CVector raises $5M seed funding to optimize industrial production with AI

CVector is betting that industrial decision-making can move faster without cutting corners. The New York–based startup has secured a $5 million seed round to push its AI software deeper into energy-intensive industries where small operational choices can swing margins by millions.

The round was led by Powerhouse Ventures, with backing from Fusion Fund, Hitachi Ventures, Myriad Venture Partners, and Schematic Ventures. The raise came in oversubscribed, a sign of investor interest in tools that connect AI directly to production economics rather than relying solely on dashboards or forecasts. CVector plans to use the capital to grow its sales team, add product talent, and support customers as they scale live deployments.

Industrial AI startup CVector Raises $5M Seed Round to Bring AI-Driven Economic Optimization to Heavy Industry

Founded in November 2024 by veterans from Shell and CERN, CVector has already landed customers across public utilities, advanced manufacturing, and chemical production. Early adopters include ATEK Metals, which operates complex metals processing facilities, and Ammobia, a chemical company reworking long-standing production methods with modern systems. These are environments where data already exists, yet decisions still rely heavily on human judgment under pressure.

“CVector’s AI native solution provides real-time recommendations in the context of dynamic feedstocks, operating metrics, and customer demand,” said Richard Zhang, co-founder and CEO. “CVector sharpens decision-making around optimal production, ensuring every action is grounded in improved economics.”

The software pulls from control systems, supply-chain inputs, and market pricing, then evaluates possible actions against facility-specific economic models. Each recommendation ranks options by profit impact, giving operators a clear view of tradeoffs before changes hit the floor. The system adapts over time by observing how teams respond and learning which signals matter most in each plant.

Powerhouse Ventures sees that loop between data, economics, and usability as the core differentiator. “Contextualized industrial data may be the fuel for AI, but CVector is the only solution that addresses the additional issues of economic optimization and accessibility by end users,” said Emily Kirsch, founder and managing partner of Powerhouse Ventures. “Addressing all three issues is required in the new generation of AI industrial software for improved decision making in production environments.”

CVector’s approach reflects a broader shift in industrial AI, away from abstract insights and toward systems that support operators in real time. By tying recommendations directly to financial outcomes, the company is positioning its software as a daily decision tool rather than an analytics layer. With fresh capital in hand and customers already live, CVector is moving quickly to prove that AI can earn its place on the factory floor.

CVector Team