TORONTO, Canada, June 13, 2025 – McRock Capital has announced the 2025 winners of the McRock Industrial Software Awards during its 11th Annual McRock Symposium in Montreal, Canada. The McRock Industrial Software Awards recognize innovators developing software that boosts efficiency, sustainability, and intelligence in industrial sectors like manufacturing, energy, transportation, and infrastructure.
The awards recognize organizations in three categories: the Industrial Software Corporate Leader of the Year, the Industrial AI Tech Company of the Year, and the Industrial Software Entrepreneur of the Year. The 2025 winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Robert Rosen, managing director – innovation banking, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Mickaël Galvani, investment director – Fund Investments, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Brenda Hogan, chief investment officer – Venture Ontario.
McRock Industrial Software Corporate Leader of the Year
Autodesk is awarded the McRock Industrial Software Corporate Leader of the Year 2025.
Autodesk, with experience in design and manufacturing software, has updated its solutions to include AI, cloud collaboration, and digital twin technologies to address industrial sector needs. In 2024, Autodesk released updates to Autodesk Platform Services to improve interoperability and support asset lifecycle management and environmental impact reduction for manufacturers, infrastructure operators, and construction firms. The company’s acquisitions, partnerships, and emphasis on open standards continue to develop industrial software for digital operations.
“I’m honored to accept the McRock Industrial Software Corporate Leader of the Year award on behalf of Autodesk. This recognition is a true testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing the important and innovative work our customers are doing across industries. Our technology empowers these experts – everyone from architects and engineers to manufacturers and visual effect artists – to push the boundaries, optimize their operations and drive meaningful change in their respective fields. We’re proud to support and accelerate their journeys toward excellence.” – David Hindley, vice president, corporate development, Autodesk.
McRock Industrial AI Tech Company of the Year
HData is awarded the McRock Industrial AI Tech Company of the Year 2025.
HData combines regulatory data with AI to analyze energy rate cases and filings. The platform uses multiple large language models in an agentic AI framework to provide answers and source citations to avoid manual research. The platform is used by energy companies, regulators, and service providers to support regulatory intelligence in the energy sector.
“HData is honored to receive this award. McRock’s recognition further validates our mission to reshape how the energy sector navigates regulatory complexity. By combining authoritative regulatory data with purpose-built AI, we’re reducing the pains that are so often felt by all parties in the regulatory process. AI helps accelerate insights and modernize the approach to research and analysis, and I am grateful for the opportunity to advance regulatory efficiency.” – Hudson Hollister, cofounder and CEO, Hdata.
McRock Industrial Software Entrepreneur of the Year
Frans Tjallingii, CEO of 7Gen is awarded the McRock Industrial Software Entrepreneur of the Year 2025.
Under Frans’ leadership, 7Gen evolved from EV infrastructure leasing to a software platform for managing fleets and EV infrastructure, focusing on downtime reduction and predictive maintenance. The platform integrates EV selection, charging infrastructure, and operational data to support fleet electrification and operational efficiency. Frans’ experience in industrial systems, sustainability, and software has made 7Gen a collaborator for logistics, transportation, and utility companies pursuing decarbonization.
“I am honored by this recognition from McRock. At 7Gen, we believe that the full value of electrification is unlocked only when software and charging infrastructure work seamlessly together. By leveraging agentic AI, we’re enabling small and mid-sized fleets to access the same level of intelligence and operational efficiency as the world’s largest logistics operators. This award validates our mission to democratize fleet decarbonization – transforming complex industrial transitions into turnkey services.” says Frans Tjallingii, CEO, 7Gen.
Source: McRock Capital
About McRock Capital
McRock Capital is a venture capital firm based in Toronto, established in 2012, that focuses on early-stage investments in industrial software and AI technologies. Its area of interest is where data and software converge within large industrial sectors such as energy, transportation, and smart cities. The team combines experience in building digital industrial companies with practical backgrounds in power, water, and energy industries. McRock manages over CAD 348 million across multiple funds and is supported by institutional investors including Bell, Caterpillar, Mitsubishi, Emerson, Shell, and Cisco Systems. The firm invests in companies developing machine learning, robotics, and AI applications aimed at improving operational efficiency and maintenance in industrial settings. Its portfolio includes firms like Miovision, SkySpecs, and ThoughtTrace. McRock operates primarily in North America, Europe, and Israel, focusing on facilitating the adoption of digital tools and processes in traditional industries to help optimize operations and manage costs effectively.