Fero Labs
New York, US · Founded 2015 · New York corporation · 30 employees on LinkedIn · 7 known investors
Software for manufacturing improvement
Also known as Fero
Founders & leadership
Fero Labs was founded in 2015 by Berk Birand and Alp Kucukelbir.
Board
Investors · 7
Also in the syndicate · 1
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$19.3M disclosed across 3 of 4 rounds · 2017–2023
- $15Mgrowth roundJun 2023 · 3 sources
Climate Investment (lead), Blackhorn Ventures, DI Technology, Innovation Endeavors
Source ↗
▶$2.7MraisedAug 2020 · 16 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Michael BrownDirector
- Klaus KleinfeldDirector
- Berk BirandExecutive Officer, Director
- Alp KucukelbirExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $2.8M
- Amount sold
- $2.7M
- Minimum investment
- $1
- First sale
- Jun 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, New York, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$1.6MraisedSep 2017 · 2 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Berk BirandExecutive Officer, Director
- Klaus KleinfeldDirector
- Michael BrownDirector
- Alp KucukelbirDirector
- Offering amount
- $1.6M
- Amount sold
- $1.6M
- First sale
- Mar 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, New York, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Fero Labs develops industrial process optimization software for manufacturers, positioning its offering as a "profitable sustainability platform" aimed at helping process engineers resolve production issues, prevent deviations before they affect output, and improve process efficiency. The software allows users to build a virtual replica of a production process and apply white-box machine learning to identify cause-and-effect relationships and recommend explainable adjustments, with the stated goal of reducing raw-material costs and emissions while maintaining product quality.
The product is organized as a suite of modules: Fero Diagnostics for exploring process improvements and root-cause analysis; Fero Simulator for identifying setpoints to correct issues without waste; Fero Production for engineer- and operator-controlled optimization intended to keep processes in specification continuously; and Fero Foundation for data preparation and process mapping. The company frames the platform as a way to capture and scale the reasoning of experienced process engineers across a plant, so that diagnostics, simulation and live production decisions draw on shared, explainable process context rather than fragmented analytics tools.
Business model
Fero Labs sells its software to industrial manufacturers, with customer engagements structured around a pilot process that culminates in what the company describes as a Ramp Year License.
Traction
Publicly referenced customers and partners include CELSA Nordic, SIJ Group, and Carnegie Mellon University's CISR. The company states that engineers using its diagnostics can resolve production issues substantially faster.
Latest developments
In 2025 Fero Labs announced a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's CISR on AI-driven steel innovation, a partnership with SIJ Group on green steelmaking, and its inclusion on Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies list for 2025.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market
Market position
Fero Labs presents itself as distinct from general analytics tools for manufacturing, and was named to Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2025.
The company emphasizes explainable, white-box machine learning that surfaces the drivers of process shifts and recommends specific actions, rather than only reporting analytics, and stresses that decisions remain under the control of plant engineers and operators.
Technology
The platform applies white-box (explainable) machine learning to plant process data, building virtual replicas of production processes and linking cause and effect to concrete, explainable setpoint and process adjustments. Modules cover automated data preparation and process mapping, diagnostics and root-cause analysis, simulation of corrective setpoints, and continuous optimization during live production.
Go-to-market
The company uses a staged pilot-to-license sales motion: a qualification call, a discovery session with a short demo, a deeper demo run on the prospect's own data, and a 14-day free trial with daily guidance emails, followed by discussion of a Ramp Year License.
Process engineers, operators and plant management at complex manufacturing operations, with named industry coverage spanning steel, chemicals, oil and gas, cement, and consumer packaged goods. Referenced users include steel producers such as CELSA Nordic and SIJ Group.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Competitors · 1
by search overlap
Companies competing with Fero Labs for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsFero Labs was included in Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2025.
Press release announcing a partnership between Carnegie Mellon University's CISR and Fero Labs focused on developing the next generation of AI-driven steel innovators.
Press release announcing a partnership with SIJ Group to advance profitable sustainability in green steelmaking.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Fero Labsferolabs.com · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Fero Labs do?
- Fero Labs builds explainable machine-learning software that helps industrial manufacturers optimize processes, costs and emissions.
- Who founded Fero Labs?
- Fero Labs was founded by Berk Birand, Alp Kucukelbir in 2015.
- Who are Fero Labs's investors?
- Fero Labs's investors include Asymmetric Capital Partners, Blackhorn Ventures, Bowery Capital, Climate Investment, Carat Venture Partners, Innovation Endeavors.
- How much funding has Fero Labs raised?
- Fero Labs has disclosed $19.3M raised across 3 of its 4 known rounds.
- Where is Fero Labs headquartered?
- Fero Labs is headquartered in New York, US.