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Neocad

Category: AI in Manufacturing

Italian startup developing an AI-powered platform for mechanical CAD design, enabling natural language and geometric similarity search across corporate CAD archives. Neocad was founded in 2024. The company is led by Luca Licciulli. Based in Legnano (Milan), Italy. Team size: 1-10. Total funding raised: $605K. Latest round: Pre-Seed. Key investors include 40Jemz Ventures, HabiSmart (CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network), Zest, Coima, Ariston, Nova Capital.

Founded
2024
Headquarters
Legnano (Milan), Italy
Team size
1-10
Total funding
$605K

Value proposition

Transforms corporate CAD archives into intelligent, searchable knowledge bases using generative AI, reducing design time by up to 50% and operational costs by up to 30%.

Products and solutions

NEOCAD AI Agent: AI platform integrating with CAD/PLM systems offering (1) Intelligent CAD Search via natural language queries, (2) Geometric similarity search across corporate archives, (3) AI Design Support with real-time suggestions based on design history, (4) CAD Inspector for decision support. Available in Cloud (SaaS subscription) or On-Premise deployment.

Unique value

First AI-native layer purpose-built for mechanical CAD that works alongside existing tools (SolidWorks, CATIA, Inventor, PTC Creo, NX) without migration or workflow disruption, enabling engineers to query design history and generate 3D models from text prompts.

Target customer

Manufacturing companies, technical/R&D offices, mechanical engineering firms, automotive groups, and industrial design professionals using CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, Inventor, PTC Creo, NX, AutoCAD).

Industries served

Mechanical design, manufacturing, industrial engineering, automotive, construction/proptech, product design

Technology advantage

Generative AI applied to CAD with proprietary geometric similarity search engine; works on metadata and indexes (not file copies) ensuring data security; integrates natively with major CAD platforms; fast non-invasive implementation (days, not months); cloud + on-premise flexibility.

How they differentiate

Unlike general-purpose AI CAD tools, Neocad focuses specifically on mechanical/industrial design with deep integration into existing enterprise CAD/PLM workflows (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, Creo, Inventor). It emphasizes CAD archive search and reuse rather than just text-to-3D generation, targeting structured manufacturing companies with legacy design archives. European-based with focus on Italian/German manufacturing ecosystem.

Main competitors

Leo AI (US-based mechanical engineering copilot), MecAgent (AI CAD copilot), Adam/AdamCAD (YC-backed text-to-3D/CAD), Autodesk AI Assistant (built into Fusion 360)

Key partnerships

HabiSmart (CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network), Zest Group (accelerator), 40Jemz Ventures, integrations with SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX, PTC Creo, Inventor, AutoCAD

Notable customers

International automotive groups (names not publicly disclosed)

Major milestones

Founded late 2024, Selected for HabiSmart acceleration program (CDP Venture Capital), Closed €550K pre-seed round (April 2026), Platform operational with enterprise customers within months of founding

Growth metrics

Already active with industrial companies including international automotive groups; selected among top 6 startups in HabiSmart acceleration program

Market positioning

Early-stage European startup positioned at the intersection of generative AI and mechanical CAD, targeting the underserved manufacturing design market. Selected as one of the top 6 startups in the HabiSmart acceleration program (CDP Venture Capital). Competing against US-based AI CAD startups while leveraging proximity to European manufacturing hubs.

Geographic focus

Italy (primary), Europe (expansion target), with initial customers including international automotive groups

About Luca Licciulli

Co-Founder & CEO at VRtualize (AI, VR & 3D consulting); Development Manager at Euro Ausili SRL; experience at The Adecco Group and Medical Products Research SRL. MSc in International Management and Business Development from GCU London.

Official website: