Marseille's Tchek raises €3m to inspect vehicles using artificial intelligence

The start-up co-founded by Anton Fert in 2016 has closed a funding round led by Demeter, with Région Sud Investissement, to target the used-car, logistics and rental markets.

A smartphone, a few photos and an algorithm: that is the promise of Tchek, which automates the inspection of vehicles' condition. The Marseille start-up has just raised €3m from the Demeter fund, which led the round, Région Sud Investissement and banking partners, Le Journal des Entreprises reports.

Its software analyses images of a car to spot scratches, dents and other damage, a step previously carried out by eye by inspectors. With the funds, Tchek aims to expand in three markets where vehicles are constantly changing hands: used-car sales, automotive logistics and rental.

The company was founded in Marseille in 2016. Anton Fert, its co-founder, is chief executive. This is the company's first sizeable funding round, as recorded by the specialist website CFNews.

The deal is part of the support that regional funds provide to young Marseille technology companies, in this case in a field, artificial intelligence image analysis, applied to the automotive sector.