Datacake

Datacake GmbH, a German-based company, operates a versatile, low-code Internet of Things (IoT) platform designed to simplify the creation of custom IoT applications. Founded in 2017 by Simon Kemper and Lukas Klein, the firm aims to make IoT accessible to businesses and individuals without requiring programming skills. The initial concept grew out of a project for a family-owned industrial company, where the need for a simple, external digitization platform was identified. This foundational experience shaped Datacake's focus on user-friendliness, targeting industrial customers, medium-sized businesses, and startups that lack deep IoT expertise.

The company's core offering is a cloud-based, network-agnostic platform that enables users to connect, manage, and visualize data from various IoT devices. It supports multiple connectivity options, including MQTT, Webhooks, GraphQL, and has a deep integration for LoRaWAN, even providing its own free, integrated LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS). This removes the need for third-party tools and complex configurations. The platform's feature set includes a dashboard builder for real-time data visualization, a rule engine for automation and alerts via SMS or email, device and sensor management, and multi-tenancy capabilities. Datacake also offers a white-label option, allowing businesses to brand the platform as their own and build services upon it.

Datacake's business model operates on a freemium and tiered subscription structure. A free plan allows users to connect up to five devices with basic features, making it accessible for testing and small-scale projects. For larger needs, the company offers a pay-as-you-go option and various monthly subscription packages that scale with the number of devices and provide access to advanced features like white-labeling and longer data retention. The platform is utilized across more than 55 countries for diverse applications such as industrial monitoring, building management, asset tracking, smart farming, and cold chain monitoring. After experiencing significant organic growth, the company secured €650,000 in a seed funding round in December 2022 to accelerate international expansion and further develop the platform.

Keywords: low-code IoT platform, IoT application development, white-label IoT, LoRaWAN network server, MQTT integration, sensor data visualization, asset tracking, condition monitoring, IoT dashboard, rule engine, multi-tenancy IoT, pay-as-you-go IoT, IoT for business, industrial IoT, building management systems, real-time data analytics, IoT device management, no-code IoT, Simon Kemper, Lukas Klein, smart farming solutions