In an era where AI-driven design is outpacing traditional manufacturing capabilities, SAEKI is stepping up to bridge the gap with fully autonomous factories. The Swiss-based startup has secured a $6.7 million seed round led by Lightbird, with participation from Founderful, 2100VC, Danobat, and other industry investors. SAEKI’s pioneering approach integrates quoting, 3D printing, machining, and inspection into a seamless, automated process—poised to redefine how industrial manufacturing operates.
Tackling Supply Chain Bottlenecks
Industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction are grappling with supply chain disruptions, long lead times, and soaring costs for large-format components. Traditional manufacturing remains fragmented and labor-intensive, limiting scalability. SAEKI’s hybrid approach—merging large-scale additive manufacturing with precision CNC machining—offers a solution: faster production, greater cost efficiency, and automated quality assurance.
“There’s an exponential and widening divide between what we can design and what we can actually build,”
said Andrea Perissinotto, Co-Founder and CEO of SAEKI.
“Engineers can now generate hundreds of optimized designs using AI, but legacy manufacturing struggles to produce them cost-effectively. By automating the entire process, from quoting to final inspection, we’re enabling these innovations to become reality at scale.”
Breakthrough Instant Quoting Platform
To streamline procurement, SAEKI has launched an instant quoting platform. Customers can upload designs, configure specifications, and receive real-time pricing for large-format 3D-printed and CNC-machined parts—reducing traditional quoting delays from days to minutes.
Scaling Automation for Large-Format Manufacturing
CEO Andrea Perissinotto’s vision for SAEKI was shaped by hands-on experience in his uncle’s workshop, where he saw the challenges of scaling skilled craftsmanship. SAEKI’s automated approach leverages AI and robotics to abstract these skills and make them scalable.
Founded at ETH Zürich by Perissinotto (CEO), Oliver Harley (CTO), and Dr. Matthias Leschok (COO), SAEKI is advancing large-format manufacturing with AI-driven automation, robotics, and precision engineering. Their technology aims to reduce waste, shorten lead times, and reshore critical production.
Market Demand and Industry Impact
SAEKI’s technology is already in high demand. A Swiss construction giant estimates that Switzerland alone would need three to four SAEKI systems to meet demand for large-format formwork production. Meanwhile, a global automotive manufacturer using SAEKI’s 3D-printed composite tooling reduced production time from six weeks to just one.
Investor confidence is strong.
“Global supply chains are under immense pressure, and SAEKI’s ability to deliver high-quality components quickly and reliably sets a new industry standard,”
said Thomas Meier, Partner at Lightbird. Founderful’s Alex Stöckl added,
“SAEKI’s interdisciplinary team has made remarkable progress, demonstrating the potential to reshape industrial production.”
With its new funding, SAEKI is accelerating the development of fully autonomous factories, setting the stage for a new era of efficiency and scalability in manufacturing.
About SAEKI
Founded at ETH Zürich, SAEKI integrates cutting-edge manufacturing technologies with deep industry expertise to deliver on-demand solutions for large-scale components. By streamlining production and maintaining the highest quality standards, SAEKI is reshaping the manufacturing landscape and empowering industries to innovate without limits.
