With global supply chains facing mounting pressures and costs continuing to rise, manufacturing is at a critical juncture. Industries like aerospace, automotive, and construction face long lead times and high costs for large-format components, relying heavily on fragmented supply chains and labour-intensive processes. This is where Swiss startup SAEKI comes to the rescue with its innovative approach to digital manufacturing.
Funding to accelerate further developments
In a recent development, SAEKI has picked up $6.7 million in seed funding to address challenges in the industry through its innovative approach to digital manufacturing. The round was led by Lightbird with participation from Founderful, 2100VC, Danobat, and multiple high-profile business angels.
The investment will accelerate SAEKI’s development of autonomous factories that integrate quoting, 3D printing, machining, and inspection into a seamless process.
Also, SAEKI has launched its breakthrough instant quoting platform, enabling customers to upload designs, configure requirements, and receive immediate pricing for precision-engineered parts.
The birth of SAEKI
The company was founded by Andrea Perissinotto, Oliver Harley, and Dr. Matthias Leschok, during their studies at ETH Zürich. The trio identified a unique opportunity to bring industrial-scale efficiency to large-format additive manufacturing and CNC machining, making the process faster and more cost-effective.
The company’s CEO Andrea Perissinotto began his journey in his uncle’s workshop, where he witnessed firsthand how traditional production relied heavily on scarce, highly skilled craftsmen with decades of experience.
“We saw an opportunity to integrate advanced manufacturing technologies to overcome these limitations and scale production efficiently,” said Andrea Perissinotto. “The existing processes demand decades of experience and are incredibly hard to scale. With AI and robotics, we’re now able to abstract and automate these skills.”
Unique approach to manufacturing
Unlike traditional manufacturers who rely on manual processes, SAEKI combines large-scale additive manufacturing with precision CNC machining in a unified production system. This hybrid approach enables the company to deliver precision-engineered components in days rather than weeks, while maintaining the highest quality standards through automated inspection processes.
By incorporating automated quality assurance, the company ensures every part meets stringent industry standards, enabling faster delivery times and improved cost efficiency for large-format components.
It’s technology-driven approach not only reduces waste and shortens lead times, but also helps reshore critical manufacturing capabilities to Europe. Moreover, by minimising reliance on overseas suppliers, the company aligns with broader industry trends toward sustainability and supply-chain resilience.
Can it reshape manufacturing?
As per the company, one of the largest Swiss construction groups said the country would need another 3-4 SAEKIs to meet the potential demand for their formwork products. While a global automotive manufacturer noted that using SAEKI’s 3D-printed composite tooling waived off two weeks of their production schedule. The sheer speed of delivery, 1 week vs 6 weeks from traditional suppliers, presented a significant opportunity.
Moreover, by eliminating traditional quoting bottlenecks, the new quoting platform is touted to reduce the procurement cycle from days to minutes.
By streamlining production processes and ensuring the highest quality standards, SAEKI can reshape the manufacturing landscape and enable industries to innovate without limits.
“The company’s focus on large-format manufacturing is particularly timely, as sectors like aerospace and construction face increasing demand for complex, high-performance parts”, said Thomas Meier, Partner at Lightbird. “Global supply chains are under pressure, with rising costs and delays becoming the norm. We believe that SAEKI’s ability to deliver high-quality components quickly and reliably sets a new standard for the industry.”
“We share SAEKI’s vision of European dynamism and strengthening Switzerland’s manufacturing position,” said Alex Stöckl, Partner at Founderful. “Their interdisciplinary team has shown remarkable progress, demonstrating the potential to reshape industrial production.”
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