Hexagon’s Sixth Sense Announces Nine Startups to Transform Manufacturing Sustainability and Digital Reality

Selected innovators leading the charge in reshaping manufacturing for a sustainable future

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division announced the nine manufacturing startups chosen for its third Sixth Sense cohort. The selected companies were chosen from a highly competitive pool of hundreds of applicants, distinguishing themselves with groundbreaking solutions addressing critical manufacturing challenges, with a focus on sustainability and digital reality.

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The selected startups, which hail from seven countries, bring unique approaches to some of today’s most critical manufacturing challenges, such as improving product sustainability, eliminating waste, capturing real-time data, automating design, and incorporating cobots into production lines. As part of the Sixth Sense program, they will gain access to Hexagon’s invaluable market insights, accumulated over decades of collaboration with industry-leading technology giants, which will accelerate their journey to commercial success.

Hexagon, the industrial software leader that plays a pivotal role in manufacturing 90% of aircraft, 75% of smartphones, and 95% of all automobiles worldwide, launched Sixth Sense in January 2022. This initiative is designed to nurture startups within the manufacturing industry by supporting them with Hexagon’s extensive resources.

The nine startups are:

• Acerta Analytics, Canada: Acerta Analytics provides advanced analytics solutions that leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) to turn complex product data into actionable insights. The solution enables automakers and suppliers of complex vehicle parts to improve quality in manufacturing processes and supports early defect detection.
• Circularise, Netherlands: Circularise offers digital product passports for end-to-end traceability and secure data exchange in industrial supply chains. Its technology helps companies achieve transparency and sustainability by tracking the lifecycle of products and materials.
• Dessia, France: Dessia offers a platform featuring virtual “bots” that serve as companions to assist engineers in designing mechanical systems. These virtual assistants provide support and insights throughout the design process.
• Flexxbotics, Boston, US: Flexxbotics specialises in enabling high-mix automation-intensive manufacturers to create flexible next-generation machining environments. It utilises breakthrough FlexxCORE™ technology to seamlessly connect and coordinate collaborative robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems, and personnel to deliver autonomous process control.
• Launchpad, Los Angeles, US: Launchpad utilises AI and advanced simulation technologies to automate aspects of the design, procurement, and manufacturing process. Its focus is on concepts like mass customization, micro-factories, and software-defined robotics to create shorter supply chains, reduce waste, and deliver new features faster in the manufacturing industry.
• Rafinex, Luxembourg: Rafinex’s stochastic AI topology optimization for safe, lightweight designs. This technology actively manages uncertainty and risks of real-life variability to create uniquely robust designs that remain safe even in off-design load conditions for application in safety-critical performance sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and tooling.
• RV Magnetics, Slovakia: RV Magnetics has developed the world’s smallest passive sensor based on MicroWire technology. This sensor combines unique capabilities from electromechanics, electronics, chemistry, physics, applied magnetism, and industrial design, offering diverse applications.
• ToffeeAM, London, UK: ToffeeAM provides state-of-the-art multi-physics generative design software for engineering. Its mission is to empower engineers to optimise engineering components and systems efficiently, enabling them to go further and faster in design processes.
• Zaptic, Manchester, UK: Zaptic provides job instruction and collaboration tools for frontline teams, along with a no-code toolkit designed to accelerate the digital transformation of daily operations. The solutions help organizations streamline processes and improve communication among frontline workers.

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These startups will embark on an intensive 16-week journey as part of the Sixth Sense program, collaborating closely with Hexagon to refine their offerings. Ultimately, up to three winners will be selected from the cohort, granting them access to Hexagon’s extensive resources for global expansion, including potential funding, worldwide office space, and Hexagon’s comprehensive suite of products and services. Additionally, they will be showcased on Hexagon’s open digital reality platform for manufacturing, Nexus, providing them access to world-class companies.

“For this third cohort, we’ve been on the hunt for new innovations that enable manufacturing leaders to lead the net-zero transition – especially with sustainable product design – and we’re thrilled with the caliber of the startups we’ve found to participate,” said Josh Weiss, president of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. “Sixth Sense is designed to pinpoint emerging opportunities for greater innovation, and we’re thrilled to give these companies that are poised for high-growth access to resources and customers that they typically wouldn’t have at this stage in their lifecycle.”

“Hexagon’s commitment to nurturing innovation and driving sustainable manufacturing practices continues to shine through,” said Milan Kocić, head of Sixth Sense, Hexagon. “Each of these startups has demonstrated their capacity to address pressing manufacturing challenges with creativity and determination. Much like our previous cohorts have addressed critical industry challenges, we believe these innovators will play a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for the manufacturing industry.”

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