Seattle startup Tignis raises $1M to accelerate release of high-tech tools for manufacturers

John Herlocker, CEO of Tignis, presented the startup during GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch competition in 2019. (GeekWire File Photo / Dan DeLong)

Tignis, the Seattle-based startup that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help manufacturers, utilities, and smart buildings monitor and improve their operations, has made a $ 1 million investment from BMNT.

Tignis has also completed the H4XLabs enterprise accelerator program run by BMNT, the company announced on Thursday, and is releasing its first commercial product.

The PAICe product suite leverages AI and machine learning to accelerate the ability to create, validate and deploy machine-learning solutions in the manufacturing and process industries, Tignis said in a press release. The focus is initially on semiconductor manufacturing, oil and gas processing and energy.

BEFORE: Seattle startup led by former VMware executive raises $ 4.7 million for “machine learning in a box” service

“BMNT’s investment was a huge vote of confidence in the technology and team at Tignis, and together with the support of BMNT’s Enterprise Accelerator, we have been able to commercialize more powerful AI capabilities for industrial and manufacturing customers faster,” said co-founder and CEO Jon Herlocker in a statement.

Herlocker co-founded Tignis in 2017 after leaving virtualization software company VMware, where he served as vice president and CTO of the company’s cloud management division. Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Matt McLaughlin was the Director of Engineering at VMware.

Tignis, which has grown to 20 employees, has raised $ 7.4 million in angel and seed funding since its inception.

The startup competed against Syndio Solutions and AdaptiLab in episode 4 of the second season of GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch business concept contest, but didn’t make it to the finals of this year’s GeekWire Summit.