Revolutionizing manufacturing - why we invested in assemblean
Revolutionizing manufacturing - why we invested in assemblean
The manufacturing industry in Europe is ready for change. Rising energy prices, high input costs, and the traditional inefficiencies of analog processes have put manufacturers on the back foot - despite attempts to digitally transform manufacturing, known in Germany as "Industrie 4.0" - manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency and reduce costs, particularly in the face of fragmentation and the complexity of sourcing reliable suppliers. While on-demand manufacturing platforms have provided solutions for rapid prototyping, they have struggled to meet the needs of complex, multi-part products and high-volume mass production. Finding reliable suppliers remains time-consuming and often limits smaller companies' access to contract manufacturing, resulting in lost opportunities for cost savings and efficiency.
Alexander and Xiaojun are changing this with assemblean. The Paderborn-based company is bridging this gap by providing a "Production-as-a-Service" platform that enables large-scale, on-demand manufacturing of industrially engineered products. Customers simply upload their product specifications to the platform and assemblean leverages its extensive supplier network to cover the entire production and assembly process. This approach delivers significant cost savings, faster delivery times and high quality production without operational complexity, freeing up resources for companies to focus on their core business.
We are very excited to join forces with the team, leading their EUR 1.8m Seed round.
Here is why we are especially excited about assemblean:
Strong team with extensive experience and knowledge about supply chains and production processes: Xiaojun and Alexander first crossed paths during their PhD studies at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute of Paderborn University, grounding assemblean's origins in years of rigorous academic research. From our very first meeting with the team, we were taken by their grounded approach, combined with highest ambitions and professional standards; they've successfully bootstrapped the company over the past three years while simultaneously pursuing an ambitious vision to create a truly large-scale enterprise. They are fundamentally rethinking the way manufacturing is managed today, and it's this combination of practicality and vision that truly sets them apart.
Unique position in a large market bound for disruption: The contract manufacturing market has an estimated size of USD 345bn but hasn’t seen significant changes in the last 15 years. Incumbents offer contract manufacturing only to a few, with a costly and inefficient procurement process. On-demand manufacturing platforms don’t provide the production of more complex modules or serial production. assemblean solves major pain points in the industry by enabling significant cost and time savings through its end-to-end automation, extensive supplier network, and integrated evaluation of manufacturing processes and parts.
Superior value proposition and high interest from customers: assemblean addresses existing challenges by providing a "Production-as-a-Service" platform that streamlines the entire production process for any industrially manufactured product. With in-house expertise in manufacturing and production processes, along with an extensive network of over 250 suppliers and assembly partners, assemblean enables customers to access the most effective production methods tailored to their specific needs without having to source suppliers independently. This approach not only achieves cost efficiency but also defines high-quality standards. Additionally, customers are relieved of operational burdens during the process, allowing them to redirect valuable resources toward their core business activities. The appeal of this value proposition is reflected in assemblean's impressive growth; within just nine months of launching its platform, the company has signed over 50 customers, including notable SMEs and enterprises across various industries.
Given all the potential, we are excited to welcome assemblean to the b2venture team and lead their Seed round.
The manufacturing industry in Europe is ready for change. Rising energy prices, high input costs, and the traditional inefficiencies of analog processes have put manufacturers on the back foot - despite attempts to digitally transform manufacturing, known in Germany as "Industrie 4.0" - manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency and reduce costs, particularly in the face of fragmentation and the complexity of sourcing reliable suppliers. While on-demand manufacturing platforms have provided solutions for rapid prototyping, they have struggled to meet the needs of complex, multi-part products and high-volume mass production. Finding reliable suppliers remains time-consuming and often limits smaller companies' access to contract manufacturing, resulting in lost opportunities for cost savings and efficiency.
Alexander and Xiaojun are changing this with assemblean. The Paderborn-based company is bridging this gap by providing a "Production-as-a-Service" platform that enables large-scale, on-demand manufacturing of industrially engineered products. Customers simply upload their product specifications to the platform and assemblean leverages its extensive supplier network to cover the entire production and assembly process. This approach delivers significant cost savings, faster delivery times and high quality production without operational complexity, freeing up resources for companies to focus on their core business.
We are very excited to join forces with the team, leading their EUR 1.8m Seed round.
Here is why we are especially excited about assemblean:
Strong team with extensive experience and knowledge about supply chains and production processes: Xiaojun and Alexander first crossed paths during their PhD studies at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute of Paderborn University, grounding assemblean's origins in years of rigorous academic research. From our very first meeting with the team, we were taken by their grounded approach, combined with highest ambitions and professional standards; they've successfully bootstrapped the company over the past three years while simultaneously pursuing an ambitious vision to create a truly large-scale enterprise. They are fundamentally rethinking the way manufacturing is managed today, and it's this combination of practicality and vision that truly sets them apart.
Unique position in a large market bound for disruption: The contract manufacturing market has an estimated size of USD 345bn but hasn’t seen significant changes in the last 15 years. Incumbents offer contract manufacturing only to a few, with a costly and inefficient procurement process. On-demand manufacturing platforms don’t provide the production of more complex modules or serial production. assemblean solves major pain points in the industry by enabling significant cost and time savings through its end-to-end automation, extensive supplier network, and integrated evaluation of manufacturing processes and parts.
Superior value proposition and high interest from customers: assemblean addresses existing challenges by providing a "Production-as-a-Service" platform that streamlines the entire production process for any industrially manufactured product. With in-house expertise in manufacturing and production processes, along with an extensive network of over 250 suppliers and assembly partners, assemblean enables customers to access the most effective production methods tailored to their specific needs without having to source suppliers independently. This approach not only achieves cost efficiency but also defines high-quality standards. Additionally, customers are relieved of operational burdens during the process, allowing them to redirect valuable resources toward their core business activities. The appeal of this value proposition is reflected in assemblean's impressive growth; within just nine months of launching its platform, the company has signed over 50 customers, including notable SMEs and enterprises across various industries.
Given all the potential, we are excited to welcome assemblean to the b2venture team and lead their Seed round.
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