Global manufacturing is at a pivotal point. The sector faces significant challenges, including labour shortages, tightening profit margins, and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Industry research projects that by 2033, nearly two million skilled manufacturing positions in the U.S. alone may remain unfilled if current trends persist. At the same time, rising operational costs and supply chain disruptions continue to pressure profitability and competitiveness. This is the challenge that Manex AI aims to address.
Based in Munich, Manex AI was founded by 24-year-old CEO Nathan Gruber and has raised €8 million in seed funding, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and BlueYard Capital, with contributions from Capmont Technology and the CDTM Venture Fund. This investment supports Manex AI’s mission to create a “control layer” for autonomous manufacturing, leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance quality management and process optimisation.
Manex AI’s technology has already gained traction with prominent industrial clients such as BMW, Audi, Stellantis, and Henkel. The company’s platform, Qualitatio, enables manufacturers to reduce inspection volumes by more than 50% while improving product quality. Early adopters also include Resrg Automotive, TDK Electronics, Still, and BSH Hausgeräte, reflecting rapid market acceptance within just over a year since the company’s founding.
From BMW’s factory floor to AI disruption
The genesis of Manex AI lies in the practical challenges Gruber and co-founder Dr. Andreas Schoch witnessed firsthand at BMW. Schoch observed inefficiencies in traditional quality control processes that existing software solutions failed to address adequately. This insight, combined with Nathan Gruber’s technical background from the Technical University of Munich and connections to the Bavarian Elite Academy and the Centre for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM), shaped the company’s pragmatic approach to AI commercialisation.
At the core of Manex AI’s offering is Qualitatio, a platform designed as a central nervous system for manufacturing operations. Unlike conventional quality management systems that primarily visualise data, Qualitatio’s AI agents analyse real-time data from ERP, MES, and production equipment to autonomously optimise processes.
The platform integrates historical data analysis with real-time reinforcement learning, enabling effective operation even in factories with limited digital maturity. It connects data across the entire production chain—from order intake to final delivery—uncovering optimisation opportunities often missed by isolated systems.
Qualitatio’s technology-agnostic integration, using REST APIs and OPC UA standards, allows connection with legacy systems, making it accessible to mid-sized suppliers without requiring costly infrastructure overhauls. This adaptability has resulted in significant returns on investment for early users, who have reported transformative improvements in operational efficiency and quality outcomes.
Investor confidence in the autonomous future
Investor confidence in Manex AI reflects a broader industry shift toward autonomous, self-optimising manufacturing systems. Alexander Schmitt of Lightspeed Venture Partners described this evolution as moving “from Industry 4.0’s interconnected factories to Industry 5.0’s self-optimising systems,” emphasising that “the control structure that Manex is creating will be as essential to manufacturing as operating systems are to computers.”
Looking ahead, Manex AI aims to develop next-generation AI agents capable of automating root cause analysis for supply chain disruptions and dynamically rerouting production across global networks — capabilities that could significantly enhance manufacturing resilience.
