A startup that’s developed an AI “copilot” to provide engineers with information about mechanical systems has raised $9.7 million in seed funding.
Massachusetts-based Leo AI has created what it calls a large mechanical model, or “LMM,” that’s trained on engineering materials like sketches and peer-reviewed technical literature.
Engineers can enter prompts, like “show me a bolt that fits this hole,” and the AI can display the correct one. In addition to text, engineers can input sketches and 3D designs, and they can also use the tool to visualize concepts.
“We developed the first AI to understand geometry and engineering,” Leo AI’s cofounder and CEO, Maor Farid, told Business Insider. “Our LMM knows how to take machine parts as tokens, and turn them into an assembly model.”
A key problem the startup wants to solve is reducing the amount of time mechanical engineers spend on repetitive tasks, such as searching for product parts.
Leo AI makes its money by offering a subscription model to clients, which includes Scania, HP, Siemens, and others.
“We are rebelling against very expensive or long-term contract relationships, and we offer small subscriptions — with the smallest package lasting just a month,” Farid said.
Flint Capital led the $9.7 million seed round, which included participation from an A16z scout, Tech Aviv, Two Lanterns VC, and Google VP Yossi Matias, among others.
With the fresh funding, Leo AI plans to double down on its product development.
Check out the 10-slide pitch deck used to secure the funding, shared exclusively with Business Insider.
