findIQ Expands to U.S. with AI-Powered Industrial Service Platform

Following the successful close of its Seed funding round in late 2024, raising over $4 million USD, B2B tech startup findIQ from Herford, Germany is accelerating its international expansion. The company is now winning its first U.S. customers with its AI-powered industrial service knowledge software and has established a local presence with a dedicated team and refreshed corporate identity.

Founded in 2022, the Ostwestfalen-Lippe-based software developer findIQ is addressing a critical market need with its AI-powered knowledge platform for machinery service. Following a successful Seed funding round in 2024 that raised over $4 million USD, the company is demonstrating impressive growth: "In the third quarter of the current fiscal year alone, we acquired as many new customers as we did in all of 2024," reports Sina Volkmann, CEO and Co-Founder of findIQ. "Additionally, we increased revenue from our existing customer base by 50%."

The solution: Digital service expert against knowledge loss
findIQ offers the first SaaS solution that intelligently captures and centrally manages expert knowledge in industrial machinery and equipment service. The software combines knowledge management with an AI-powered assistance system in an intuitive platform. Unlike purely generic Large Language Models, findIQ leverages proprietary model-based AI variants that deliver reliable and precise answers in over 90% of cases.

The key differentiator: "Knowledge transfer isn't achieved simply by making data and documents searchable. It's about capturing the often undocumented tribal knowledge and delivering it accurately when and where it's needed. That's what we ensure — and that's what drives measurable ROI," says Volkmann.

The results speak for themselves: the platform enables up to 70% time savings in error diagnostics. Beyond that, customers are becoming partners—white-label applications unlock additional growth potential. Companies like enercity and WISAG not only use findIQ internally but also resell the platform as their own solution, opening up new revenue streams. 

Market growth: From Europe to the U.S.
Demographic shifts are creating urgent pressure to act: In Germany alone, approximately 4.26 million workers will retire by 2031—taking irreplaceable expertise with them. findIQ is strategically addressing this challenge in two key markets: the DACH region and the United States, where similar workforce trends are emerging.

The North American market entry is being executed with a dedicated U.S. team and localized corporate identity. This strategic move enables findIQ to support global enterprises like Siemens, Phoenix Contact, and Elopak as they expand their use of the software from Germany to the U.S. It also allows the company to serve new U.S. customers like Kulicke & Soffa directly on the ground.

Experienced Investors Backing Growth
Since 2022, findIQ's investors have included High-Tech Gründerfonds, Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, and Notion Capital, alongside notable business angels such as Dr. Bettina Volkens, former Lufthansa board member and now an entrepreneur in the knowledge management space. Last year, findIQ secured a seed investment from Senovo and global venture platform Plug and Play, with participation from existing investors, including HTGF and Auxxo. The company has also added experienced industry leaders to its advisory board, including Dr. Maurice Eschweiler, authorized signatory at DMG Mori.

“By intelligently combining knowledge management with smart assistance systems, findIQ has the potential to transform industrial service processes across sectors. I am convinced that findIQ’s innovative solution will be a key driver in the digitalisation and efficiency of machinery maintenance.” – Martin Möllmann, Principal at HTGF