Global expansion: findIQ launches U.S. market offensive

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

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About findIQ
Founded in 2022, findIQ is a German technology company and quality leader in knowledge transfer for machine service. The company’s platform preserves and intelligently processes service technician expertise to support the next generation of service professionals in the fastest, most scalable manner available. Initially adopted by mid-sized machine suppliers, findIQ’s solution now serves global enterprises including Siemens.

Media Contact:
Doris Bauer, Senior Marketing Manager
T.: +49 155 63233184
doris.bauer@findiq.com
www.findiq.de

About Senovo
Senovo is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Munich and Berlin that partners with exceptional founders building global B2B SaaS category-leaders from Europe.

As European first-mover, the fund invests since 2013 into a new generation of B2B software startups which enable the digitalization of medium and large enterprises. Their focus is primarily on supporting teams working in the areas of process optimization, industry 4.0 and data-enabled solutions.

Senovo joins the journey after a company has first revenues in a late Seed or Series A round. Their team of SaaS specialists seek meaningful eye-level relationships and regularly publish their learnings and thought leadership at www.medium.com/senovovc.

About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is one of the world’s leading innovation platforms and most active early-stage VC firms globally, with over 30 unicorns in its portfolio, including PayPal, Honey, N26, and Einride. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play operates more than 60 locations worldwide, connecting startups, corporations, investors, and research institutions. With investments spanning over 20 industries, Plug and Play supports young companies in their growth while helping established firms navigate their digital transformation. In Germany, Plug and Play operates with offices in Stuttgart and Munich.

For more information: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/venture-capital

About the High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences, and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups through all stages of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-Seed and Seed stages and can participate significantly in subsequent funding rounds. Across all funds, HTGF manages over €2 billion in assets under management. Since its founding in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved nearly 200 successful exits.

Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital, and 45 corporations and family offices.

About the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund
The Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund is Germany’s first gender-focused venture capital fund, investing in the next generation of female-(co-)founded companies driving systemic change. With €45 million in assets under management and 35 investments to date, Auxxo backs Europe’s most promising female-led startups at the pre- seed and seed stage – combining alpha and impact to accelerate gender parity and back tomorrow’s category leaders.

For more information visit: https://auxxo.de/

About Notion Capital
Notion Capital is a European B2B SaaS and cloud VC with over $1 billion in assets under management and more than 100 investments to date. The Notion team has founded, scaled, and successfully exited two highly successful SaaS companies—Star and MessageLabs—and invests exclusively in exceptional founders with the goal of building global market leaders. Notion’s portfolio includes GoCardless, Mews, Paddle, Unbabel, and YuLife. Notion is also the founder of Included VC, the venture capital fellowship for individuals from diverse and underrepresented communities around the world.