Berlin-based deeptech startup Key Ward has emerged from stealth mode with a significant boost of €1 million in pre-seed funding. This round was spearheaded by Wellstreet, a prominent Swedish venture capital firm, and saw the participation of notable figures from industry giants including Siemens, Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes, Ansys, Altair, and Hexagon. The investment marks a crucial step in the company’s journey to transform engineering design across various sectors.
Founded by Hoss Habib, Maxime Bunel, Asparuh Stoyanov, and Lyuben Vodenicharov, Key Ward addresses the inefficiencies of traditional engineering simulations. The company’s no-code SaaS platform integrates artificial intelligence (AI) seamlessly into engineering workflows, facilitating faster and more efficient data management. This approach allows engineers to generate custom AI models that predict design performance almost instantaneously— a stark contrast to the days-long simulations traditionally used. This leap forward helps mitigate the risks associated with moving from proof of concept to operational production.
The inspiration for Key Ward was born from Hoss Habib’s experience at Porsche, where he encountered the high costs and time demands of traditional car simulations and wind tunnel testing. Driven by the desire to enhance efficiency, he and his co-founders developed a platform capable of managing complex datasets and simulations across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and beyond.
Key Ward’s technology has already demonstrated its transformative potential in automotive and aerospace sectors, and its solver-agnostic platform is proving invaluable in diverse fields such as packaging, bio-medicine, and marine engineering. The recent funding will enable the company to scale its technology on an international level, establishing itself as a leading platform for engineers striving to enhance their design processes.
In a statement, Hoss Habib, Key Ward’s CEO, highlighted the company’s mission: “At Key Ward, we believe that managing data is the key to successful AI. AI should be accessible to all engineers, not just data scientists. Our platform empowers teams across industries to integrate AI seamlessly into their workflows, reducing complexity, costs, and time. Whether in automotive, aerospace, or even bio-medicine, our solver-agnostic solution allows engineers to focus on innovation while maintaining full control over their data and AI models.”
Jessica Rameau, Partner and Fund Manager at Wellstreet, expressed enthusiasm about Key Ward’s potential, noting, “Despite the AI ‘hype’, the adoption of AI tools—beyond R&D and pilot projects—has been very slow in traditional industries. By addressing early adoption challenges such as data readiness and knowledge gaps, Key Ward is well-positioned to influence how engineering industries leverage AI at scale today. This aligns perfectly with our investment strategy in AI/ML-related companies.”
Editorial Opinion
Key Ward’s emergence onto the scene represents a promising shift in engineering data management. The company’s innovative use of AI to streamline and expedite complex simulations is not merely a technological advancement but a game-changer for industries where efficiency and accuracy are paramount. By eliminating the need for extensive coding and expensive in-house development, Key Ward makes sophisticated AI tools accessible to a broader range of engineers, thus democratizing the power of advanced technology.
The investment from Wellstreet and other industry leaders underscores the significant impact Key Ward is poised to have. As traditional industries slowly embrace AI, Key Ward’s approach to overcoming adoption barriers—such as data readiness and skill gaps—demonstrates a forward-thinking strategy that could set a new standard. Their ability to scale internationally with this funding will likely accelerate their growth and solidify their role as an indispensable tool in engineering innovation.
The company’s focus on versatile, solver-agnostic technology also highlights its potential to revolutionize multiple sectors beyond its initial automotive and aerospace markets. As they continue to expand and refine their platform, Key Ward’s influence could ripple through industries, reshaping how engineering challenges are approached and resolved.
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