Funding Round attributes
Dutch independent research organization TNO has announced the launch of Scenexus, a startup specializing in enterprise software for urban planning. Scenexus has secured €1.6 million in funding from Eindhoven-based venture capital firm LUMO Labs to support the rollout of its software platform. The funding will allow Scenexus to advance its digital twin technology, which provides insights into urban challenges and developments, and expand its impact globally.
Scenexus, founded in 2024 by Jeroen Borst, Walter Lohman, Bart Vuijk, and Peter van Oorschot, offers a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution designed to address the complexities of urban planning. Its platform leverages digital twin technology to combine multiple data sets, enabling decision-makers, planners, and engineers to evaluate the impacts of proposed changes efficiently. The system processes thousands of calculations in parallel using GPU-based algorithms, delivering results up to 1,000 times faster than traditional planning software. This increased efficiency allows clients to complete more projects annually while addressing key urban issues.
The Scenexus platform analyzes various factors, including traffic, livability, greenhouse gas emissions, safety, financial growth, resident sentiment, and well-being. Cities such as Amsterdam, San Diego, Singapore, and Breda are already using the technology to tackle challenges related to housing, congestion, and environmental sustainability.
Jeroen Borst, co-founder and CEO of Scenexus, emphasized the importance of the funding in realizing the company’s mission. “Our vision is to empower cities globally with our digital twin technology, enabling them to anticipate and shape the future of urban development, ensuring sustainable and vibrant communities for generations to come. With LUMO Labs and TNO, we have the additional capital, expertise, and support we need for our next steps to turn this vision into reality.”
LUMO Labs’ investment in Scenexus is the first from its newly established LUMO Rise Fund, a €100 million venture capital fund. The fund focuses on scalable, financially sustainable solutions that leverage technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT, and extended realities to address social and environmental challenges. Sven Bakkes, Founding Partner at LUMO Labs, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. “Scenexus is the inaugural investment from our newly established LUMO Rise Fund. We are very happy to be joining forces with TNO on this co-investment and support Scenexus going forward with the roll-out of their groundbreaking software platform, previously known as ‘Urban Strategy.’”
The involvement of TNO underscores its commitment to nurturing spin-offs and startups that address societal challenges through technology. TNO’s CEO, Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi, highlighted the organization’s role in advancing innovation. “At TNO, our mission is to pioneer breakthrough technologies that tackle society’s most urgent challenges. Scenexus, a TNO spin-off, exemplifies this commitment. As part of our strategy, we take an active role in nurturing and empowering spin-offs and deeptech startups, guiding them toward rapid growth and meaningful impact—often in close collaboration with visionary venture capital partners like LUMO Labs.”
Scenexus is poised to revolutionize urban planning by providing cities with advanced tools to navigate the complexities of sustainable development. The collaboration between Scenexus, TNO, and LUMO Labs highlights a shared vision for leveraging technology to create sustainable, livable urban environments. With this funding, Scenexus is set to expand its impact and bring its innovative solutions to a broader range of cities worldwide.
