CELUS
CELUS provides an AI-powered electronics design automation platform that converts natural-language requirements into validated PCB schematics using a proprietary library of CUBO digital component datasheets, serving electronics engineers and component manufacturers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CELUS does
CELUS GmbH is a Munich-based software company, founded in 2018 by Tobias Pohl, Alexander Pohl, and André Alcalde, that develops an AI-powered electronics design automation platform. The core product, the CELUS Design Platform, automates printed circuit board (PCB) design and electronic component selection using a proprietary library of CUBOs, which are knowledge-enriched digital datasheets containing application-ready EDA data, BOMs, CAD files, netlists, supply-chain information, and pricing. The platform combines a component recommendation engine, a Design Canvas visual block-diagram interface, an AI Design Assistant that converts natural-language requirements into structured architectures, and EDA-tool export compatibility with Altium, KiCad, and Autodesk Eagle.
CELUS serves two primary customer segments: individual electronics engineers and component manufacturers/suppliers. The platform runs on a freemium SaaS model with Professional and Premium subscription tiers for engineers, while component manufacturers engage via enterprise partnerships to publish CUBOs and reach the engineering community. Named manufacturer partners include Würth Elektronik, Renesas, Kyocera/AVX, Cascoda, Alif Semiconductor, Blues, Atlantik Elektronik, and AGS Devices. The company has raised approximately €26.7M (~$31.6M) in funding across seed and Series A rounds led by Speedinvest and Earlybird Venture Capital, has 101-250 employees, and operates offices in Munich, Porto, and Austin following a worldwide launch in August 2024.
The business combines a product-led growth motion (free self-serve sign-up, freemium tier) with enterprise sales for manufacturer integrations and strategic technology partnerships (Siemens, Edge Impulse, NVIDIA Inception Program). Distribution is global via web self-serve, supported by regional sales offices, an active event presence at embedded world, electronica, and DesignCon, content marketing through blog and YouTube channels, and a Slack-based developer community.
CELUS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CELUS
- Legal name
- CELUS GmbH
- Website
- https://celus.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CELUS provides an AI-powered electronics design automation platform that converts natural-language requirements into validated PCB schematics using a proprietary library of CUBO digital component datasheets, serving electronics engineers and component manufacturers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CELUS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronics Design Automation
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Industrial Design Services (54142)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EDA Cloud/SaaS, Design Data Management & Collaboration (HDAHAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA) (HDAHAFAD)
Keywords
Where CELUS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
CELUS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CELUS Design Platform Subscription: SaaS subscription model for the CELUS Design Platform with Professional and Premium account tiers offering additional features beyond the free version. The platform is described as AI-assisted technology available to electronics engineers.
- CUBO Platform for Manufacturers: Component manufacturers and suppliers can use the CELUS Design Platform to create digital pathways for engineers, with the platform bridging manufacturers to design engineers and creating a path to design-in for component manufacturers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier for electronics engineers |
| Subscription | Monthly | Professional Account |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Account |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CELUS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CELUS provides an AI-assisted electronics design automation platform (the CELUS Design Platform) that enables electronics engineers to accelerate PCB design by automating component selection and schematic generation. The platform uses knowledge-enriched digital modules called CUBOs, machine learning, and natural language processing to convert high-level design concepts into validated EDA-compatible schematics in minutes, while also serving component manufacturers with digital pathways to reach design engineers.
Product overview
CELUS offers a unified AI-powered electronics design platform consisting of the CELUS Design Platform as the core product, supplemented by modular components including CUBOs (knowledge-enriched digital datasheets), the AI Design Assistant (natural language to block diagram conversion), Design Canvas (visual block diagram interface), and CUBOt (conversational AI chatbot for component information retrieval). The platform serves both electronics engineers (for design automation and faster PCB development) and component manufacturers/suppliers (for digital transformation and market reach).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CUBO: Knowledge-enriched modules with all the vital information about an electronic component for engineers to develop hardware. CUBOs are described as the future of datasheets - digital datasheets containing specifications, application information, CAD files, interfaces, supply chain information, and optimization factors.
- CELUS Design Platform
- CUBOt
Products and services
- CELUS Design Platform AI-assisted electronics design automation platform that enables engineers to design faster by automating printed circuit board design and electronic component selection. Transforms high-level concepts into validated schematics in minutes and exports to industry-standard EDA tools including Altium, KiCad, and Autodesk Eagle. Available via freemium and Professional/Premium subscription tiers.
- CUBOs Knowledge-enriched digital datasheet modules for component manufacturers, containing all vital component information including specifications, application circuits, CAD files (schematic, netlist, layout, BOM), interfaces, supply chain information, and optimization factors. Enables component manufacturers to create digital pathways for engineers and integrate components into designs, with over 1,000 CUBOs available in the platform database.
Quantifiable outcome
- Design time reduced by at least 75% compared to traditional component selection and schematic generation methods
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CELUS
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CELUS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
CELUS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Alif SemiconductorcorePartnership to accelerate edge AI and IoT development. CELUS platform provides designers access to Alif Semiconductor's edge AI and IoT solutions, enabling faster integration of Alif components into electronics designs and streamlining the path from concept to production for IoT applications.
- Atlantik ElektronikcorePartnership to accelerate the future of hardware design. Atlantik Elektronik's components are integrated into the CELUS Design Platform, providing engineers with access toAtlantik's product portfolio through CUBOs and enabling seamless design-in workflows.
- AGS DevicescoreAGS Devices launched live on CELUS Design Platform, integrating AI-supported design with sourcing workflows. The platform enables engineers to generate electronic schematics quickly while supporting early-stage development and procurement risk reduction through AGS sourcing expertise.
- BluescorePartnership to drive next-generation electronic design. Blues' wireless solutions are accessible through the CELUS Design Platform, enabling designers to quickly integrate Blues components into their IoT and connected device designs.
- SiemenscoreCollaboration to simplify AI-powered PCB design for small and medium businesses (SMBs). Siemens and CELUS are working together to make advanced PCB design capabilities accessible to organizations without large development departments, enabling SMBs to compete more effectively with larger enterprises through AI-assisted design tools.
- Edge ImpulsecorePartnership to revolutionize AI-driven electronics design. Collaboration enables integration between Edge Impulse's machine learning platform and CELUS's design automation, allowing engineers to develop and deploy AI models directly into hardware designs created on CELUS.
- Renesas ElectronicscoreStrategic collaboration to elevate electronics design innovation. Renesas semiconductor solutions are integrated into the CELUS platform, providing designers with easy access to Renesas microcontrollers, analog, power, and connectivity components through CUBOs.
- NVIDIA Inception ProgramcoreCELUS joined NVIDIA Inception Program, a virtual accelerator for AI and deep tech startups. The program provides startups with tools, expertise, and go-to-market support, positioning CELUS among leading AI-driven technology companies.
- Würth ElektronikcoreWürth Elektronik added its proven passive components to the CELUS cloud-based engineering platform database. The cooperation enables automated development of PCBs based on AI, with Würth providing design-in support through the CELUS platform and engineers gaining access to Würth's component portfolio.
- Ultra LibrariancoreLong-term strategic partnership providing access to Ultra Librarian's extensive CAD library. The integration enables CELUS users to easily import component symbols and footprints from Ultra Librarian's database of millions of parts into their designs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CELUS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Diptrace (Novarm): Diptrace is a popular schematic + PCB layout tool used by SMB and independent engineers. It competes for the same designer workflow CELUS addresses and is one of the most common alternatives to Altium/Eagle at the lower end of the market that CELUS is moving upmarket from.
- Zuken: Zuken is a long-standing PCB and electrical design software vendor (CR-8000, e3.series) serving enterprise and mid-market electronics manufacturers. It overlaps with CELUS in the schematic/architecture step and is a closer mid-market comparable than Cadence/Synopsys, particularly in automotive and industrial electronics.
- Altium (Siemens EDA): Altium is the leading desktop PCB design platform (now owned by Siemens) and is directly comparable to CELUS as an EDA tool for schematic capture and PCB layout. CELUS positions upstream of Altium with its AI-powered component selection and schematic generation that exports to Altium, making them both partners and indirect competitors for engineering workflow share.
- Pulsonix: Pulsonix is a UK-based PCB design EDA tool with schematic capture and layout. It targets the same mid-market electronics engineer that CELUS serves and is a peer in the broader PCB schematic/layout category, though it lacks CELUS's AI-driven component selection and CUBO catalog.
- Autodesk Eagle: Eagle is a widely used PCB design tool (schematic + layout) targeted at hobbyists, makers, and SMB engineers — exactly CELUS's primary downstream export destination and overlapping persona. Both compete for the same electronics engineer workflow, with Eagle focused on full schematic/layout and CELUS focused on the upstream component-selection and architecture step.
Others
- Ultra Librarian: Ultra Librarian is a long-standing CAD library provider of component symbols and footprints and is a CELUS partner via a 2022 strategic integration. It is an adjacent/ecosystem peer because it supplies the underlying component CAD data that CUBOs enrich and is comparable as a "data layer" for electronics design.
- Octopart (Altium/Siemens): Octopart is a component search engine used by engineers to compare parts, pricing, and availability across distributors. It is adjacent to CELUS because both aim to help engineers select components faster, though Octopart focuses on sourcing/commerce data while CELUS focuses on design-in data inside CUBOs.
Broad incumbents
- Synopsys: Synopsys is another full-stack EDA leader spanning digital design, verification, and analog. While it does not lead in PCB, its push into AI-driven design assistance (DSO.ai, generative design flows) competes for the same AI-in-EDA narrative CELUS is selling, and its installed base and R&D scale represent a long-term competitive threat.
- Cadence Design Systems: Cadence is a full-stack EDA incumbent covering digital, analog, verification, and PCB (through Allegro/OrCAD). CELUS is comparable as a PCB/EDA tool but specializes in AI-assisted component selection and schematic generation rather than full-flow chip-and-board design, making Cadence a broad incumbent against which CELUS must differentiate.
Emerging players
- Flux (browser-based PCB): Flux is a browser-based PCB design tool with AI-assisted parts search and schematic capture, and is one of the closest emerging competitors to CELUS in the AI-first PCB design category. Both target the same AI-augmented electronics engineer workflow, though Flux focuses more on the layout tool while CELUS focuses on the upstream selection step.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CELUS social profiles
Digital presenceCELUS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CELUS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CELUS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CELUS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CELUS
What does CELUS do?
CELUS provides an AI-assisted electronics design automation platform (the CELUS Design Platform) that enables electronics engineers to accelerate PCB design by automating component selection and schematic generation. The platform uses knowledge-enriched digital modules called CUBOs, machine learning, and natural language processing to convert high-level design concepts into validated EDA-compatible schematics in minutes, while also serving component manufacturers with digital pathways to reach design engineers.
Is CELUS a public or private company?
CELUS is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CELUS founded?
CELUS was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CELUS based?
CELUS is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CELUS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. CELUS Design Platform Subscription is the primary driver. The others are CUBO Platform for Manufacturers.
Who are CELUS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Diptrace (Novarm), Zuken, Altium (Siemens EDA), Pulsonix and Autodesk Eagle. Others are Ultra Librarian and Octopart (Altium/Siemens). Broad incumbents are Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems. Flux (browser-based PCB) is listed as an emerging player.
Does CELUS have an API?
No public API is recorded for CELUS.
What industry is CELUS in?
CELUS's product category is Electronics Design Automation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAJ, EDA Cloud/SaaS, Design Data Management & Collaboration, with a secondary code of HDAHAFAD, System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA). Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7374.