Berlin's Didero Secures $30 Million to Unleash Autonomous AI on Corporate Purchasing

A Berlin startup is betting that the future of corporate purchasing isn't about better dashboards, but about handing the keys to artificial intelligence. Didero, founded in 2022, has just raised $30 million in a Series A round to advance its agentic AI platform designed for procurement. The funding, led by Balderton Capital with General Catalyst and Notion Capital participating, signals a sharp investor turn toward AI that doesn't just advise, but decides.

While giants like SAP Ariba digitize processes and newer tools offer AI assistance, Didero's system deploys autonomous agents. These are designed to run sourcing events, communicate with suppliers, analyze bids, and execute decisions with minimal human oversight. CEO Niklas Harting describes a shift from "human-in-the-loop" to a model where AI handles tactical work, allowing teams to focus on strategy and building resilient supply chains.

The timing aligns with a perfect storm. Procurement is now a boardroom priority after years of supply chain upheaval, while advances in AI make such automation plausible. Balderton's investment reflects a belief that the next wave of enterprise software will be built around these autonomous agents, particularly in complex, high-stakes fields like procurement.

Didero's platform ingests data from corporate systems, enabling its agents to manage workflows from identifying needs to negotiating contracts. Unlike simpler automation, it's built to handle ambiguity, weighing factors like cost, risk, and sustainability. The company is targeting European manufacturing and industrial sectors first, eyeing a vast market where much purchasing is still managed through emails and spreadsheets.

The central challenge isn't technical, but about trust. Procurement decisions carry real risk. Didero's platform includes configurable guardrails, letting leaders set spending limits and approval rules, creating a "human-on-the-loop" model for oversight. As this technology matures, it promises to redefine the procurement role itself, moving professionals from executors to strategists. With $30 million in hand, Didero now has the capital to test whether autonomous AI can truly master the intricate art of the corporate deal.