Software Defined Automation GmbH
"The factory is code."
Industrial DevOps platform for PLC engineers, founded 2021 in Munich; automates backup, version control, and secure remote access across 12+ PLC vendors.
Software Defined Automation GmbH (also incorporated as Software Defined Automation Inc. in the US) is an industrial software company founded in 2021 by Dr. Josef Waltl (CEO) and Axel Scheurer. The company is headquartered at Lichtenbergstraße 8, 85748 Garching near Munich, Germany, with a US office at 30 Riverdale Avenue, Unit 6, Newton, Massachusetts.
The company offers an Industrial DevOps platform designed specifically for PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) engineers and operations technology (OT) teams in manufacturing environments. The platform addresses a persistent gap in industrial automation: unlike software development teams, PLC engineers have historically lacked tools for automated backup, version control, and secure remote collaboration across multi-vendor environments.
Core platform capabilities include: automated PLC project file backup across multi-vendor fleets (eliminating manual backup processes); multi-vendor version control that tracks code changes across siloed vendor toolchains; browser-based engineering that provides a secure, maintenance-free IDE accessible from any web browser without local software installation; secure remote access for PLC code changes from any location via encrypted connections; a Vault and audit trail for compliance purposes; and firmware vulnerability monitoring that scans industrial controller firmware for known CVEs.
The platform also includes two AI-powered modules: Factory Agent, which translates legacy PLC code into human-readable language, detects bugs and security vulnerabilities, and visualizes project architecture; and Factory Operator, an AI code generator for automation systems.
The platform supports 12+ PLC vendors including Siemens, B&R Automation, Beckhoff, Rockwell Automation, CODESYS, and SEW-Eurodrive. It is designed to support compliance with NIS2, IEC 62443, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11.
Documented customers include Henkel, Fugro, Clevertech, Cytiva, and Gropyus. Claimed performance improvements include 4-hour reduction in MTTR, 95% reduction in manual backup work, and 3x faster automation change deployment versus industry average.
The company raised a seed round in October 2022 from investors including Henkel Ventures, Baukunst, First Momentum Ventures, Fly Ventures, and Insight Partners. The company has 11–50 employees as of 2026.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Industrial DevOps Platform
Cloud-based platform automating PLC backup, version control, and secure remote access across 12+ industrial controller vendors.
Factory Agent
AI module that translates legacy PLC code to human-readable language and detects bugs and security vulnerabilities.
Contact Software Defined Automation GmbH
WEBSITE
https://www.softwaredefinedautomation.ioHEADQUARTERS
Germany
Company Facts
Founded
2021
Primary Role
Software/Algorithm
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
Early-Stage VC
Funding Total
-
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