SPREAD AI, a Berlin-based AI-native Engineering Intelligence Platform, has raised $30M in Series B funding led by OTB Ventures. The platform unifies scattered engineering data from PLM, CAD, ERP, and ALM systems into a connected ontology called EIN, enabling Product Twins for AI-driven decisions across product lifecycles. The capital will accelerate global expansion and AI agent development for automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors.
Industrial AI Funding Accelerates
The round arrives amid a European industrial AI surge, with Flinn raising $20M for AI PLM in medtech just weeks prior and All3 securing $25M on the same day for construction AI. KOMPAS VC also closed a €160M Fund II targeting industrial tech. SPREAD's focus on non-migratory data unification positions it to capture demand from software-defined products in defense and vehicles.
Data Silos Cripple Engineering Speed
Fragmented data across PLM and ERP systems forces engineers to spend excessive time searching and reconciling information. Automotive OEMs like Volkswagen and Mercedes face risks in software-defined vehicle development without unified views. Current PLM tools from incumbents like Siemens Teamcenter fall short on AI-native integration for real-time intelligence.
Ontology Unifies Without Replacement
SPREAD's EIN connects over 40 systems including Teamcenter and Windchill without data migration, powering apps like Requirements Manager and Error Inspector. This creates Product Twins for root cause analysis and faster troubleshooting, delivering 75% faster issue resolution in customer cases. Unlike Physna's 3D CAD focus or Makersite's sustainability metrics, SPREAD spans the full lifecycle.
As co-founder Philipp Noll explained:
"Engineering complexity has outgrown human intuition, but with the right AI, it becomes your competitive advantage."
Defense Investors Signal Strategic Bet
OTB Ventures led the round, joined by DTCP, IQT, Salesforce Ventures, Thesiger Capital, HV Capital, and NAP. IQT's participation underscores defense validation, aligning with customers like Rheinmetall. Salesforce's dual role as investor and partner enhances GTM via AWS Marketplace integration.
PLM Market Powers AI Layer Demand
The product lifecycle management market stands at $29.74B in 2026, projected to reach $53.74B by 2034 at 7.7% CAGR. Competitors like First Resonance ($32M raised) target manufacturing execution, while HighByte ($16.5M) handles OT data ops. SPREAD differentiates as an upstream engineering layer for complex OEMs, amid trends like agentic AI and digital twins.
Ex-OEM Founders Drive Credibility
Co-founders Philipp Noll (ex-Mercedes-Benz Production Engineer) and Robert Göbel (ex-IBM Watson IoT, Porsche Consulting) bring direct automotive expertise. Their backgrounds in production and Industry 4.0 consulting match SPREAD's customer base including BMW, Ford, and Audi. Recent hires like Heads of Engineering and Sales from VW and Mendix bolster scaling.
Hyperscaler Partnerships Fuel Expansion
SPREAD launched on AWS Marketplace and deepened Salesforce ties post-funding. Deployments at Rheinmetall for requirements tracing signal defense growth. With 102 employees and VivaTech recognition, the firm eyes broader industrial adoption.