NASA-Backed Sensor Startup Raises €11M
German DeepTech startup FLEXOO has raised €11 million to scale its physical AI sensor technology. The company's hardware is already being used to power NASA's lunar rover, signaling a growing convergence of IoT sensors and real-time analytics that will define the next frontier of location and physical intelligence.
The Series A funding round was co-led by German venture capital firm eCAPITAL, a deep-tech investor, and AUMOVIO, a corporate venture firm with a focus on mobility and automotive applications. This investment is aimed at expanding FLEXOO's international sales and securing high-value supply contracts in the battery storage and automotive industries. FLEXOO's core technology involves ultra-thin sensors, measuring less than 200 micrometers, which can be invisibly integrated into components like batteries. This is achieved through a high-volume, roll-to-roll printing process that allows the sensors to be produced in virtually any shape, a significant advantage over rigid electronics. The company's hardware for NASA's lunar rover includes self-regulating foil heaters and a battery monitoring system called BaMoS. This system is designed to protect the rover's batteries from the extreme cold of a lunar night and to study battery behavior in the vacuum of space. Beyond space applications, FLEXOO's sensors are being validated by leading battery manufacturers. By providing real-time data from directly within the battery cell, the technology has demonstrated the ability to increase battery capacity by up to 5% without altering the battery's design or chemistry. A spin-off from InnovationLab GmbH, FLEXOO became an independent entity in February 2024, combining a background in research and development with established manufacturing capabilities. The company's founding CEO is Dr. Michael Kröger.
