CloudNC has raised $68.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
CloudNC's investors include Ascension Ventures, Atomico, Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Episode 1 Ventures, G2VP, Tom Hulme, Hercules Capital, Insight Partners, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Marlinspike, Prosperity7 Ventures.
CloudNC is a UK-based technology company founded in 2015 that develops AI-powered software to automate and accelerate CNC machining processes in precision manufacturing. Its core product, CAM Assist, integrates with popular CAD/CAM tools like Fusion 360, Mastercam, and NX to automate up to 80% of repetitive CAM programming tasks—such as machining strategy and toolpath generation—reducing programming time from hours to minutes.[1][2][7] CloudNC serves machine shops and manufacturers in high-precision sectors including aerospace, space, oil & gas, nuclear, automotive, defense, and general industry, addressing critical challenges like skills shortages, rising costs, and low productivity by boosting throughput, consistency, and efficiency.[1][3][5][7] The company operates its own advanced factory in Chelmsford using multi-axis CNC machines to validate its tech, employs 51-200 people across London headquarters and the factory, and has gained traction with hundreds of global shops, backed by investors like Atomico.[1][3][4]
CloudNC was co-founded in 2015 by Chris Emery and Theo Saville, experts blending computer science with hands-on manufacturing experience, driven by the manufacturing industry's lag in modernization despite its foundational role in modern life—from cars and aircraft to electronics and infrastructure.[1][4] The idea emerged from recognizing inefficiencies in CNC programming, a time-intensive manual process prone to errors and variability, amid broader trends like workforce shortages and global competition; they aimed to use AI, cloud computing, and complex mathematics to automate it and spark a "clean and sustainable industrial revolution."[3][4][5] Early traction came from building and operating their own "factory of the future" in Chelmsford, producing precision parts with high-spec multi-axis milling and turning machines from suppliers like DMG Mori, Mazak, Haas, and Fanuc, which validated CAM Assist in real-world scenarios for demanding clients.[3][6] Pivotal moments include securing investment from Atomico and expanding CAM Assist to integrate seamlessly with industry-standard software, proving 4-8x productivity gains on tough parts like stainless steel gas-mixer blocks.[4][5]
CloudNC stands out in precision manufacturing through AI-driven automation tailored for machinists:
CloudNC rides the AI-for-manufacturing wave, automating a $300B+ CNC sector long resistant to digital transformation due to its complexity and reliance on skilled labor amid global shortages.[1][3][4] Timing is ideal as Industry 4.0 accelerates post-pandemic supply chain pressures, sustainability demands (e.g., less waste via optimized paths), and reshoring trends favor efficient, localized production.[4][5][6] Market forces like rising material costs, competition from low-wage regions, and aging workforces amplify CAM Assist's value, unlocking machinist potential and scaling output on existing machines.[1][3] By influencing ecosystem partners (e.g., Autodesk via Fusion integration) and proving autonomous factories, CloudNC pioneers a shift toward 10x faster, greener manufacturing, indirectly boosting sectors like aerospace and defense that depend on precision parts.[4][7]
CloudNC is poised for explosive growth as AI matures in industrial applications, potentially expanding CAM Assist to full end-to-end factory automation, including turned parts and high-volume runs, while pursuing more accreditations like NIST for deeper U.S. defense penetration.[5][6][7] Trends like generative AI for design-to-manufacture pipelines and sustainable machining will propel it, especially with machinist shortages projected to worsen. Its influence could evolve from niche disruptor to industry standard, enabling "autonomous factories" that redefine global supply chains—transforming the inefficient, dirty sector CloudNC targeted from day one into a model of efficiency.[4]
CloudNC has raised $68.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $45.0M Series B in June 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2022 | $45.0M Series B | Ascension Ventures, Atomico, Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Episode 1 Ventures, G2VP, Tom Hulme, Hercules Capital, Insight Partners, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Marlinspike, Prosperity7 Ventures, Damien Lane, Jeff Seibert, Kamiar Kordari, Lev Ekster, Somdip Dey, Wayne Chang | |
| Sep 1, 2020 | $9.0M Venture Round | ||
| Jun 1, 2018 | $12.0M Series A | Atomico, Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Episode 1 Ventures, G2VP, Tom Hulme, Hercules Capital, Insight Partners, Damien Lane, Somdip Dey | |
| Jun 1, 2016 | $2.0M Seed | Atomico, Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Episode 1 Ventures, G2VP, Tom Hulme, Hercules Capital, Insight Partners, Moderne Ventures, QVentures, Charlie Songhurst, Damien Lane, Mark Pincus, Somdip Dey |
