Scenexus emerges as TNO spin-off, securing a € 1.6 million investment 

By creating digital twins of a city or region, urban planners can assess the exact impact of their ideas in just minutes instead of days. Scenexus, a new spin-off emerging from TNO, offers a software solution that generates accurate, multi-faceted insights into urgent challenges and developments in urban areas. On the first day of its official existence, Scenexus also announced a 1.6 million investment by Lumo Labs and TNO.

Planners and engineers can assess the exact impact of ideas and alterations by combining multiple rich data sets on Scenexus’ software platform. This enables cities to address urgent challenges, such as the housing crisis, congestion, and environmental issues. Cities like Amsterdam, San Diego, Singapore, and Breda already rely on this innovative technology.

Up to 1,000 times faster

At the heart of Scenexus’ Urban Strategy platform are potent algorithms running on graphical processing units (GPUs) – the same processors at the center of video gaming and AI technology. The GPU implementation enables Scenexus to process thousands of calculations in parallel, claiming results up to 1,000 times faster than leading planning software on the market. Reducing the time needed to plan and develop new, practical urban concepts allows Scenexus’ clients to execute more projects annually. Urban Strategy is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional, allowing users to view the impact of developments on various factors such as traffic, livability, resident sentiment, financial growth, safety, greenhouse gas emissions, and well-being.

“Our vision is to empower cities to shape the future of urban development, ensuring sustainable and vibrant communities for generations to come", said Jeroen Borst, Scenexus' co-founder and CEO. "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."

Andy Lürling, Founding Partner at LUMO Labs, points out that digitalization holds the key to solving many of the social, environmental, and economic challenges we face today. "Successful and sustainable digitalization requires the combined and continued impact of multiple cross-sector systemic innovations beyond the individual user. This is certainly true for Scenexus. With Scenexus, cities save time, money, and effort, and uncover unforeseen challenges before they arise. At the same time it enables lasting improvement of the city’s livability and safety, and the well-being of residents and visitors.” 

Urgent needs

Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi, CEO of TNO: “At TNO, our mission is to pioneer breakthrough technologies that tackle society’s most urgent challenges. Scenexus exemplifies this commitment. As part of our strategy, we actively nurture and empower 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.”

Sven Bakkes, Founding Partner LUMO Labs, adds: “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.”