apic.ai
apic.ai GmbH, founded 2018 in Karlsruhe, Germany, builds AI-powered camera and computer vision systems that continuously monitor bee and bumblebee behavior at hive entrances, selling managed ecotox study services to agrochemical and seed companies for plant protection product risk assessment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersKarlsruhe, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What apic.ai does
apic.ai GmbH is a Karlsruhe-based company founded in 2018 that builds AI-driven automated monitoring systems for pollinators (bees and bumblebees). Its core product is a minimally invasive camera system installed at hive or colony entrances, paired with proprietary computer vision algorithms, edge computing and optional solar power, that continuously quantifies parameters such as flight activity, pollen foraging (including color-based pollen diversity), mortality and individual body size. Data is delivered through a real-time dashboard and structured exports, with the offering positioned as a scientific, validated instrument for detecting sublethal effects of pesticides and environmental factors that traditional beekeeper observations, dead traps or pollen traps miss.
The company's primary commercial offering is fully managed ecotoxicological study services for plant protection product registration, typically priced between EUR 10,000 and EUR 40,000 per study and scoped under GLP requirements; it also serves seed producers seeking pollination optimization and research institutions running biodiversity studies. GTM is enterprise-led via direct sales, personal demonstrations and scientific conference presence (SETAC, ICPPR), with named enterprise customers including Eurofins Agroscience Services Ecotox, Bayer, FMC Corporation, ADAMA and KWS. The technology stack is reinforced by federal-funded research consortia (BMBF's BeeLoss with JKI; BMEL's OCELI with FZI, Helmholtz UFZ, disy and Eurofins) and ecosystem support from Google For Startups, Nvidia Inception and Google Cloud, positioning the company as both a commercial vendor and a federally anchored research partner.
apic.ai firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- apic.ai
- Legal name
- apic.ai GmbH
- Website
- https://apic.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- apic.ai GmbH, founded 2018 in Karlsruhe, Germany, builds AI-powered camera and computer vision systems that continuously monitor bee and bumblebee behavior at hive entrances, selling managed ecotox study services to agrochemical and seed companies for plant protection product risk assessment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
apic.ai industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Monitoring Technology
- SIC
- Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crop Scouting & Pest/Disease Detection (Digital Scouting, Computer Vision, Alerts) (AFAGALAI)
Keywords
Where apic.ai is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Karlsruhe
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
apic.ai business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ecotoxicological Study Monitoring Services: apic.ai provides end-to-end monitoring services for ecotoxicological studies, including camera installation and removal, device rental, real-time dashboards, data visualization, final reports, and raw data delivery. Pricing varies based on number of hives and study duration, typically ranging from EUR 10,000 to 40,000 per study.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Typical study cost range |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
apic.ai product offering
Product offeringCore offering
apic.ai provides AI-based automated pollinator monitoring systems that use proprietary, minimally invasive camera hardware installed at hive entrances to capture bees and bumblebees entering and leaving colonies. The video footage is analyzed using human-trained computer vision algorithms to quantify pollinator behavior including activity, pollen foraging, mortality, and individual size, with results delivered through real-time dashboards and ecotoxicological study reports. Customers are agroscience enterprises, seed producers, and research institutions requiring GLP-compliant monitoring for pesticide risk assessment, pollination optimization, and biodiversity research.
Product overview
apic.ai offers a unified pollinator monitoring platform combining proprietary camera hardware with AI-powered computer vision analysis. The core system includes minimal-invasive cameras installed at hive entrances that capture video footage, analyzed using proprietary algorithms to detect bees and track behaviors including activity levels, mortality, foraging activity, pollen collection, and individual size. The service is delivered through real-time dashboards with study support including scoping, data collection, and reporting. The company provides ecotoxicological study services for pesticide risk assessment, with typical costs between €10,000 and €40,000 per study.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pollinator Monitoring Technology A proprietary, minimal-invasive camera system installed at hive entrances that captures all bees and bumblebees entering and leaving the colony. Video footage is analyzed using human-trained AI algorithms to quantify pollinator behavior including activity levels, pollen foraging, mortality, and individual body size. The system transmits data in real time, supports solar-power operation where grid electricity is unavailable, and is offered to agroscience enterprises, seed producers, and research institutions for GLP-compliant pollinator monitoring.
- Ecotoxicological Study Services End-to-end managed study services for ecotoxicological and pollinator research, including scoping consultation (potentially under NDA), camera installation and removal, device rental, real-time monitoring via dashboard, data visualization, final reports, and raw data delivery. Typical project costs range from EUR 10,000 to EUR 40,000 per study depending on the number of hives and study duration, with both self-analysis (GLP-compliance) and full-service analysis options available.
Companies that use apic.ai
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
apic.ai technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
apic.ai partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)coreCooperation within the BMBF-funded 'BeeLoss' project to validate the accuracy of apic.ai technology in determining bee losses through robber tests. Also collaborating on a University of Bonn-coordinated project validating automated detection of Anise pollen based on pollen pellet color.
- FZI Forschungszentrum InformatikcorePartner in the BMEL-funded OCELI project developing an innovative technological system for measuring threats to pollinator insects and their interactions.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)corePartner in the OCELI project for developing simulation models to measure and evaluate threats to pollinator insects.
- Vodafone GmbHminorTelecommunications provider that initiated GigaBeeProtect project to protect beehives from vandalism. Since 2021, apic.ai enhanced the project to research honey bee-plant relationships in the urban habitat around Vodafone headquarters in Düsseldorf.
- Ardensia (Baugenossenschaft)minorHousing cooperative equipped monitoring systems at three locations with two hives each. Employees and visitors can observe bees via monitor in office.
- Uni Hohenheim (We4Bee/Pollensammeln BW)minorPartner in research project 'Pollensammeln in Baden-Württemberg' investigating domestic pollen composition. Validated pollen identifiability by color.
- Cereda UnternehmensgruppeminorFirst partner providing location outside Karlsruhe region. Since 2020, data collected at two beehives enabling comparison of data from different locations across Germany.
- Bee360 GmbHminorFormer partner (2020-2021). Enabled data collection on insect health in Schuttertal region (Black Forest) and validated monitoring technology on bee colonies.
- Gebrüder Mende Family Office GmbH & Co KGminorFormer partner (2020-2022). Sponsored monitoring site at RaumFabrik in Durlach as part of Karlsruhe Bee Network project.
- Stadtwerke EttlingenminorFirst project partner since mid-2018. Provided measurement site and sponsored first prototypes. Allowed testing on two 'Bildungsbienen' colonies with iterative hardware/software development resulting in three improved hardware versions and eight software updates.
- disy InformationssystemecorePartner in OCELI project developing workflows for environmental data acquisition and interpretation using simulation models.
- Eurofins Agroscience Services EcotoxcoreWorld market leader in ecotoxicological testing. Since end of 2018, combining strengths to offer studies for plant protection product registration, conducting joint research and publishing findings.
- CyberLab (IT Accelerator Baden-Württemberg)coreIT accelerator where apic.ai journey began. Received coaching, mentoring, and subsidized workstations during first year through IT Cluster support.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
apic.ai competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ApisProtect: Ireland-based AI hive monitoring company (acquired by Cargill) using in-hive sensors and machine learning to monitor bee colony health. Most direct competitor to apic.ai's vision-based pollinator monitoring, though more oriented to commercial beekeepers than agrochemical R&D.
- Arnia Remote Hive Monitoring: UK-based remote beehive monitoring provider using weight, temperature, humidity, and acoustic sensors to track colony conditions. Comparable as a hive-monitoring technology vendor serving research and commercial beekeeping with continuous data streams.
- 3Bee: Italian agri-tech company offering hive monitoring sensors, biodiversity diagnostics, and a pollinator-focused digital platform. Comparable as an EU-based bee monitoring technology company with both beekeeper and agro-environmental customer segments.
- Pollenity: Bulgarian smart beekeeping company combining connected hive sensors with software for colony health tracking and pollination analytics. Comparable as a European technology vendor selling continuous pollinator-monitoring data into agriculture and research.
- BroodMinder: US-based hive monitoring hardware company producing in-hive sensors (weight, temperature, humidity) with a research-grade API. Comparable as a continuous-monitoring technology vendor for bee researchers and serious beekeepers.
- Vatorex: Swiss agtech developing AI-driven varroa mite monitoring and heat-treatment solutions for beekeepers. Comparable as a vision/AI-enabled bee health monitoring startup addressing a regulatory and sustainability pain point in pollinator management.
Emerging players
- BeeHero: Israel/US precision pollination company using in-hive IoT sensors and analytics to optimise commercial pollination services for large growers. Comparable as a tech-enabled pollinator data platform, though focused on pollination services rather than ecotoxicology research.
- BeeWise: Israeli agritech using AI, robotics, and computer vision inside autonomous hives to monitor and rescue bee colonies. Comparable as a vision-and-AI-based bee monitoring technology company targeting colony survival and commercial beekeeping.
Broad incumbents
- Eurofins Agroscience Services: World market leader in ecotoxicology and agrochemical regulatory testing, and apic.ai's core co-development partner since 2018. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in apic.ai's primary end market, with the scale and customer reach to internalise pollinator monitoring capabilities.
- Smithers: Global contract research organisation providing ecotoxicology, regulatory, and product-safety testing to agrochemical and chemical clients. Comparable as a large incumbent CRO serving the same GLP ecotox study buyer base that apic.ai targets with its pollinator monitoring services.
Market position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
apic.ai social profiles
Digital presenceapic.ai financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
apic.ai leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
apic.ai funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
apic.ai 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 apic.ai
What does apic.ai do?
apic.ai provides AI-based automated pollinator monitoring systems that use proprietary, minimally invasive camera hardware installed at hive entrances to capture bees and bumblebees entering and leaving colonies. The video footage is analyzed using human-trained computer vision algorithms to quantify pollinator behavior including activity, pollen foraging, mortality, and individual size, with results delivered through real-time dashboards and ecotoxicological study reports. Customers are agroscience enterprises, seed producers, and research institutions requiring GLP-compliant monitoring for pesticide risk assessment, pollination optimization, and biodiversity research.
Is apic.ai a public or private company?
apic.ai is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was apic.ai founded?
apic.ai was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is apic.ai based?
apic.ai is headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does apic.ai make money?
One revenue line is on record: ecotoxicological Study Monitoring Services.
Who are apic.ai's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ApisProtect, Arnia Remote Hive Monitoring, 3Bee, Pollenity, BroodMinder and Vatorex. Emerging players are BeeHero and BeeWise. Broad incumbents are Eurofins Agroscience Services and Smithers.
Does apic.ai have an API?
No public API is recorded for apic.ai.
What industry is apic.ai in?
apic.ai's product category is Agricultural Monitoring Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGALAI, Crop Scouting & Pest/Disease Detection (Digital Scouting, Computer Vision, Alerts). Its SIC code is 3829.