Industrial data platform UMH has successfully closed a $5.8 million funding round to accelerate the adoption of AI-driven automation in factories. The round, led by KOMPAS VC, aims to solve a critical bottleneck in modern manufacturing where valuable data remains trapped in isolated systems. By creating a unified data foundation, UMH is enabling manufacturers to overcome the initial hurdles that stall most digitalization projects.
Addressing the Industrial Data Challenge
Many manufacturers are eager to invest in digital tools and artificial intelligence, but progress is often impeded by fragmented data landscapes. Information is typically scattered across proprietary machines, legacy software, and disparate applications, making it inaccessible for analysis. This foundational data integration work can consume up to 90% of a project's resources, frequently causing initiatives to be shelved before they start.
According to UMH CEO and Co-Founder Alexander Krüger, factories often run on decades-old software where data is siloed by vendors and lacks essential context. This reality has long been a significant barrier to implementing effective AI and advanced analytics. The challenge lies not in the lack of data, but in the inability to access and unify it in a meaningful way.
A Unified Solution for Modern Factories
UMH addresses this issue with its open-source platform, which unifies industrial data into a real-time hub known as a Unified Namespace. This approach replaces fragile, point-to-point integrations with a scalable and interoperable structure. The platform connects machines, sensors, and IT systems through standardized interfaces, creating a single source of truth that any application can readily use.
By cleaning and contextualizing information, UMH provides a solid foundation for ready-to-use capabilities like operational KPI tracking, energy monitoring, and industrial AI applications. This streamlined process allows customers to move from initial setup to measurable business impact within weeks rather than months. Leading organizations such as HiPP, Edeka, and Böllhoff are already utilizing the platform to advance their factory digitization efforts.
Lutz Hermanns, Head of PDA & Supply Chain at Böllhoff, praised the platform's efficiency and speed. He stated that his team was up and running in a remarkably short time, a stark contrast to building data infrastructure from scratch. Hermanns added that they can now connect new data sources and develop digital use cases in hours instead of weeks.
Investor Confidence and Future Vision
The investment round was led by KOMPAS VC with participation from seed + speed Ventures, Sustainable Future Ventures, and Archimedes New Ventures. It also attracted support from renowned industry angels, including n8n founder Jan Oberhauser and Cloudera founder Jeff Hammerbacher. This backing signals strong confidence in UMH's mission to become a standard in the industrial data sector.
Andreas Winter-Extra, a Partner at Kompas VC, noted that industrial AI will only scale once factories have a reliable, shared data foundation. He highlighted UMH's role in building this essential data backbone, which empowers European manufacturers to compete on a global scale. The platform turns fragmented factory data into accurate, contextualized input for modern intelligent systems, unlocking new innovation speeds.
With the fresh capital, UMH plans to strengthen its open-source core, accelerate product development, and expand its strategic partnerships. Key focus areas include wider connectivity, advanced data modeling, and the integration of AI agents. The company's ultimate goal, as stated by CCO Niklas Hebborn, is to build the world's leading Industrial Data Company.
This $5.8 million funding marks a significant milestone for UMH and the broader manufacturing industry's digital transformation. By providing an open-source, scalable foundation for industrial data, the company is poised to remove long-standing barriers to innovation. With strong investor support and a clear vision, UMH is well-equipped to help factories worldwide harness the full potential of their data.