Applied Computing, a London-based startup pioneering a foundation AI model tailored for the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors, has successfully secured $20 million in Series A funding. The round was spearheaded by engineering giant KBR, with notable participation from Databricks Ventures.
Established in 2023, the startup focuses its innovations on oil, gas, refining, and petrochemical systems. These facilities are characterized by thousands of sensors meticulously monitoring parameters from temperature and pressure to velocity and viscosity. Despite a significant market demand for solutions to energy companies' data tracking challenges, the industry's data fragmentation presents a substantial hurdle. Consequently, facilities often make operational decisions utilizing less than 8% of their available data, according to Callum Adamson, co-founder and CEO of Applied Computing. Operators diligently collect vast amounts of information, he noted, yet struggle to rapidly synthesize sensor readings, engineering documentation, and complex physics and chemistry to facilitate timely analysis and predictions. Adamson emphasized to TechCrunch, "It’s getting those three data sources to talk to each other in real time. That’s the real key."
Applied Computing's proprietary foundation model, Orbital, distinguishes itself from large language models, which primarily predict the next word. Orbital integrates a time series model, a physics-based model, and a language model to accurately forecast a facility's state. It achieves this by meticulously analyzing sensor data, incorporating principles of physics and chemistry, and accounting for equipment constraints and operator activities. Furthermore, the platform empowers technicians to conduct simulations, allowing them to assess how a change in one operational area might cascade across the entire facility.
At its core, Applied Computing champions speed. The company asserts that Orbital can identify anomalies, diagnose their root causes, and simulate the potential impact of proposed solutions on other parts of the facility—all within minutes. Adamson claims this capability compresses investigations that historically consumed days or weeks into mere seconds, thereby enabling operators to optimize energy consumption and sustain production levels.
This compelling promise of speed has garnered significant industry confidence. The startup reports achieving double-digit millions in annual recurring revenue in less than 18 months since emerging from stealth. Adamson confirmed that Orbital is currently deployed within several "large, publicly listed" companies across upstream oil and gas, downstream refining, and petrochemical sectors, though he refrained from disclosing the exact number of clients.
Applied Computing's strategic partners include Indian energy major Wipro and KBR, which has seamlessly integrated Orbital into its INSITE 3.0 digital platform for energy projects and is leveraging the product for ammonia production. Adamson also revealed ongoing collaborations with a "major U.S. upstream operator" and anticipates announcing a new partnership with a prominent European oil major in the coming weeks.
However, Applied Computing is entering a competitive landscape populated by both entrenched industrial software suppliers and specialized AI startups. Companies like AspenTech offer simulation and AI-powered modeling software for upstream, refining, and chemical operations, while AVEVA provides physics-based process simulation, optimization, and "what-if" modeling for industrial plants. Furthermore, Cognite and Seeq focus on the data layer, assisting facilities in analyzing industrial data and applying AI to design efficient workflows.
Adamson contends that the company's competitive advantage lies not in access to industrial data or process knowledge, but in its ability to assemble world-class AI researchers capable of developing a model on par with Orbital. He stated, "It’s an AI problem. It’s not a data problem, and it’s not an energy problem." He further questioned, "If you’re a tier-one AI researcher, where are you going to work? … I don’t think Shell’s on that list."
Adamson also highlighted the invaluable operational data Orbital acquires through its deployments. He noted that operational data from refineries and other energy facilities is typically not publicly accessible, and simulated data often falls short of accurately replicating the complexities of a live plant environment.
The partnership with KBR is expected to significantly bolster Applied Computing's capabilities. Adamson indicated that this collaboration provides the company with access to crucial operational data, deep industry expertise, and introductions to a broader network of potential customers.
The $20 million in funding will be strategically utilized to fuel international expansion, recruit top talent for research and engineering roles, and explore further deployments with energy clients globally.
In a related announcement on Thursday, the company confirmed the opening of a new office in Houston, complementing its London headquarters and Bengaluru operational hub. Adamson explained that the U.S. base strategically positions the startup closer to two existing North American customers, with plans for expansion into the Middle East also underway.
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