Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · Munich, Bayern, Germany
Software Defined Automation is a technology company.
Software Defined Automation provides Industrial Control as a Service, offering a comprehensive platform that delivers Industrial DevOps tools for automation engineers. The company’s core offering virtualizes and abstracts control software from industrial hardware, enabling streamlined management of PLC projects across various vendors. This solution integrates capabilities such as automated backup, change tracking, and AI-driven insights to enhance efficiency and reliability in industrial automation.
The company was founded in 2021 by Dr. Josef Waltl, leveraging a collective expertise in manufacturing, industrial software, and cloud technologies. The founding insight stemmed from a recognition that traditional PLC management and development processes were ripe for modernization. This led to the development of a solution designed to abstract control layers, thereby simplifying complex industrial automation landscapes.
Software Defined Automation serves automation engineers seeking to optimize their workflows and infrastructure. Its long-term vision is to fundamentally transform how industrial control systems are managed and developed, fostering a future where the complexities of heterogeneous PLC environments are abstracted away, and operational technology can be managed with the agility and control typically found in IT environments.
Software Defined Automation has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round.
Software Defined Automation has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Software Defined Automation has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Seed in October 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2022 | $10M Seed | Insight Partners | Courtney Robinson, Batshit Crazy Ventures, Baukunst, Black Jays Investments, Freestyle Capital, Lerer Hippeau, Menlo Ventures, Trace Cohen, RRE Ventures, Torch Capital, Gokul Rajaram, First Momentum Ventures, FLY Ventures | Announced |
Software Defined Automation (SDA) is a technology company founded in 2022 that builds Industrial DevOps tools for automation engineers, specializing in programmable logic controller (PLC) management across multiple vendors.[1][2][4] Its platform offers automated backups, code version control, AI-driven legacy code interpretation, secure remote access, browser-based engineering, and virtual PLCs on standard IT servers, serving manufacturers in the industrial sector to boost factory uptime, reduce recovery time, cut costs, and enhance OT security.[1][2][3][5] With $10M raised and an incubator/accelerator stage, SDA addresses inefficiencies from vendor silos and talent shortages, enabling scalable production.[1][3]
Founded in 2022 by experts in manufacturing, industrial software, and cloud technologies, SDA emerged to apply IT DevOps best practices to industrial automation, transforming PLCs from hardware-bound devices into software-like functions.[1][2][4] Headquartered in Boston, MA, with offices in Munich/Garching, Germany, the company was led by Josef Waltl as Founder and CEO, who emphasized providing automation engineers with tools for large-scale, cost-effective PLC management deployable in days.[1] Early traction included joining the Automate.org community as a Bronze Member in 2024 and securing $10M in funding, reflecting rapid validation in a market plagued by downtime and vendor lock-in.[1][2][3]
SDA rides the Industrial DevOps trend, merging IT practices like CI/CD and version control with operational technology (OT) to modernize legacy industrial systems amid Industry 4.0 demands for smart factories.[2][4][6] Timing aligns with rising factory automation needs, where multi-vendor complexity, talent scarcity, and cyber threats drive demand—market forces like increasing downtime costs and virtualization adoption favor SDA's vendor-agnostic approach.[1][5] By bridging IT-OT gaps and freeing automation from proprietary hardware, SDA influences the ecosystem, empowering engineers, boosting uptime, and accelerating digital transformation for manufacturers.[3][6]
SDA is poised to expand its platform with enhanced PLC vendor support and features unveiled at SPS 2024, targeting larger-scale deployments amid growing AI integration in OT.[3] Trends like edge computing, cybersecurity mandates, and sustainable manufacturing will propel demand for its tools, potentially scaling revenue beyond its current <$5M base through partnerships and virtualization adoption.[3] As Industrial DevOps matures, SDA's influence could reshape PLC engineering, delivering the simple, secure management it envisions from day one—positioning it as a key enabler for resilient factories.[1][4]
Software Defined Automation has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Software Defined Automation's investors include Insight Partners, Courtney Robinson, Batshit Crazy Ventures, Baukunst, Black Jays Investments, Freestyle Capital, Lerer Hippeau, Menlo Ventures, Trace Cohen, RRE Ventures, Torch Capital, Gokul Rajaram.