Why We Invested in Foundation EGI: Revolutionizing Engineering Knowledge with AI
In today’s manufacturing world, engineering processes are still mostly manual and disorganized. This inefficiency leads to an estimated $8 trillion in economic waste. Foundation EGI is tackling this problem head-on with their groundbreaking Engineering General Intelligence (EGI) platform. Their technology transforms unstructured, natural language instructions into clear, codified programming. This innovation is a major step forward in automating and streamlining engineering workflows.
Unlike generic AI solutions, Foundation EGI uses a domain-specific approach tailored specifically for engineering tasks. This focus allows their platform to deliver automation and efficiency gains throughout the entire product lifecycle management process. Their technology is built around three key innovations: a domain-specific language (DSL) that applies large language models (LLMs) to computational design and manufacturing workflows, a Workflow Automation Manager that handles complex document generation, and verticalized subject matter expert LLMs that outperform general AI models in engineering contexts.
Foundation EGI’s Impact on Engineering and Manufacturing
What truly sets Foundation EGI apart is their practical and focused solution to a well-known challenge. They have chosen to initially concentrate on documentation and parts sourcing—two of the most time-consuming and frustrating aspects of engineering. Documentation, in particular, is often tedious but essential. Foundation’s platform can complete this work over 1,000 times faster, reducing processes that once took six months down to mere minutes.
Foundation EGI was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by Mok Oh (CEO), Professor Wojciech Matusik (CTO), and Michael Foshey. The founding team combines deep expertise in engineering, industrial operations, startups, and artificial intelligence. Mok Oh brings experience as a two-time founder and former Samsung executive, while Wojciech Matusik is a tenured MIT professor specializing in computational design and manufacturing. This blend of academic excellence and entrepreneurial skill gives Foundation a unique edge.
We participated in their oversubscribed $7.6 million seed round alongside investors such as E14 Fund, Union Lab Ventures, Stata Venture Partners, GRIDS Capital, and Henry Ford III. This strong backing reflects the confidence in Foundation’s vision and potential.
Why We Invested in Foundation EGI: Capturing and Scaling Engineering Expertise
Foundation EGI addresses a critical issue in traditional industries: the loss of engineering knowledge when experienced professionals retire. Their platform ensures that this expertise is not lost but instead encoded and scaled for future generations. This capability is essential for preserving and expanding engineering know-how.
We believe Foundation EGI will become the leading platform for engineering AI because their solution is specifically designed for the product engineering services market. Their focus on delivering concrete, measurable improvements distinguishes them from more generalized AI approaches.
In a manufacturing environment eager for innovation, Foundation EGI is not offering just an incremental improvement. They are creating a new paradigm that transforms how engineering expertise is captured, applied, and scaled. We are excited to support this exceptional team as they revolutionize engineering with AI.
Raymond Liao is a Managing Director at Samsung Next. Samsung Next’s investment strategy reflects its own views and does not represent the vision or strategy of any other Samsung business unit, including Samsung Electronics.
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Source: original article.