DeepHow raises $9M with top-tier VC funding round
Today, DeepHow announced a $9M pre-Series A fundraise. DeepHow is a Detroit-based startup founded by ex-Siemens executives who see a huge opportunity to use AI to accelerate skills training for shop-floor and other highly technical skilled trades workers.
News summary
DeepHow has closed a pre-Series A round of $9M. This follows earlier seed funding totaling $4M. This round was oversubscribed.
Sierra Ventures led the round, with participation by Osage Venture Partners and Qualcomm Ventures.
DeepHow's system captures know-how and manual skills, then uses AI to convert this knowledge into smart, how-to training videos.
DeepHow helps manufacturers bridge a worrying skills gap
Three forces are undermining the performance of industrial enterprises in the manufacturing, service, and construction industries: 1) the rapid evolution of advanced technology in use on the factory floor; 2) an aging workforce; and 3) a shortage of skilled workers
In particular, manufacturers are concerned that as their most valuable workers retire they will take with them years of acquired know-how and techniques that enable production lines to operate smoothly.
How can they attract workers into these roles? How can they quickly upskill them and provide an attractive growth path to retain them? Training is part of the solution.
DeepHow sees an enormous opportunity to equip manufacturers globally with advanced and proven technology to capture this valuable know-how, and then up-skill and re-skill the next generation of workers.
How does DeepHow disrupt the status quo?
DeepHow combines the latest advances in AI, natural-language processing, computer vision, and knowledge mapping to revolutionize how knowledge is captured, digitized, and organized.
DeepHow's secret sauce is AI Stephanie®, which analyzes a video of a skilled worker performing a complex task, identifies the steps involved, and then creates a step-by-step training video within minutes. Before AI Stephanie, this process could take many hours or even days and require professional video training.
A manufacturer can instruct Stephanie to identify skills gaps across the workforce, assess workforce training needs given a range of scenarios, and then implement training strategies to ensure workforce readiness.
PR strategy and results
The media strategy employed pre-wire outreach (resulting in a CEO interview), followed by broader media outreach to secure additional stories.
