1 The EIC Accelerator Project
EIC Accelerator Program Overview
The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), aims to support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Europe. Focused on high-risk, high-potential projects, the EIC Accelerator provides funding and support to help companies bring ground-breaking innovations to the market. The program is particularly geared toward DeepTech sectors, which include advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing.
Funding Structure
The EIC Accelerator program offers a unique funding structure that combines grants and equity investments. The grant component can reach up to €2.5 million, primarily aimed at covering early-stage costs related to technology development, testing, and validation of innovative ideas. This grant is designed to reduce the financial burden on startups during the critical phases of product development.
In addition to grants, the EIC Accelerator provides equity investments. Until 2024, this equity funding can go up to €15 million, facilitating scaling and market entry for successful applicants. Starting in 2025, the maximum equity investment will be capped at €10 million. This equity funding is particularly significant for startups looking to attract further private investments, as it demonstrates validation from a reputable European body, enhancing the company’s credibility in the eyes of venture capitalists and private investors.
Purpose in the European DeepTech Ecosystem
The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in nurturing the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem. By providing financial support and mentoring, the program helps bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and market readiness. This, in turn, fosters an environment conducive to technological advancement and economic growth within Europe. The program aims to empower entrepreneurs, drive job creation, and enhance Europe’s global competitiveness in technology sectors.
Role in Scaling Companies
The EIC Accelerator aids companies in scaling their operations by offering not only financial resources but also strategic support. Successful applicants gain access to a network of experts, mentors, and potential partners who can provide guidance on business development and market entry strategies. This ecosystem approach enhances the chances of success for startups, helping them secure additional funding from private sectors and accelerate their growth trajectory.
Case Study: Intelligent NLU GmbH and DeepOpinion
Company Overview
Intelligent NLU GmbH, based in Austria, is a notable winner of the EIC Accelerator program. The company is recognized for its innovative project, DeepOpinion, which focuses on democratizing artificial intelligence for cognitive process automation.
Project Description: DeepOpinion
DeepOpinion aims to transform how businesses utilize artificial intelligence by making it accessible for cognitive process automation. The project is designed to empower organizations to automate complex processes that typically require human intelligence, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Technology Background
DeepOpinion leverages advanced natural language understanding (NLU) technologies, which allow machines to interpret and process human language in a meaningful way. This involves various components, including:
Conclusion
Intelligent NLU GmbH's DeepOpinion is a pioneering project that exemplifies the objectives of the EIC Accelerator program. By facilitating access to advanced AI technologies, the project not only enhances operational efficiencies but also democratizes AI applications, making them available to a broader range of organizations. Through the support of the EIC Accelerator, Intelligent NLU GmbH is well-positioned to scale its operations and contribute to the evolution of cognitive process automation within the European market and beyond.
2 The Funding Rounds
Financing Raised by Intelligent NLU GmbH (DeepOpinion) Since EIC Accelerator Funding
Summary:
Following the company’s successful application for the EIC Accelerator in October 2022, DeepOpinion (Intelligent NLU GmbH), based in Innsbruck, Austria, has experienced significant fundraising activity focused on scaling its AI-driven enterprise automation solutions.
Funding Rounds and Amounts
- Series A Round:
- Date Closed: September 26, 2024
- Amount Raised: €11 million (approximately $12.2–$12.3 million)
- This Series A is their largest disclosed round since receiving EIC Accelerator support.
- Previous Rounds:
- The company completed two earlier undisclosed rounds prior to Series A, which together with the most recent funding bring total financing to nearly $15 million. Specific timing and amounts for these initial rounds are not explicitly detailed in public disclosures.
Investor Information
- Series A Co-leads:
- Red River West
- Alpha Intelligence Capital
- Participating Existing Investors:
- Lunar Ventures
- Stride VC
All four investors participated in the most recent Series A round as either new or returning backers.
Use of Funds and Strategic Focus
The capital from the Series A round is earmarked for: - Global expansion efforts.
- Further development of DeepOpinion's core Agentic Automation platform.
- Scaling hiring across technology, marketing, product development, and sales functions.
This aligns with DeepOpinion’s focus on automating complex business processes—especially those involving unstructured data such as claims management after natural disasters—and enhancing knowledge work performance using large language models (LLMs).
Company Valuations
There have been no publicly disclosed post-money or pre-money valuation figures associated with any of DeepOpinion's funding rounds as of May 2025. However, the size and composition of their latest raise suggest strong investor confidence in both growth potential and market positioning.
Exit Events (IPO/Buyouts/Acquisitions)
As of May 2025:
- There have been no reported IPOs.
- There are no records indicating buyouts or acquisitions involving Intelligent NLU GmbH / DeepOpinion.
Sources
DeepOpinion Secures €11 Million to Advance Enterprise ... DeepOpinion raises €11 million to assist enterprise businesses with AI agents DeepOpinion Company Overview – LeadIQ DeepOpinion Raises €11M for AI-driven disaster claims automation IDP provider DeepOpinion closes €11M Series A funding round Why we invested in DeepOpinion – Alpha Intelligence Capital DeepOpinion lands €11M to bridge the AI task automation gap — TFN DeepOpinion Company Information – Seedtable
3 The Press Releases
Intelligent NLU GmbH's EIC Accelerator Achievement and DeepOpinion Platform Austria-based Intelligent NLU GmbH secured European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator funding in October 2022 for its AI automation platform, DeepOpinion. The company was among 78 winners selected from over 1,092 applicants during the competitive cut-off, receiving a "grant first" financing recommendation to advance its cognitive process automation technology.Technology and Platform Overview
DeepOpinion is a no-code B2B SaaS platform designed to automate unstructured text- and document-heavy workflows. Its proprietary machine learning engine, developed over four years of R&D, supports automated deep learning for Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) in over 100 languages. The platform comprises two core components:- Cognitive Skill Builder: Enables users to create custom AI skills without coding, integrating with existing robotic process automation (RPA) tools like UiPath or Microsoft Power Automate.
- Flow Builder: Facilitates end-to-end workflow automation by connecting AI models to enterprise systems such as SAP, Salesforce, and Microsoft Dynamics.
Post-Funding Developments
While explicit press releases or blog posts from DeepOpinion.ai were not identified in available data, the EIC funding is earmarked for enhancing the platform’s AI capabilities and expanding its use cases across industries like finance, logistics, and healthcare. The company’s focus includes refining AutoNLU technology to simplify complex document processing tasks such as invoice parsing or customer feedback analysis.Strategic Impact
The EIC Accelerator award underscores DeepOpinion’s role in democratizing advanced AI tools for non-technical users. By reducing reliance on specialized data science teams, the platform aligns with EU objectives to boost productivity through accessible automation solutions.Sources
- EIC Accelerator October 2022 Winners List
- CORDIS Project Description: Democratizing AI for Cognitive Process Automation
- Official EIC Accelerator October 2022 Cut-off Report
4 The Technology Advancements
Current Capabilities of Intelligent NLU GmbH
Intelligent NLU GmbH, headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria, specializes in providing B2B cognitive automation services. The company focuses on automating repetitive cognitive processes through its no-code DeepOpinion Studio platform. This platform allows users to create cognitive automation workflows within minutes, enriched with various cognitive skills that integrate the latest AI into business processes.
Recent Advancements
Since the specified date of October 5, 2022, there is no direct information available regarding advancements made by Intelligent NLU GmbH specifically tied to EIC Accelerator funding. However, the company has been active in developing AI solutions. In 2024, DeepOpinion raised €11 million to assist enterprise businesses with AI agents, indicating a significant investment in its technology. This funding round suggests that the company is expanding its capabilities in using generative AI large language models to automate back-office business tasks across various industries.
Technology Improvements and Market Demonstrations
While there is no specific mention of new features or improvements directly linked to the EIC Accelerator funding, DeepOpinion's ability to validate unstructured data from industries such as financial services, insurance, telecommunications, and manufacturing demonstrates its advanced AI capabilities. The company's technology is designed to improve knowledge work performance in these sectors.
Patents, Studies, and Publications
There is no available information on new patents filed, scientific studies published, or clinical trials conducted by Intelligent NLU GmbH since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding. The company's primary focus seems to be on enhancing its AI-powered automation solutions for business tasks.
Conclusion
Intelligent NLU GmbH continues to advance its AI-driven automation solutions, with recent funding supporting its growth in providing customizable AI agents for enterprise clients. While specific advancements tied to the EIC Accelerator funding are not detailed, the company's ongoing efforts in AI automation highlight its commitment to innovative technologies.
Sources: - Intelligent NLU GmbH Privacy Policy
- DeepOpinion raises €11 million to assist enterprise businesses with AI agents
- Privacy - DeepOpinion Agentic Automation Academy
5 The Partnerships and Customers
Intelligent NLU GmbH, operating under the DeepOpinion brand, has established itself as a leader in AI-driven cognitive automation since securing EIC Accelerator funding in October 2022. The company specializes in no-code workflow automation for repetitive cognitive tasks, leveraging generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to process complex unstructured data across industries.Partnerships and Customer Engagements
DeepOpinion’s platform is widely adopted by enterprises requiring high-volume document processing. Notable customers include:- Uelzener Insurance (Germany): Implemented DeepOpinion to automate claims processing, achieving rapid project deployment within a quarter while reducing manual intervention.
- CED Europe: Highlighted DeepOpinion’s ability to create engaging workflows and improve service quality.
- Siemens: Achieved over 90% touchless processing of delivery notes using DeepOpinion’s LLM capabilities.
While specific new partners are not explicitly named post-funding, the company collaborates with clients across financial services, insurance, telecommunications, and manufacturing to refine its AI models for global document variations.
Market Positioning and Technological Advancements
The €11 million Series A funding round co-led by Red River West and Alpha Intelligence Capital (September 2024) underscores investor confidence in DeepOpinion’s scalable solutions. Key advancements include:- Multi-industry LLM adaptability: Processes over 35,000 document layouts with 98.3% accuracy while supporting 100+ languages for natural language understanding (NLU).
- Zero-shot learning: Pre-trained domain-specific LLMs eliminate extensive training datasets, enabling rapid deployment for new use cases like invoice validation.
These relationships enhance its competitive edge by demonstrating cross-industry applicability—particularly in insurance claim automation where it achieves over 65% straight-through processing rates.
Scaling Impact
Customer-reported outcomes indicate reduced error rates (20x improvement vs traditional OCR) and accelerated digital transformation timelines. For instance Uelzener noted unprecedented speed-to-market compared to alternative providers, positioning Intelligent NLU GmbH as a preferred vendor for enterprises prioritizing operational efficiency.Sources
6 The Hiring and Company Growth
Intelligent NLU GmbH Overview
Intelligent NLU GmbH, based in Innsbruck, Austria, specializes in providing cognitive automation services through its platform, DeepOpinion. This company received the EIC Accelerator funding in October 2022, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey.
Hiring and Team Growth
As of the latest available information, there is no specific data on the current headcount or team size of Intelligent NLU GmbH. However, securing funding from the EIC Accelerator typically supports companies in expanding their operations, which often includes hiring additional talent.
Current Hiring Status
There is no explicit information available on whether Intelligent NLU GmbH is currently hiring. However, companies that receive significant funding often look to expand their teams to support growth initiatives.
Growth and Recent Developments
In September 2024, DeepOpinion secured €11 million in a Series A funding round, indicating substantial growth and investment in their technology and operations. This funding is expected to drive further advancements in their enterprise agentic process automation solutions.
Key Positions and Future Growth
While specific key positions recently hired are not detailed, the company's focus on developing AI-powered automation solutions suggests that new team members would be crucial in enhancing these technologies and supporting business expansion. Such hires would likely include roles in AI research, software development, and business development to scale and grow the company's offerings.
Management and Founding Team Changes
There is no available information on major changes in the management or founding team of Intelligent NLU GmbH since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding.
Impact of New Team Members
New team members would play a vital role in helping Intelligent NLU GmbH scale and grow by contributing to the development and deployment of more sophisticated AI automation solutions. These additions would support the company's mission to enhance business process digitization and automation across various industries.
Sources
- Intelligent NLU GmbH Privacy Policy
- DeepOpinion: Agentic Automation for Enterprises
- DeepOpinion Secures €11 Million to Advance Enterprise Automation
7 The Media Features and Publications
Media Coverage and Public Presence of Intelligent NLU GmbH (DeepOpinion)Intelligent NLU GmbH, operating under the brand name DeepOpinion, has garnered significant media attention for its AI-driven automation platform, particularly following its application in crisis scenarios and enterprise solutions. Below is a detailed overview of its media features, publications, and event participation since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in October 2022.
Media Features
- Automating Disaster Response: DeepOpinion’s AI platform was prominently featured for automating insurance claim processing during catastrophic flooding in Austria in September 2024. The company’s technology reduced claims processing time from weeks to 90 seconds, addressing a surge in demand due to record rainfall.
- Enterprise Adoption: Major clients like Siemens achieved over 90% touchless processing of delivery notes using DeepOpinion’s generative AI models.
Publications Naming the Company
- Tech.eu: Highlighted DeepOpinion’s €11 million Series A funding round co-led by Red River West and Alpha Intelligence Capital.
- SiliconANGLE: Reported on the company’s role in streamlining insurance workflows with LLMs and generative AI during disaster recovery efforts.
Content from Publications
- Insurance Case Study: Uelzener Insurance praised DeepOpinion’s ability to handle unstructured data (e.g., invoices, emails) with over 98% accuracy, eliminating manual intervention requirements.
- Funding Milestones: Coverage emphasized investor confidence in DeepOpinion’s proprietary technology for automating complex knowledge work at scale.
Podcasts or Interviews
No direct podcasts or interviews featuring DeepOpinion team members were identified in available sources. However:Conference Participation & Presentations
While specific conference appearances are not documented:Sources
- DeepOpinion raises €11 million to assist enterprise businesses with AI agents (SiliconANGLE)
- Customer Support Automation | DeepOpinion
- DeepOpinion Raises €11M for AI-driven disaster claims automation (Note: URL contains placeholder characters; corrected version unavailable)
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