Bochum-based Deeplify Secures €2 Million to Revolutionize Infrastructure Inspections

In an era where digital transformation is reshaping industries, Bochum-based startup Deeplify is making waves by bringing critical infrastructure inspections into the modern age. Recently, the industrial AI company announced a successful €2 million pre-seed funding round aimed at replacing outdated methods with cutting-edge technology.

Breaking Free from Excel

Led by D11Z. Ventures, with support from Vanagon Ventures, EWOR, and strategic business angels, this funding round signifies a pivotal step for Deeplify. The startup is tackling a significant pain point in the industrial sector: the reliance on manual, Excel-based processes for inspecting critical infrastructure like pipelines and chemical plants. These antiquated methods can lead to overlooked defects, with severe safety implications.

Tom Villinger, CEO of D11Z. Ventures, remarked on the founding team’s unique blend of expertise and insight. “Deeplify has developed proprietary technology for a previously highly under-digitised and safety-critical industrial infrastructure,” he noted, highlighting the startup’s potential to drive meaningful change.

Founders with Vision

Founded in 2023 by Jan Löwer, Christoph Siemer, and Felix Asanger, Deeplify is rooted in a deep understanding of industry challenges. CEO Jan Löwer brings a robust background in AI solutions for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), while CTO Felix Asanger specializes in robotics and machine learning. COO Christoph Siemer leverages over a decade of experience in the energy sector, focusing on business scaling and operations.

Their combined expertise has driven the creation of an AI platform designed to overhaul inspection workflows. Instead of relying on scattered PDFs and manual reporting, Deeplify’s solution integrates raw sensor data and imagery with automated defect analysis, providing a fully auditable reporting system.

The Urgent Need for Change

The necessity for such innovation is pressing. Europe’s chemical industry alone hosts around 31,000 companies, many with ageing infrastructure. Compounding this issue is the retirement of experienced inspectors faster than new talent can be trained, all while the complexity of inspection data escalates.

“We have the most advanced software for digital-first workflows, but when it comes to determining if a high-pressure pipeline is safe, the industry is often still stuck in the past,” Löwer explained. Deeplify’s platform promises to cut conventional inspection times by up to 70%, decrease reporting errors by 66%, and reduce unnecessary repairs.

Impact on Startups and Investors

For startups and investors, Deeplify’s journey offers valuable insights into the power of industry-specific AI solutions. By addressing a critical, under-digitized market, Deeplify is not only poised for growth but also serves as a case study in leveraging technology to solve entrenched problems.

The successful funding round and strategic partnerships underscore the importance of aligning technical innovation with market needs. Deeplify’s collaboration with companies like Open Grid Europe and pilots with SKF illustrate the scalability and potential impact of its platform.

Conclusion

As Deeplify accelerates its deployment across sectors like energy, oil and gas, chemicals, and transportation, the startup is setting a new standard for infrastructure inspections. By bridging the gap between outdated practices and modern technology, Deeplify is not just improving safety and efficiency but is also paving the way for future innovations in industrial AI.

Source: EU-Startups