POELLATH advises Cusp Capital Partners GmbH on investment in startup akeno

Based in Hamburg, akeno was founded in 2021 by Alexander Ebbrecht, Dmitrij Direktor, and Steffen Ramm. The startup has developed AI-based software that analyzes real-time data from ongoing manufacturing processes and automatically adjusts plans. This software promises higher utilization of facilities, reduced inventory and improved delivery reliability. The solution is specifically aimed at industries with complex, sensitive production processes, including the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the food and beverage sector, and the metalworking industry. With this software, akeno aims to solve problems that cannot be optimally solved with other common tools such as Excel spreadsheets or APS systems.

Its customers already include BASF Coatings, SunChemical, and Beckers Group. The company is already active in China and plans to use the new capital to expand into other international markets, such as North America and other Asian countries.

Cusp Capital is a venture capital firm focused on European software and technology. The fund invests in fast-growing technology companies “on the cusp” that have the potential to redefine their respective markets. The Cusp Capital team consists of long-standing members of the technology ecosystem who have invested more than EUR 600 million over the past 15 years in companies such as Zalando, Delivery Hero, Klarna, Scalable Capital, data Artisans, Personio and SoSafe.

POELLATH advised Cusp Capital on the seed financing round with the following team:

• Christian Tönies (partner, co-lead, venture capital, Munich)
• Markus Döllner (counsel, co-lead, venture capital, Munich)
• Dr. Sebastian Gerlinger (partner, venture capital, Munich)
• Christine Funk (counsel, IP/IT, Frankfurt)
• Oliver Ferstl (research associate, venture capital, Munich)