Traditional surveys often fall short—participants may guess, skip questions, or lack real motivation. This leads to biased data and weak insights. But German deeptech startup Experial is fixing that. By using AI-powered market research based on digital twins and behavior simulations. Experial delivers fast, precise, and scalable consumer analysis—at a fraction of the cost.
Instead of relying on outdated surveys, Experial’s platform simulates real-world behaviors to generate insights instantly. While conventional research methods take weeks and rack up high costs. Experial’s AI delivers feedback in real time, helping businesses make smarter, faster decisions based on true consumer behavior.
The startup just closed a €2 million pre-seed round, led by Capnamic, with participation from Xdeck and renowned angel investors, including Columbia University’s Professor Bernd Schmitt. This fresh capital will help Experial grow its team, enhance its digital twin technology, and speed up adoption across Europe.
Real-Time Market Research Without Personal Data
Founded in 2022 by Dr. Tobias Klinke and Nader Fadl, both researchers from Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Experial built its platform with privacy and precision at the core. Their system uses machine learning to model consumer decisions, demographics, and behavioral patterns—without ever accessing personal data.
“Our goal is simple,” said CEO Tobias Klinke. “We want every business to access accurate, data-driven consumer insights—without spending weeks and thousands on traditional surveys. Our AI-powered digital twins allow companies to test ideas in real time and make informed decisions instantly.”
Experial’s platform already powers decisions at major companies like Fressnapf, TDK, and Versicherungskammer Bayern. By simulating audience reactions to products, ads, and campaigns, the system enables deep market testing that’s both privacy-compliant and incredibly cost-effective.
Joining the team as co-founder and CTO is Dr. Nils Rethmeier, who will lead Experial’s next phase of innovation. The platform is evolving fast—recent updates include specialized AI agents capable of performing qualitative analyses, interviews, and interactive survey simulations.
The company is also adding tools to analyze visual content, like social media posts and advertisements, helping brands better understand how visual stimuli influence consumer choices. A built-in validity scoring system ensures the reliability of AI-generated insights, enhancing trust in synthetic responses.
This next-level innovation has already earned recognition. In 2024, Experial won the EHI Science Prize in the “Best Startup” category. Co-founder Klinke also co-authored a recent paper in the Transfer journal titled “Digital Customer Twins: A New Era of Market Research,” written with Professor Bernd Schmitt. The paper explores how digital twins can reshape the future of consumer research with ethics and efficiency.
Capnamic’s Olaf Jacobi sees massive potential in Experial’s mission. “Experial shows how AI can revolutionize market research,” he said. “Their technology is not only faster and cheaper—it’s also smarter, privacy-first, and ready to scale. We’re excited to back them on this journey.”
As Experial continues to expand across Europe, the company is betting big on a future where AI-powered market research becomes the new normal—replacing outdated surveys with dynamic, scalable simulations that adapt in real time. With speed, accuracy, and privacy at its core, Experial is reshaping how companies understand their customers—and how fast they can act on those insights.
