Dutch AI platform Helin secures $11.7M led by FORWARD.one to scale its industrial Edge AI platform. Discover how they’re disrupting offshore and maritime sectors.
Beyond the Cloud: Why Helin’s $11.7M Raise is the New Blueprint for Industrial AI
The industrial world is notoriously difficult to digitize. Offshore platforms, vessels, and remote infrastructure operate in environments where “five bars of 5G” is a fantasy and “slow cloud analytics” can lead to catastrophic delays. On January 23, 2026, Dutch AI pioneer Helin proved that the solution isn’t more cloud—it’s better Edge.
Securing $11.7 million in a growth round led by FORWARD.one, Helin is poised to take its unified Edge AI platform global. At Fundreef.com, we see this as a pivotal moment for “mission-critical” AI. When you’re managing assets for the likes of Shell, BP, and Boskalis, your technology doesn’t just need to be smart; it needs to be unshakeable.
The Problem: The “Fragile Cloud” in Heavy Industry
Traditional industrial operations have long struggled with fragmented software and analytics that rely on stable internet connections. In maritime or oil and gas, a lost connection usually means lost data and blind decision-making.
Helin solves this by bringing AI directly to the hardware. Their platform integrates hardware, software, and connectivity on-site, allowing for real-time applications that run even when the world goes offline.
Scaling to Unicorn Status: A 12x Growth Story
The numbers behind Helin are staggering. Over the last three years, their signed Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) has increased twelve-fold. This level of hyper-growth is exactly what growth-stage VCs like FORWARD.one look for.
As Paul Pruijmboom, Partner at FORWARD.one, noted: “Helin has already proven its value with demanding clients… this investment is primarily focused on accelerating sales execution.”
For founders building similarly complex industrial solutions, achieving this level of traction requires a rock-solid roadmap. To communicate such complex technical milestones to investors, we recommend utilizing a Pitch Deck Analyzer to ensure your “Edge” narrative is as sharp as your technology.
Navigating the Growth Stage: Insights for Founders
Helin’s trajectory from a Dutch innovator to a global market leader offers a masterclass in strategic fundraising. If you are a founder in the Industrial IoT or AI space, here is how you can use the Fundreef toolkit to follow in their footsteps:
- Valuation Strategy: With 12x ARR growth, Helin’s valuation has likely skyrocketed. Before sitting down with tier-1 VCs, use our AI Company Valuation tool to benchmark your growth against current 2026 market standards.
- Expansion Planning: Scaling to 80+ employees and international markets requires more than a spreadsheet. An AI Business Plan can help you simulate the capital requirements for global sales forces and R&D expansion.
- The Term Sheet: Growth rounds are complex. As Helin scales toward “Unicorn” status, the complexity of their cap table increases. Our AI Term Sheet Analysis is essential for founders to ensure they maintain the right balance of control and capital.
- Finding the Lead: Looking for your own FORWARD.one? Our Investor Database allows you to filter specifically for VCs with a proven track record in Industrial Tech and Edge AI.
The Road Ahead: The Autonomous Industrial Future
As Martijn Handels, Co-founder and CPTO of Helin, stated, the goal is now to become the world’s leading development platform for industrial AI. By enabling safer, more efficient, and sustainable operations, Helin isn’t just building a company—they are building the infrastructure for the next industrial revolution.
Are you building the “mission-critical” technology of tomorrow? The connections you make today define your series A, B, and beyond. Join the community and scale your vision at Fundreef.com.
