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Ed Machina is a Chatsworth, California-based manufacturing technology company that develops artificial intelligence and robotics platforms to produce complex sheet metal parts without fixed tooling. The organization operates an on-demand manufacturing-as-a-service model from its Los Angeles facility, enabling rapid and cost-effective production for aerospace and defense applications. The company has conducted pilot programs with prominent government entities, including NASA and the US Air Force, to manufacture specialized components such as tank parts. The firm has raised $16.3 million in total funding, which includes a $14 million Series A round backed by lead investors Innovation Endeavors, Congruent Ventures, and Embark Ventures. Following its emergence from stealth mode in late 2021, the business has expanded its operations to support a workforce of approximately 70 employees. Ed Machina was founded in 2019 by CEO Ed Mehr.
Ed Machina has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Ed Machina has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ed Machina has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in July 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2023 | $2M Seed | — | Avalancha Ventures | Announced |
Machina Labs is an advanced manufacturing company founded in 2019 that develops AI-guided robotics platforms, primarily the RoboCraftsman, to enable flexible, software-defined factories for producing complex metal structures without traditional tooling like dies or molds.[1][2][4] It serves industries including aerospace, defense, automotive, and energy, solving the rigidity and high costs of conventional sheet metal forming by allowing rapid design changes, customization, and production in days rather than months.[1][2][4] The company has gained traction through partnerships like Toyota for automotive customization and Nvidia for AI integration, positioning it to drive mass personalization in manufacturing amid rising demand for agile production.[1][2]
Led by co-founder and CEO Ed Mehr, formerly at Relativity Space where he oversaw large-scale 3D printing, Machina Labs focuses on "elastic factories" that integrate robotics for loading, forming, scanning, trimming, and assembling parts directly from CAD files, targeting US manufacturing revitalization.[1][4]
Machina Labs was co-founded in 2019 by Ed Mehr (CEO) in Los Angeles, drawing from his experience at Relativity Space developing Stargate, the world's largest 3D printer at the time.[1][2] The idea emerged from recognizing limitations in traditional metal processing, particularly sheet metal forming—the largest sector—where physics-based methods like 3D printing proved uneconomical for certain applications.[1] Early focus was on creating "cell-based matrix production" systems that combine robotics and AI for flexibility, avoiding massive, expensive tooling (e.g., 20-ton dies).[1][2]
Pivotal moments include partnerships with Nvidia for AI enhancements and Toyota to adapt the technology for automotive body manufacturing, enabling customization without dedicated tools per model variation.[1][2] This evolution shifted from aerospace roots to broader applications like defense airframes and hypersonic structures, building early traction in overhauling US manufacturing.[1][4]
Machina Labs stands out through its RoboCraftsman platform, which uses AI-driven robotics for end-to-end metal fabrication without tooling, enabling seamless design and material changes.[1][2][4]
Machina Labs rides the wave of AI-robotics convergence in manufacturing, addressing US industrial revitalization amid labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and demands for customization in EVs, autonomous vehicles, and defense.[1][2][4] Timing aligns with post-Ford mass production shifts toward personalization—enabled by software-defined factories—making bespoke vehicles accessible beyond the wealthy, as seen in Toyota collaboration.[2]
Market forces like rising aerospace/defense spending (e.g., hypersonics, missile bodies) and automotive trends (electric/autonomous/personalized cars) favor its no-tooling model, which cuts delays and costs.[1][4] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering "agile factories," potentially reshaping sheet metal forming and inspiring competitors, while accelerating readiness for military applications through deployable systems.[1][4]
Machina Labs is poised to expand its RoboCraftsman into high-volume automotive (thousands of vehicles) and defense (forward-operating factories), leveraging AI advancements for broader metal processing.[1][2] Trends like Nvidia-powered ML, UGVs in factories, and personalization will propel growth, with 20-year visions placing it as a market leader in evolved aerospace manufacturing.[1]
Its influence may evolve from innovator to infrastructure provider, enabling "design freedom" across sectors and tying back to overhauling rigid US manufacturing into responsive, software-driven powerhouses.[1][4]
Ed Machina has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ed Machina's investors include Avalancha Ventures.
