Company news.

September 2026

Product · Launch

Meet the Hefex Etna, our first product

After ten months of building, we revealed the Hefex Etna: an AI-native pick and place machine for PCB prototyping. It takes your components however they come, loose, in trays, on cut tape or in feeders, finds them by vision and assembles the board, no feeder teaching and no placement program. R&D teams keep assembly in house and iterate in days instead of waiting weeks for an assembly house. Pre-orders for the founding batch are open.

July 2026

Office · Team

A New Office for the Hefex Team

We're excited to share that Hefex Labs has moved into a new office at the TUM Incubator in Garching. As our team has grown, so has our need for space to build, test, and iterate on hardware. The Incubator gives us exactly that: more room for development, close proximity to other TUM teams, and the infrastructure to run multiple projects in parallel.

June 2026

Product

First End-to-End MVP Complete

Major milestone achieved! Our first MVP successfully executes the complete workflow, from data input and machine control to accurate detection and processing. With the core pipeline now fully operational, we're focusing on refining and optimizing the system for reliable deployment in real-world production environments.

May 2026

Product

MVP Hardware Complete

Our MVP has reached a major milestone: the hardware stands. Just 3 months after starting the CAD model, the mechanical structure is complete and the electronics, developed entirely in-house, are fully integrated. A big step toward putting the first real prototype in the hands of users.

December 2025

Grant · Program

Accepted to AI NATION Grant #13

We are thrilled to be accepted into AI NATION Grant #13. The AI NATION Grant supports early-stage teams before company formation with up to €54,000 per team, access to AI experts, coaches and mentors, and a nationwide network across Munich and Berlin. The program focuses on validating ideas and developing prototypes, perfect for our next phase of product validation and build.

November 2025

Partnership · Program

Joined TUM Venture Lab Robotics / AI

We're excited to announce that Hefex Labs has joined the TUM Venture Lab Robotics / AI. This partnership provides us with access to cutting-edge research facilities, expert mentorship in robotics and AI, and a vibrant ecosystem of innovative startups. Being part of this program will accelerate our development of AI-powered hardware prototyping solutions.

October 2025

Partnership

Moving into TUM Incubator

We're excited to share that Hefex Labs has officially moved into the TUM Incubator. This marks a significant milestone as we join the Munich startup ecosystem. The TUM Incubator provides access to facilities and a vibrant community of fellow entrepreneurs. This move will accelerate our development of AI-powered hardware prototyping solutions and strengthen our position in the Munich tech ecosystem.

September 2025

Award

START Prize at ThinkMakeStart

The jury awarded Hefex Labs the START Prize for tackling a real-world industry problem with real startup-worthy potential and strong problem-solution fit. This recognition validates our mission to revolutionize hardware prototyping and demonstrates the impact our platform can have on accelerating innovation in the hardware development space.