German startup backed by Senovo, HTGF, and Plug and Play launches U.S. operations after strong growth in the industrial service sector.
findIQ, the German AI software company transforming knowledge management for industrial machinery service, has announced its expansion into the U.S. market, following rapid growth in Europe and a successful $4 million seed round in late 2024.
Founded in 2022 in Ostwestfalen-Lippe by Sina Volkmann, Patrick Deutschmann, and Tommy Giesbrecht, findIQ’s AI-powered knowledge platform helps industrial companies capture and centralize technical expertise—reducing diagnostic time by up to 70% and mitigating the loss of service know-how as experienced technicians retire.
“In the third quarter alone, we acquired as many new customers as in all of 2024 and increased revenue from existing clients by 50%” ~ Sina Volkmann, CEO and co-founder of findIQ.
Unlike generic large language models, findIQ uses proprietary AI models tailored to industrial service data, delivering reliable answers in over 90% of cases. The platform combines knowledge management with an AI-driven assistance system, ensuring that undocumented, experience-based knowledge is preserved and delivered precisely when needed.
“Knowledge transfer isn’t achieved by making documents searchable” Volkmann added. “It’s about capturing the tribal knowledge that drives performance and ROI.”
Customers such as enercity and WISAG not only deploy the platform internally but also resell it as a white-label solution, opening new revenue streams.
The company’s U.S. expansion includes a dedicated team and localized brand identity to serve global clients such as Siemens, Phoenix Contact, and Elopak, while onboarding new North American customers like Kulicke & Soffa.
The demographic urgency is clear: 4.26 million skilled workers in Germany will retire by 2031, with similar trends in the U.S. threatening industrial productivity. findIQ’s solution helps companies retain expertise and sustain operational efficiency amid a shrinking skilled workforce.
Since launch, findIQ has been backed by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, Notion Capital, and angel investor Dr. Bettina Volkens, former Lufthansa board member. Its 2024 seed round brought in Senovo and Plug and Play, alongside existing investors, with Dr. Maurice Eschweiler (DMG Mori) joining the advisory board.
“By combining knowledge management with smart assistance systems, findIQ can transform industrial service processes across sectors” said Martin Möllmann, Principal at HTGF. “It’s a key driver of digitalisation and efficiency in machinery maintenance.”