Welcome to our X-Europe startup interview series. We have virtually sat down with a number of our founders from past cohorts to hear all about their solutions, vision for the future, and what made them tick during our X Europe programme. So whether you are a deep tech founder looking for startup support, an eagle-eyed investor, or simply interested in the possibilities that technology can bring to society, then we welcome you to take a read. Please meet Samotics, a smart condition monitoring solution for critical rotating equipment such as motors, pumps, and conveyors.
Can you briefly explain what your solution is all about? What’s unique about it?
SAM4 is our smart condition monitoring solution for critical rotating equipment such as motors, pumps, and conveyors. SAM4 detects failures up to 7 months in advance and provides real-time insights into the condition, performance, and energy consumption in an online dashboard. What's unique about it is that SAM4 analyses electrical signals from inside the Motor Control Cabinet. Zero sensors are installed on the asset in the field.
What business sectors do you target? How does the technology make an impact?
SAM4 helps clients in industries such as Metals & Mining, Water & Wastewater, and the Petrochemical industry to prevent unplanned downtime and reduce energy waste. As an example of how clients benefit: ArcelorMittal in Gent monitors the Hot Strip Mill, where downtime is extremely expensive. In the past 2 years, SAM4 detected 28 out of 28 failures and helped to prevent 31 hours of downtime. Another example is that SAM4's insights helped a Dutch Oil & Gas company to discover they could save as much energy as 60 families consume per year, by changing the operational parameters on a set of two very large pumps.
What’s the biggest milestone your startup has achieved so far, and what challenges are you still trying to overcome?
We're proud of the team that we've built: Almost 60 technology enthusiasts at Samotics serve over 80 clients across the globe and work with global partners such as Schneider Electric to help industries work better, safer, and smarter.
How has X-Europe helped you during the past few months?
X-Europe connected us to like-minded entrepreneurs, interesting investors, and potential clients. Our mentor provided useful guidance too!
After joining and benefiting from the services X-Europe has provided, what next steps do you envision?
Our aim is to expand our international presence and continue to scale the business.
What advice would you give to an entrepreneur trying to pave his/her way in the artificial intelligence / machine learning landscape?
Focus relentlessly on the Customer Journey, and use AI to serve clients better - not as a goal in itself.
What’s unique about the X-Europe programme?
It is an international group of like-minded entrepreneurs that support each other to achieve their goals.
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