Villari, a Delft-based company offering innovative crack-detection sensors, secured €4 million from their investors FORWARD.one and InnovationQuarter Capital, with participation from two individuals key to the company. The investment extends their earlier seed round, in response to strong customer demand in the Netherlands and abroad.
Customers include steel infrastructure owners, who are obliged to inspect their assets like bridges and cranes for crack growth - a serious defect affecting the asset lifetime. Such monitoring is necessary in view of safety and preventing asset breakdown, but inspection is still being done manually by sending skilled personnel into the field, often to difficult-to-reach sites.
Given labour shortages and aging infrastructure built in the 60s or earlier, asset owners face the challenge of maintaining a growing amount of near-end-of-life assets. Customers therefore explore more scalable alternatives, and find a solution in Villari: smart sensors that monitor 24/7 and automatically warn operators in events of crack growth detection. This not only prevents costly downtime, it also allows for the extension of asset lifespan as owners now have reliable data to keep using their assets to their maximum capacity.
Acceleration through certifications and partnerships
The past year has been important for the company as it has obtained key certifications including the renowned DNV mark, affirming technical feasibility and robustness. Moreover, Villari has significantly increased its number of installed sensors at a growing customer base, including European steel companies, port terminals, and critical infrastructure projects across the Benelux region. To top it off, the company received a granted patent for its novel crack-detection technology.
As the technology is demonstrating its value, the company started partnerships with various major industry players in infrastructure asset management, to supplement the partner’s structural health expertise with Villari’s scalable monitoring solution.
“The timing of this additional funding is spot-on, and allows us to rapidly roll out our sensors across Europe while taking the first steps toward global expansion,” says Olivier Baas, CEO of Villari.
Transforming the inspection market
Villari is driving a disruptive shift in the inspection market. By leveraging data-driven technology, the company reduces reliance on manual inspections and elevates preventive maintenance to a higher standard. This aligns with the growing demand for more efficient and sustainable solutions in the industry.
With this new investment, Villari takes a major step toward strengthening its market leadership in Europe and entering international markets.
“The rapid growth of Villari confirms our initial belief in their technology”, says Mathijs Koens, fund manager at InnovationQuarter Capital. “The combination of strong customer demand and the ability to make critical infrastructure smarter and more sustainable makes us eager to invest again.”
Rembrandt Donkersloot, investment manager at FORWARD.one, adds: "The company has made great progress since our first investment. Above all, working with entrepreneurs Olivier Baas and Floris Achterberg is a true pleasure: they deliver, act fast, and think big. Customers agree, and now is the time to really scale."
***
About Villari
Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from TU Delft, Villari is an innovative Dutch company developing wireless sensors to enable the early detection of crack growth in steel structures. With more than 1,500 sensors installed on 60 assets across 8 countries, Villari contributes to the safety and longevity of critical infrastructure worldwide. www.villari-technology.com
About FORWARD.one
FORWARD.one is a Dutch venture capital firm focusing on deeptech innovations, including industrial tech, semicon, and climate tech. Having a team of financial professionals and entrepreneurs, FORWARD.one actively supports their portfolio companies to achieve their goals and ambitions.
About InnovationQuarter Capital
InnovationQuarter Capital, with €143 million, invests in disruptive startups and scale-ups in South Holland that face high technological risks and require patient capital. Focus areas include Energy, Digital Technology, High-tech Manufacturing, Maritime, Horticulture, and Life Sciences. Investments aim for societal impact alongside financial returns.