Industry of Things

What Industry of Things does

Industry of Things operates as "Industrial Explorer," a German-language B2B digital media brand owned by Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Würzburg, Germany. The platform functions as an editorial portal covering industrial technology trends across seven core verticals: Künstliche Intelligenz (AI), Cyberresilienz (OT/IT cybersecurity), Humanoide Robotik, Quantencomputing, Datenräume (data spaces), Neue Werkstoffe (new materials), and Kreislaufwirtschaft (circular economy). It serves industrial decision-makers, production engineers, and technology leaders — primarily in the DACH region — seeking curated, practical content on emerging technologies applicable to manufacturing and production environments. The platform does not build industrial software or IoT products; it publishes news, expert interviews, research summaries, and use-case articles in a media/news format.

The product surface consists of a free-access web portal, a mobile application for iOS/Android, a weekly curated newsletter, a sponsored whitepaper library, a B2B provider directory ("Anbieter") with company profiles for solution providers, and the annual "Industrial Explorer Days" event, which incorporates the AI Integrated Production Summit scheduled for June 11, 2026 at the Karlsruhe Research Factory. Revenue is generated through digital advertising, sponsored whitepaper placements, newsletter advertising partnerships (including retargeting/lookalike campaigns with LinkedIn, Google, and Meta), and event sponsorships — i.e., a classic B2B media advertising model with no disclosed subscription fee for end users. Industry of Things is operated as a non-fundraising editorial property within Vogel Communications Group's broader B2B media portfolio and does not carry standalone financials.

Name

Industry of Things

Legal name

Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://industry-of-things.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Industry of Things (dba Industrial Explorer) is a German B2B digital media brand under Vogel Communications Group covering industrial AI, cybersecurity, humanoid robotics, quantum computing, data spaces, materials, and circular economy for manufacturing decision-makers in the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial B2B Media / Trade Publishing

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain & Warehouse Automation (Smart Logistics) (IMAIAMAJ)

Keywords

• B2B industrial media
• Industry 4.0 news
• Industrial technology portal
• Manufacturing digital transformation
• IoT industry content

Headquarters

HQ city

Würzburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital advertising and sponsorship: The platform generates revenue through sponsored content, whitepaper placements, and digital advertising. The newsletter subscription model also supports marketing partnerships with selected advertising partners including LinkedIn, Google, and Meta for retargeting and lookalike audience generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Industry of Things (operating as Industrial Explorer) is a B2B digital media portal that publishes curated news, articles, expert interviews, and whitepapers covering industrial future technologies including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity/cyberresilience, humanoid robotics, quantum computing, data spaces, new materials, and circular economy. The platform supplements editorial content with a weekly newsletter, sponsored whitepaper library, a provider directory, and the annual Industrial Explorer Days event featuring the AI Integrated Production Summit.

Product overview

Industrial Explorer is a B2B digital media platform operated by Vogel Communications Group that provides comprehensive coverage of industrial technology trends and innovations. The offering consists of a web-based news portal covering six core technology domains (Künstliche Intelligenz/KI, Cyberresilienz, Humanoide Robotik, Quantencomputing, Datenräume, Neue Werkstoffe, and Kreislaufwirtschaft), supplemented by a mobile app, weekly newsletter subscriptions, sponsored whitepaper publications, an annual Industrial Explorer Days event featuring the AI Integrated Production Summit, and a provider directory (Anbieter). The platform serves industrial professionals seeking practical insights, use cases, and market intelligence on digital transformation topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Explorer Portal A B2B digital news and information portal covering industrial technology topics including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, humanoid robotics, quantum computing, data spaces, new materials, and circular economy. Targeted at industrial decision-makers and technology leaders in manufacturing and production.
• Industrial Explorer App Mobile application providing access to Industrial Explorer industrial news and content on smartphones and tablets for industrial professionals.
• Industrial Explorer Days Annual industry event featuring programming on industrial technology trends, speakers, and networking opportunities, including the AI Integrated Production Summit scheduled for June 11, 2026 at Karlsruhe Research Factory. Targeted at industrial professionals.
• Weekly Industrial Newsletter Weekly curated newsletter delivering selected articles on key industrial future topics including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, new materials, data spaces, and circular economy. Available to industrial professionals as a free subscription.
• Sponsored Whitepaper Platform Sponsored whitepaper publications covering industrial technology topics including digital platform migration with AI, CRM provider selection, and OT security strengthening in production facilities. Distributed by technology providers to industrial decision-makers.
• Provider Database (Anbieter) B2B provider directory enabling industrial professionals to find and compare industrial technology solution providers and suppliers, including listed companies such as conplement AG, Elunic AG, Xometry Europe GmbH, and Trebing & Himstedt.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Schaeffler AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchaeffler AG partnered with Leju Robotics to develop humanoid robots for industrial applications and expand its global partner network. The partnership was announced in 2026 and involves collaboration on humanoid robotics technology.
• Leju RoboticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese robotics company Leju Robotics partnered with Schaeffler to develop humanoid robots for industrial applications. The partnership was announced in 2026 and involves collaboration on expanding humanoid robotics in manufacturing.
• NeQxtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeQxt collaborated with Fraunhofer IZM from Berlin to validate a laser amplifier for ion trap quantum computers, contributing to European technological sovereignty in quantum computing.
• Fraunhofer IZMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM) in Berlin collaborated with NeQxt to validate laser amplifier technology for ion trap quantum computers as part of efforts for European technological sovereignty.
• QuEra ComputingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuEra Computing announced plans to launch the Libra fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2028, expanding its existing partnership with Amazon Web Services to make the system available via Amazon Braket cloud.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWS expanded its partnership with QuEra Computing to offer the Libra fault-tolerant quantum computer via Amazon Braket cloud service starting 2028. The system will process more than 256 corrected logical qubits.
• AlgorithmiqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian company Algorithmiq partnered with Fraunhofer ISC from Würzburg to advance quantum computing applications in materials research, combining quantum algorithms with materials science expertise.
• Fraunhofer ISCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC) in Würzburg partnered with Algorithmiq to pioneer a new era of materials development using quantum computing technologies.
• Vogel Communications GroupcoreOthersVogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG is the parent company operating Industrial Explorer. Based in Würzburg, Germany, it provides B2B media, events, and marketing services including lead generation, market research, and professional publications.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IndustryWeek: Long-established U.S. B2B media brand covering manufacturing operations, automation, and industrial technology. Comparable to Industrial Explorer in editorial scope (manufacturing + emerging industrial tech) and in event plus newsletter monetization.
• IoT Now: B2B media outlet dedicated to IoT, IIoT, and connected industrial applications. Closely aligned with Industrial Explorer's editorial positioning around 'Industry of Things' and Industry 4.0.
• Industrie.de: German-language industrial B2B portal covering manufacturing, automation, and industrial technology. Direct competitor in the same DACH market Industrial Explorer serves.
• Automation World: B2B publication focused on industrial automation, robotics, and control systems. Directly comparable audience (industrial decision-makers) and content verticals (automation, robotics) to Industrial Explorer, with similar newsletter and event monetization.
• Control Engineering: Trade publication covering process control, instrumentation, and industrial automation. Overlaps with Industrial Explorer's automation and OT/IT content and competes for the same advertising base of automation vendors.
• Smart Industry: Digital-first B2B media brand covering smart manufacturing, IIoT, and digital transformation in industry. Comparable target audience and editorial themes to Industrial Explorer.
• Process Engineering: B2B trade publication serving process manufacturing industries with coverage of automation, instrumentation, and digital transformation. Comparable audience of industrial engineers and decision-makers.

Broad incumbents

• IEEE Spectrum: Established engineering and technology publication covering topics including automation, AI, and robotics. Overlaps with Industrial Explorer's editorial scope but at a broader, more academic-anchored level.

Regional players

• MM Maschinenmarkt: German trade title covering mechanical engineering and machinery, also part of the Vogel Communications Group portfolio. Comparable in language and audience; somewhat of a sister title within the same parent group.

Others

• Hannover Messe (Deutsche Messe): Operator of the world's leading industrial trade fair and associated media channels. Comparable through its event-driven audience engagement and B2B industrial content ecosystem, though it is primarily an event organizer rather than a digital publisher.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/itmeetsindustry
• Facebookfacebook.com/itmeetsindustry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/industry-of-things

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Industry of Things