CENOS

CENOS, an acronym for "Connecting Engineering Open Source," is a Latvian software company founded in 2017 with a mission to make computer-aided engineering simulation accessible to a broader market, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company was established in Riga by a team of academics, including co-founder and CEO Mihails Scepanskis, who holds a Ph.D. in Physics and has a background in numerical simulation and modeling. Scepanskis's experience in academic research projects with industrial partners revealed a gap in the market for affordable, specialized simulation software, which led to the creation of CENOS.

The core of CENOS's business is a software platform that integrates various open-source algorithms into a focused and user-friendly desktop interface. This strategy allows the company to offer its simulation tools at a lower price point compared to bloated, enterprise-level software, thereby reducing the barrier to entry for smaller engineering firms and production facilities. The business model is primarily subscription-based, with monthly plans tailored for individual and business use, starting from around $300. Revenue is generated by selling subscriptions to its specialized applications, which initially focused on induction heating and later expanded to include antenna design.

CENOS provides 3D simulation software for specific engineering applications. Its first product, launched in January 2019, caters to induction heating applications, allowing engineers to simulate processes like hardening, tempering, and brazing. This tool helps users optimize coil design and heat treatment processes, significantly reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming physical prototyping. Key features include a geometry design tool, automatic meshing, and detailed post-processing of results like temperature profiles and hardening zones. Following the success of its induction heating software, CENOS launched an application for RF antenna design, which uses the Finite Element Method (FEM) to accurately simulate the performance of various antenna types, including microstrip and wire antennas. The platform is designed for ease of use, enabling engineers without extensive simulation experience to adopt the technology quickly. The company also emphasizes strong customer support, offering direct access to its own engineers via live chat within the software.

Since its inception, CENOS has secured a total of $1.29 million in funding over multiple rounds from investors including 500 Global, Startup Wise Guys, and Capitalia. Its first funding round was in March 2017, with the most recent seed round in February 2022 raising $1.12 million. The company serves a global client base, with customers in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors, including notable names like John Deere and ThyssenKrupp.

Keywords: Computer-Aided Engineering, CAE software, Finite Element Method, FEM simulation, induction heating simulation, antenna design software, engineering simulation, open-source simulation, 3D simulation, product design optimization, virtual prototyping, electromagnetic simulation, RF simulation, heat treatment simulation, modeling and simulation, SME engineering tools, Mihails Scepanskis, Startup Wise Guys, 500 Global, simulation for manufacturing, automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, digital engineering, Latvian startup