Production plans quickly become outdated, often losing 75% of their informative value within three days. The reason? Conventional tools don’t react flexibly to changes. The result: unused capacity, excess inventory, and constant replanning. Hamburg-based tech company akeno provides a solution with its globally unique, AI-based software for real-time adaptive production planning. The solution thinks for itself, adapts, and automates processes sustainably.
For this approach, akeno is now receiving €4.5 million in seed funding, led by Cusp Capital, with TS Ventures and another.vc. The valuation was not disclosed to TFN. With the fresh capital, akeno plans to triple its team and tap into new industries. Having already entered the Chinese market, the company plans to expand into other international markets, including North America and other Asian countries. The seed round marks the company’s first major milestone since its foundation in 2021 and paves the way for scaling the technology.
“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 also benefit. However, many companies are still working with outdated tools and reactive processes,” says Dr.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.”
Rethinking production planning in the process industry
The B2B tech firm akeno was established in Hamburg in 2021 by Alexander Ebbrecht, Dmitrij Direktor, and Steffen Ramm to reimagine production planning within the process industry. Their vision: intelligent and adaptive production planning that no longer relies on rigid values or Excel spreadsheets. “Our software uses real-time data from production, learns from past mistakes, and continuously optimises planning for reliable delivery dates, reduced inventories, and greater energy efficiency,” says Ebbrecht.
Conventional production planning relies on fixed schedules based on inflexible metrics, resulting in delays, downtime, and inefficiencies whenever processes deviate — something that occurs regularly. Due to these outdated systems, manufacturers lose over 15 hours of production time weekly. akeno’s AI analyses real-time data to identify deviations early and automatically adjusts production plans. This minimises downtime, enhances resource utilisation, and boosts overall efficiency by up to 30%.
The solution specifically targets industries with complex and sensitive production processes, such as the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, the food and beverage industry, and metalworking. In these fields, overlapping processes face strict capacity restrictions, overburdened systems, and numerous disruptions, including variations in raw material quality, inconsistent production times, and unexpected machinery breakdowns.
Alexander Ebbrecht elaborated to TFN: “In the process industry, production planning is largely static, relying on averages, manual fine-tuning, and reactive interventions. These outdated practices hinder responsiveness, reduce efficiency, and inflate costs. Despite increasing data availability, current systems fail to leverage data effectively, leaving significant economic potential untapped within fragmented structures and suboptimal planning processes.”
Behind akeno: AI-driven, real-time, and self-learning
The AI-driven software solution enables companies to monitor their production processes using real data in a flexible, predictive, and automatic manner. akeno evaluates ongoing production activities, identifies deviations promptly, and dynamically adjusts plans. For the first time, production plans can be tailored to fulfil multiple customer goals simultaneously—from delivery reliability and inventory reductions to improved energy efficiency.
Ebbrecht added, “We compete with traditional APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) solutions. However, our approach is fundamentally different. What sets Akeno apart is real data instead of simplifications, automated probabilistic modelling, multi-objective optimisation, adaptability, self-learning, and unified planning horizons.”
akeno doesn’t base its planning on set times or general assumptions. Instead, the software analyzes various operational data in real time—such as machine status, material availability, and capacity utilization—to determine the most likely process sequences. This approach leads to adaptive plans that continually refine and become more accurate with each application.
“Anyone who plans their production based on outdated master data risks losing their competitive edge,” states Ebbrecht. “Our long-term vision is to fully automate production planning so our software can autonomously adjust to real-world events and conditions, optimising production plans in real time.”
Industry validation and measurable impact
According to an ABB study, unplanned downtime costs the chemical industry more than €147,000 per hour. This highlights the potential for significant cost savings and productivity improvements with Akeno’s technology. Companies such as BASF Coatings, Beckers Group, and SunChemical are already benefiting from the software, proving Akeno’s value globally.
akeno anticipates potential disruptions or bottlenecks in advance. For instance, if a machine operates slower than expected or a new production window emerges, akeno promptly suggests rescheduling orders. This creates a dynamic and responsive production process, minimising risks before they escalate into significant delays.
A BASF Coatings representative explains, “BASF Coatings is excited to collaborate with akeno on an innovative project to enhance our production planning and scheduling. Their product promises to elevate the optimisation and comprehensiveness of our processes.”
In the coming years, akeno plans expansion from its European headquarters, working with European industry leaders are globally increasing their customer base and accelerating product development driven by industry adoption. akeno is uniquely positioned in a multi-billion euro market. With no comparable competition and a feature set that delivers immediate, measurable results, the company is poised to lead a new era in global production planning.
