What Steelhead Technologies does

Steelhead Technologies is a private, Michigan-based software company that builds an all-in-one, cloud-based ERP platform purpose-built for North American job shops and metal finishers, including powder coating, plating and anodizing, liquid painting, thermal spray, fabrication, galvanizing, chemical processing, and heat treatment operations. The platform combines a digital production floor (operator-facing Digital Workboards, swipe-based move tracking, and sensor dashboards) with back-office modules (CRM, accounting, customer portal, spec and certification management, scheduling, inventory, and maintenance) on AWS Gov Cloud, and embeds AI capabilities through its Sonar chatbot, Sonar Pro analytics tier, and AI Order Entry and AI Receiving workflows, with multilingual English/Spanish support.

The business operates on a quote-based annual subscription with a modular add-on architecture (Spec Management, QMS, Scheduling, Inventory, Assemblies, Maintenance, Sonar Pro, Power Tools, and accounting integrations with QuickBooks and Sage). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales, product-led free trials and demos, and an aggressive industry-event and content presence (SURFIN, FABTECH, Revenue Riptide, ShopTalk podcast, monthly masterclasses). The company is venture-backed with cumulative funding of roughly $237M, led by Mainsail Partners, and has grown from a powder-coating ERP into a broader vertical SaaS platform serving SMB and mid-market metal processors, including NADCAP-certified aerospace shops.

Name

Steelhead Technologies

Legal name

Steelhead Technologies

Website

https://gosteelhead.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Michigan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription-based ERP Licensing: SaaS subscription model for their all-in-one ERP platform with modular add-ons. Pricing is based on feature tiers with core platform and optional add-ons for Spec Management, Quality Management, Scheduling, Inventory, Maintenance, and Sonar Pro.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Steelhead Technologies provides an all-in-one, cloud-based job shop and manufacturing ERP platform purpose-built for metal finishers, fabricators, and other custom manufacturers. The platform replaces paper travelers with digital workboards, automates job costing, tracks parts in real time across the production floor, and integrates quality, compliance (including NADCAP), accounting, and customer communication in a single system deployed on AWS Gov Cloud.

Product overview

Steelhead Technologies offers a unified, all-in-one Job Shop and Manufacturing ERP platform designed specifically for metal finishers and fabricators. The core Steelhead ERP platform integrates Digital Workboards, Watch Tower (real-time dashboard), CRM, Accounting, Customer Portal, Insights/Reporting, Chat, and Sonar AI Assistant. The platform supports industry-specific processes including Powder Coating, Plating/Anodizing, Liquid Painting, Thermal Spray, Fabrication, Manufacturing, Galvanizing, Chemical Processing, and Heat Treatment. Add-on modules include Spec Management, Quality Management (QMS), Scheduling, Inventory Management, Assemblies, Maintenance, Sonar Pro (advanced AI analytics), and Power Tools. The system features AI-powered capabilities through Sonar for natural language processing and automated processes, with multilingual support for Spanish-speaking operators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sonar: AI-powered chatbot assistant providing 24/7 instant answers and manufacturing intelligence for job shop operators.
• Steelhead University
• Revenue Riptide
• ShopTalk
• The Hatchery

Products and services

• Steelhead ERP (Core Platform) All-in-one job shop and manufacturing ERP platform that enables real-time job tracking, part visibility, and digital production floor management across metal finishing and fabrication operations. Includes Digital Workboards, Watch Tower, Insights, CRM, Accounting, Customer Portal, Chat, and Sonar AI Assistant. Designed for custom manufacturers and job shops.
• Sonar AI Assistant AI-powered chatbot assistant providing 24/7 instant answers to manufacturing questions for shop floor operators and managers. Available in English and Spanish, integrated throughout the Steelhead platform for immediate operator assistance, analytics, and process automation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Colourfast boosted efficiency by 30%; other customers report 25%+ efficiency gains
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Inova PayrollcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 February 2026Strategic partnership to deliver an integrated payroll and ERP solution for job shops and manufacturers. The combined offering connects Steelhead's manufacturing management platform with Inova's payroll and HR solutions, enabling shops to tie payroll costs directly to jobs and parts for precise margin reporting. Includes joint go-to-market initiatives focused on helping manufacturers modernize operations and improve cash flow.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JobBOSS (ECI Software Solutions): Job shop ERP/MRP software serving small and mid-market manufacturers including metal fabricators and machine shops. Closest direct competitor to Steelhead in vertical job-shop ERP, with overlapping target customer and feature set (quoting, scheduling, job costing).
• E2 Shop System (Shoptech/ECI): Job shop management software for machine shops and small manufacturers with job costing, scheduling, and shop floor control. Highly comparable product surface and customer base to Steelhead's fabrication/finishing segment.
• Global Shop Solutions: ERP for job shops and make-to-order manufacturers with real-time shop floor data collection, scheduling, and quality modules. Direct competitor targeting similar mid-market manufacturers.
• Fishbowl Inventory: Inventory and manufacturing software for SMBs that integrates with QuickBooks and Xero. Competes with Steelhead on inventory, bill of materials, and work order management for small job shops.

Emerging players

• ProShop ERP: Cloud-based ERP for job shops and contract manufacturers with quality, document, and training modules. Comparable target customer and product scope but smaller scale and broader manufacturing focus.
• Cetec ERP: Cloud ERP serving small and mid-market manufacturers with CRM, accounting, and shop management. Comparable SaaS delivery model and mid-market manufacturing target.
• Katana MRP: Cloud manufacturing ERP for SMBs with production scheduling, inventory, and shop floor control. Comparable PLG/SaaS delivery motion and small-manufacturer target customer.
• 1factory: Quality management and production software for small manufacturers including NADCAP/AS9100 shops. Comparable specialization in aerospace/defense metal finishing and quality-driven workflows.

Broad incumbents

• Acumatica Manufacturing Edition: Cloud ERP with a manufacturing module serving SMB/mid-market discrete and process manufacturers. Broad incumbent competing on integrated financials + manufacturing, though less specialized for metal finishing/NADCAP workflows.
• Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Infor ERP): Industry-specific ERP suite including Infor VISUAL and SyteLine, serving manufacturing SMBs and mid-market. Broad incumbent with vertical manufacturing templates that overlap Steelhead's target buyer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steelhead-technologies
• Xx.com/Steelhead_Tech

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Steelhead Technologies