Mistral AI is acquiring the Linz-based engineering AI company Emmi AI, marking a major milestone for industrial AI in Europe. The transaction ranks among the most strategically significant AI deals in the region.
Emmi AI has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s leading engineering AI companies. The company develops so-called physics-AI models that significantly accelerate industrial simulations and engineering processes in industries such as energy, automotive, semiconductors, and aerospace.
Upon closing of the transaction, the entire Emmi team—consisting of more than 30 highly specialized researchers and engineers—will be integrated into Mistral AI’s Science and Applied AI units.
A strong signal for Austria: Linz is being expanded into an official Mistral AI location alongside Paris, London, Amsterdam, Munich, San Francisco, and Singapore. In doing so, Mistral is deepening its commitment to Europe and, in particular, strengthening Austria as an AI hub.
“Integration into the Mistral ecosystem opens up entirely new possibilities for industrial research and development. Together, we are laying the foundation for the next generation of industrial innovation—from real-time simulations to complex digital twins,” Johannes Brandstetter, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Emmi AI.
DORDA provided comprehensive legal counsel to Emmi AI and its founders Miks Mikelsons, Dennis Just, and Johannes Brandstetter during the acquisition by Mistral AI.
The DORDA team had already supported Emmi AI during the previous financing round and accompanied the company throughout its dynamic growth phase until its successful exit.
"Lukas and the entire DORDA team were exceptional partners throughout this journey. From navigating complex transaction dynamics to handling countless late night iterations, their support, strategic thinking, and commitment were instrumental in getting this landmark deal across the line!" Miks Mikelsons, Co-Founder of Emmi AI.
The transaction team was led by Partner Lukas Herrmann and included Partner Jürgen Kittel, Partner Paul Doralt, Counsel Florina Thenmayer, principal associate Ida Woltran and associate Bianca Schamberger.
"A groundbreaking transaction for the Austrian VC market — and a strong signal that globally relevant AI companies can be built and successfully sold from Austria. It has been a great pleasure to accompany the founding team over the past 1.5 years — an intense and at times wild journey and a lot of hard work, but worth every minute. We are excited about Emmi’s next steps, and it was equally great to see how well all the advisors involved — on both the seller and buyer sides and across various jurisdictions — worked together. A truly outstanding transaction for everyone involved," Partner Lukas Herrmann.
The investors in Emmi AI (Push, Speedinvest, Serena, and 3VC) were advised by Schönherr (Thomas Kulnigg), while further legal support was provided by Jeantet (Karl Hepp de Sevelinges and Georges-Dominic Sardi—French sell-side advisors to Emmi AI), Oberhammer (Christian Pindeus—sell-side advisor to NXAI), Puttinger Vogel (Moritz Salzgeber – sell-side advisor to NXAI), Wolf Theiss (Zeno Grabmayr – buy-side advisor to Mistral AI), Binder Grösswang (Christian Wimpissinger – buy-side tax advisor to Mistral AI), and Squadra Avocats (François Lan and Camille Mirabel-Chambaud – French buy-side advisors to Mistral AI).