Cape Town-based machine learning startup DataProphet has won the AIconics Award for Best Innovation in Deep Learning, at an awards ceremony held last night (11 June) at Kensington Palace in London.
The awards include 12 categories, with the specific award for Best Innovation in Deep Learning sponsored by cyber security company Dark Trace.
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— AI Business (@Business_AI) June 11, 2019
DataProphet, which was founded in 2014 by Frans Cronje (pictured above) and Daniel Schwartzkopff, employs machine learning to aid companies in developing products and solutions, with a particular focus on the manufacturing sector.
DataProphet has won the AIconics Award for Best Innovation in Deep Learning held in London
The award comes as last month the startup announced the appointment of Brian Gillespie as vice president of global sales.
In a statement the startup described Gillespie as a “Detroit based veteran in the manufacturing sector” who has been appointed to help “accelerate” the startup’s international expansion plans.
In the statement Gillespie commented that DataProphet is expanding “rapidly” and has already seen a lot of attention from tier one manufacturers and investors across North America, South America, and Europe.
“I’m thrilled to join such a fast moving start-up with huge potential to be the leader in AI in manufacturing,” he added.
‘Still growing fast’
DataProphet’s global head of marketing Victoria Henry told Ventureburn by email that DataProphet is still growing fast, with “a load of new customers added in the recent months”.
The startup mainly focuses on the manufacturing sector — specifically foundries, automotive, mineral processing and long steel.
“In addition to adding new logos to our customer portfolio in North America and Europe, we have also grown our partner base in these markets,” said Henry.
She said the startup will be attending Gifa, an international foundry trade fair held in Dusseldorf, Germany later this month (from 25 to 29 June).
“Our biggest focus is international expansion through our sales and marketing efforts to continue our growth at the current rate. We are in a very exciting space and look forward to working with you as we go through this journey,” said Henry.
‘Multi-million dollar funding’
The startup was last month one of 10 startups selected by AfricArena to join its delegation to the fourth edition of annual French tech conference VivaTech, held between 16 and 18 May in Paris (see this story).
In March last year the startup announced that it had secured a “multi-million dollar” funding round from venture capital firm Knife Capital (see this story).
The startup previously raised funding from private investment group Yellowwoods (see this story).
Read more: DataProphet secures ‘multi-million dollar’ funding from Knife Capital
Read more: DataProphet hopes to leverage Yellowwoods investment for international expansion [Updated]
Editor’s note (12 June 2019): The initial story was updated to include emailed comment from DataProphet’s global head of marketing Victoria Henry to Ventureburn.
Featured image: DataProphet co-founder and MD Frans Cronje (Supplied)
