests reshuffling tasks right away. That level of agility helps avoid costly delays.
In the chemical industry alone, one hour of unplanned downtime costs over €147,000. akeno’s predictive AI helps reduce that risk dramatically.
Cusp Capital’s Maximilian Rowoldt believes akeno could become a core part of Europe’s industrial tech stack. He sees the company as essential to keeping manufacturers globally competitive.
akeno aims to take its technology even further. The long-term goal? Fully autonomous production planning that updates itself as the factory evolves. No spreadsheets. No guesswork. Just smart, real-time decisions that drive better results.
With a growing customer base and no direct rival offering such flexible, self-learning production planning, akeno is setting the stage for a new era in smart manufacturing.
