EVERYTHING CONNECTED – Numorpho's Book of Business

20250716 – REIND 2025 DETROIT

This document summarizes my notes during the watch party conducted at mHUB for the REIND 2025 Conference held in Detroit on July16-17, 2025.

Here is the Audio Overview of the conference: 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. About the Conference
  2. Venus Aerospace
  3. Epirus Sixth Domain
  4. The New Industrial Corporation
  5. Investor’s Take

SECTION 1: ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Can you summarize the Reindustrialize 2025 seminar that happened in Detroit July 16-17, 2025.

Reindustrialize 2025 Seminar – Detroit, July 16-17, 2025

Overview

The Reindustrialize 2025 seminar in Detroit gathered over 1,000 leaders from technology, manufacturing, government, finance, and defense to advance America’s industrial and technological resurgence. Hosted at Hudson’s Detroit and produced by Designing America, the event focused on revitalizing and modernizing the U.S. industrial base by forging partnerships, investments, and policy initiatives123.

Key Themes

  1. Revitalizing American Manufacturing:
    The summit positioned Detroit as a model for reindustrialization, spotlighting its transformation from a legacy manufacturing hub to a leading center for innovation.

  2. Technology and Innovation:
    Sessions emphasized innovations shaping advanced manufacturing, automation, and digital infrastructure.

  3. Policy and National Security:
    Multiple panels addressed the industrial base’s strategic importance for U.S. defense and global competitiveness2.

  4. Investment in the Workforce:
    Discussions explored upskilling American workers and building an innovation-driven workforce.

Featured Agenda Tracks

  1. Energy Dominance — Exploring the role of next-generation energy systems in industry.

  2. Manufacturing Technology — Modern advances in automation, supply chain management, and smart factories.

  3. The American Worker — Policy and practical strategies for workforce development.

  4. Defense and National Security — Industrial resilience and its significance for national security.

  5. Investment Capital & The Global Chess Board — Global trends and the flow of capital shaping manufacturing’s future2.

Notable Speakers

The summit hosted an impressive roster of leaders, including:

  • Ambassador Jamieson Greer (20th U.S. Trade Representative)

  • Lucian Boldea (President & CEO, Honeywell Industrial Automation)

  • Palmer Luckey (Co-founder, Anduril)

  • Shyam Sankar (CTO, Palantir)

  • Daleep Singh (Vice Chair, Chief Global Economist, PGIM)

  • Garry Tan (President & CEO, Y Combinator)

  • Cathie Wood (Founder & CEO, Ark Invest)2

Senior officials from the White House, State Department, Department of Defense, Homeland Security, CIA, and the National Security Council spoke at the event.

Highlights

  • Keynotes from industry and policy leaders emphasizing America’s legacy and future in industrial innovation.

  • Workshops & Panels on workforce, energy, technology, and industrial policy.

  • Curated Networking and investor meetings fostering new public-private collaborations45.

  • Closing Discussions addressed the urgency of enhancing U.S. industrial capabilities in the face of global competition.

Impact

Reindustrialize 2025 solidified Detroit’s reputation as a proving ground for bold industrial innovation and national manufacturing leadership. The summit continues to serve as a catalyst for collaborative action among industry visionaries, policymakers, and investors determined to rebuild American industrial strength for the next generation3.

Citations:
1 REINDUSTRIALIZE 2025
2 PR Newswire – The Reindustrialize Summit Returns to Detroit
3 Rock Ventures – Reindustrialize 2.0 Coming to Detroit
4 REIND. – Schedule – Reindustrialize
5 Crain’s Detroit – Hudson’s Detroit will host Reindustrialize 2.0 in July

SECTION 2: VENUS AEROSPACE

Some companies really caught my eye there. One was Venus Aerospace – https://www.venusaero.com/. Can you review them and their talk at the Reindustrialize 2025 conference.

Venus Aerospace: Company Review

Company Overview

  • Founded: 2020

  • Headquarters: Houston, Texas

  • Focus: Developing reusable hypersonic technology to revolutionize global transportation

  • Mission: Enable one-hour global travel and create the world’s first hypersonic space plane123.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Sarah “Sassie” Duggleby, an aerospace innovator and strong advocate for diversity in STEM45.

  • CTO: Andrew Duggleby

Technology & Achievements

  • Key Technologies:

    • Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE): Groundbreaking propulsion system proven in successful flight tests, designed to handle every speed zone from takeoff through Mach 6. Promises 15% higher efficiency than traditional engines46.

    • VDR2 Engine: Latest proprietary engine enabling both hypersonic speeds (up to Mach 9) and rapid turnaround.

  • Breakthroughs:

    • Achieved first U.S. flight test of an RDRE-engine (May 2025), demonstrating real-world feasibility4.

    • Four successful drone flights and over 100 RDRE rocket tests completed by 20244.

    • Current development includes a 20-foot drone (goal: Mach 5), with the long-term vision for the Stargazer—a passenger vehicle capable of New York to Tokyo in one hour36.

  • Funding & Investment:

    • Over $39 million raised, backed by top venture funds (Airbus Ventures, Prime Movers Lab, Draper Associates, America’s Frontier Fund, among others)34.

Market Impact

  • Vision: Venus aims to redefine air travel and defense logistics with vehicles that can reach any major city within an hour.

  • Applications: Commercial (passenger flights), national defense, space exploration, and potentially future energy sectors47.

  • Workforce Commitment:

    • Company culture known as the “Venus Flight Plan” prioritizes well-being, inclusivity, and work-life balance, and is intentionally built to attract and retain diverse technical talent5.

Venus Aerospace at Reindustrialize 2025

Speaker & Talk

  • Speaker: Sarah “Sassie” Duggleby, CEO & Co-Founder8910.

  • Session Focus:

    • Showcased Venus’s leadership in U.S. hypersonic innovation.

    • Advocated for revitalizing American industry through rapid technological leaps in aerospace.

    • Presented breakthroughs in engine technology and real-world achievements (not just lab simulations).

    • Outlined how hypersonic travel will connect the world for business, defense, and personal connectivity, supporting the conference’s mission to reindustrialize the nation1189.

Talk Highlights

  • Core Message:

    • The future of American manufacturing and national security depends on rapidly deploying foundational technologies like hypersonics.

    • The rotating detonation engine is a game-changer for efficiency, sustainability, and strategic advantage46.

  • Commercial & Defense Link:

    • Emphasized dual-use pathways: military contracts fueling initial development, with the ultimate goal of rapid, zero-carbon civilian transport.

    • Noted Venus’s extensive collaborations with U.S. government agencies, including NASA and DARPA, as proof of technology’s national importance4.

  • Innovation Culture:

    • Sassie Duggleby highlighted Venus’s people-first approach, combining deep technical milestones with a genuinely inclusive, family-friendly work culture—a rarity in the aerospace industry5.

Why Venus Aerospace Stands Out

  • Combines validated technical breakthroughs with an ambitious, pragmatic roadmap from defense to global travel46.

  • Supported by major U.S. and international venture backers and active government contracts34.

  • Led by a visionary female founder committed to reshaping both aerospace and the engineering workplace5.

Venus Aerospace’s presence at Reindustrialize 2025 underscored the company’s role as both a technology leader and a model for modern, people-centric industrial industrial innovation152931.

SECTION 3: EPIRUS SIXTH DOMAIN

Another was Epirus whose basis is summarized (by you) at https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-epirus-sixth-domai-S6UNpo3bTD2TmxyreBMxUA.

The Epirus Sixth Domain

The Sixth Domain Concept in Warfare

The term “Sixth Domain” refers to the sphere of activities of the private sector in warfare, a concept coined by the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security1. This represents a significant evolution in understanding modern warfare domains, which traditionally included five operational domains: air, land, maritime, cyberspace, and space2.

The sixth domain concept emerged from observations of the Ukraine-Russia war, where private sector companies played crucial operational roles in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts. These companies provided essential services including cybersecurity, cloud computing, satellite communications, artificial intelligence capabilities, and communications infrastructure2.

Epirus’s Connection to the Sixth Domain

Epirus Inc. is a defense technology company that has embraced the sixth domain concept as part of its corporate identity and mission. The company specializes in high-power microwave (HPM) systems and directed energy weapons, particularly their flagship Leonidas™ product line for counter-drone and electronic warfare applications34.

Epirus’s Sixth Domain Doctrine

Epirus has developed what it calls the “Sixth Domain Doctrine,” which positions the company as a key private sector player in modern warfare. According to their recent promotional materials, Epirus describes the sixth domain as:

“A new kind of domain has emerged. It’s a battlespace that converges a saturation of autonomous, robotic, asymmetric threats across all domains with surprise attacks that current defense systems aren’t built to defend against”5.

The company argues that dominating the sixth domain requires a new breed of defense company that can innovate at the speed of relevance, with technologies based in hardware, defined by software, and rapidly updated with code that can scale and evolve faster than any threat5.

Epirus’s Role in the Defense Ecosystem

Epirus positions itself as filling a critical gap in the sixth domain by providing:

  • Counter-drone and counter-swarm capabilities through their Leonidas HPM systems36

  • Air domain awareness using artificial intelligence and machine learning for persistent threat detection7

  • Scalable defense solutions that can be deployed across multiple platforms and environments6

  • Public-private partnerships with government agencies and defense contractors8

The company has received significant contracts from the U.S. military, including a $66.1 million contract from the U.S. Army for Leonidas directed energy systems4 and a $43.5 million contract for IFPC-HPM Generation II systems8.

Strategic Implications

The sixth domain concept represents a fundamental shift in how modern warfare is conducted, where private sector capabilities are not just supportive but operationally essential for military success2. For Epirus, this concept provides both a strategic framework for their business model and a justification for their role as a critical defense partner.

The company’s recent $250 million Series D funding round in March 2025 demonstrates investor confidence in their sixth domain positioning, bringing their total venture funding to over $550 million9. This funding is intended to scale production capabilities and expand into international and commercial markets.

By aligning itself with the sixth domain doctrine, Epirus has positioned itself at the forefront of a new paradigm in defense technology, where private companies are recognized as essential partners in national security rather than merely contractors providing equipment and services.

Can you share what they presented at the Reindustrialize 2025.

Epirus at Reindustrialize 2025

Overview

At the Reindustrialize 2025 seminar in Detroit, Epirus delivered a prominent presentation aligned with their growing reputation as a leader in directed energy defense technology. The company, known for its high-power microwave (HPM) systems and software-defined electronic warfare solutions, spotlighted their vision for defending the U.S. and allied interests in what they call “The Sixth Domain”—a battlespace defined by swarms of autonomous, asymmetric threats12.

Key Themes of the Presentation

  • The Sixth Domain Doctrine

    • Epirus officially launched its “Sixth Domain Doctrine” during the summit, emphasizing the escalation of threats from robotic, autonomous systems that current defense systems are ill-equipped to counter. The sixth domain is described as the convergence of land, sea, air, space, and cyber, but dominated by massed, cheap, and intelligent electronic threats where traditional kinetic defenses are costly or insufficient123.

    • Their doctrine advocates for next-generation defense companies that integrate hardware innovations with rapid, software-driven adaptability. Epirus positions itself as that catalyst: a developer of agile, scalable defensive technologies built on U.S. soil.

  • Technological Solutions

    • Epirus presented their flagship HPM platform, Leonidas, capable of disabling entire drone swarms with electromagnetic pulses—outperforming both traditional kinetic defense and laser-based options for swarm scenarios. Their systems are software-defined, allowing adaptability to new threats and AI-driven target discrimination45.

    • Showcased successful deliveries and demonstrations with the U.S. Army and Navy, including the Leonidas Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) system and recent deployments in the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) program56.

    • Highlighted the broad applicability of their tech: from protecting military bases to safeguarding critical civilian infrastructure and commercial airspace with continuous UAS (drone) monitoring and mitigation7.

  • Commercial and Defense Impact

    • Emphasized that advanced, non-kinetic electronic warfare is not just vital for the military but increasingly crucial for U.S. industrial resilience and reindustrialization—directly targeting drone- and electronics-based operational hazards facing sectors like energy, logistics, and emergency services89.

    • Shared Epirus’s rapid delivery model, which invests company capital in anticipated customer needs, enabling faster innovation than traditional defense contractors8.

Highlights from the Talk

  • Doctrine Launch: “Victory in the Sixth Domain demands Epirus. So Epirus we have built,” became a centerpiece statement of their Detroit keynote, encapsulating a call to industry and government to prepare for next-generation threats12.

  • Live Demonstrations & Results: Cited recent field deployments where Leonidas not only neutralized drone swarms but also disabled unmanned surface vessels, showcasing versatility across combat domains65.

  • Collaboration: Advocated for closer public-private partnerships and adaptable defense procurement to maintain strategic overmatch in the face of adversary innovation.

Epirus’s presentation made clear that defending America’s industrial base and infrastructure in the years ahead depends on rapid deployment of software-defined high-power microwave solutions—technologies already proving themselves effective on the battlefield and ready for even broader national useonal use91317.

  • What specific innovations did Epirus present at Reindustrialize 2025 regarding directed energy systems
  • How does Epirus plan to enhance its Leonidas technology based on Reindustrialize 2025 insights
  • What new collaborations or contracts did Epirus announce during the event
  • How did Epirus address the future of asymmetric warfare and drone defense at Reindustrialize 2025
  • In what ways did Epirus showcase its role in re-industrializing national security technologies

SECTION 4: THE NEW INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION

Next can you summarize the thesis of The New Industrial Corporation.

The New Industrial Corporation (NIC) is a New York–based investment firm, founded in 2024, whose core mission is to finance and build the next generation of industrial companies The New Industrial Corporation+10PitchBook+10The New Industrial Corporation+10. Here’s a breakdown of what drives their strategy:

🏗️ Mission & Purpose

  • Re-coupling technology with industry: NIC believes Western democracies have lost ground in heavy industry due to excessive offshoring and reliance on digital, low-margin sectors The New Industrial Corporation.

  • They provide a financial engine for industrial innovation, targeting industries like transportation, energy, manufacturing, aerospace & defense, and natural resources The New Industrial Corporation.

🔁 Bridging the “Capital Gap”

🛠️ Execution Model

🌍 Context: A “National Capitalism” Moment

  • NIC views the current era as one of strategic urgency—with governments and corporations acting as “urgent buyers” seeking advanced industrial capacity in response to supply chain fragility, energy transitions, and geopolitical shifts The New Industrial Corporation.

  • Their goal: to enable a new industrial supercycle by creating a financing structure that’s aligned with national priorities and technological ambition The New Industrial CorporationThe New Industrial Corporation.

🔚 Summary

NIC acts as a “production capitalist”, merging venture-style risk-taking with asset-backed financing and hands-on project support. Their vision is to revitalize Western industrial leadership, support critical technologies at scale, and rebuild broken supply chains through strategic investment and operational partnership.

Here is a summary of one of the principals:

Gregory Bernstein is the Co-Founder and CEO of The New Industrial Corporation, an investment company that specializes in project development at the intersection of venture and infrastructure capital. He has been a venture capitalist with both EQT Group and Acequia Capital where, with both firms, he architected and subsequently executed the investment strategy for New Industrials and reindustrialization in the national interest, transforming legacy markets and building new industrial frameworks. He started his career as a U.S. Coast Guard officer and served as both a counter-narcotics mission commander and Commanding Officer afloat.

The Thesis of The New Industrial Corporation

Core Mission

The New Industrial Corporation (NIC) operates as an investment platform fundamentally designed to catalyze and accelerate the rebuilding of America’s industrial and technological base. Its central thesis revolves around using modern venture capital principles and infrastructure investment to drive transformational, large-scale industrial projects in the national interest136.

Key Pillars of the NIC Thesis

  • Project Development at Scale
    NIC identifies and develops projects that sit at the intersection of emerging technology and large-scale infrastructure, aiming to bridge the historic gap between high-growth startup innovation and the trillions required for twenty-first-century industrial capacity16.

  • Reindustrialization in the National Interest
    The corporation’s strategy squarely addresses America’s need to reclaim industrial self-sufficiency, particularly in sectors that impact economic security, energy, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain resilience56. This is both a geo-economic and national security imperative, as outlined by founder Gregory Bernstein.

  • New “Industrial Champions”
    NIC believes that periods of crisis (supply chain shocks, geopolitical tension, systemic market failures) generate opportunities to create new “industrial champions”—firms that not only weather volatility but define the infrastructure and manufacturing backbone of the next economy8.

  • Blending Venture and Infrastructure Capital
    Rather than relying solely on government intervention or legacy industrial conglomerates, NIC pursues a hybrid investment approach. It leverages the capital efficiency, speed, and technical innovation of venture-backed startups, and matches them with the endurance and scale of infrastructure financing6.

  • Transforming Legacy Markets
    NIC targets sectors traditionally underserved by innovation—such as advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, energy storage, synthetic biology, and AI-enabled industrial processes—with the express purpose of catalyzing foundational shifts away from global dependencies6.

Investment Philosophy

  • Strategic Company Building
    NIC invests in and actively helps build businesses that are positioned to dominate newly-opened or reshaping markets: from battery production and quantum computing to industrial-AI and advanced materials6.

  • Long-Term, Impact-Driven Focus
    Rather than seeking quick exits, NIC’s approach is to support ventures that can scale into durable industrial institutions, committed to U.S. economic leadership and allied prosperity over decades.

  • Capital Stack Innovation
    The thesis puts significant emphasis on creatively structuring financial deals to draw both private and public investment into projects historically deemed too “risky” or “slow” for venture funding alone—aligning incentives for entrepreneurs, financiers, and government6.

Why It Matters

  • Addressing Failures of Globalization
    NIC principals argue that excessive offshoring and neglect of domestic industrial capacity left the U.S. vulnerable to both economic and security shocks5. The solution is not to restore obsolete jobs, but to “build new industrials” by leveraging next-generation technologies alongside an updated capital model.

  • Modernizing U.S. Manufacturing for Global Competitiveness
    The corporation sees its work as pivotal for enabling the U.S. to reclaim leadership in advanced manufacturing, reduce foreign dependency (especially in critical supply chains like batteries, semiconductors, advanced robotics), and secure economic and strategic autonomy for the coming century56.

Thought Leadership

Gregory Bernstein’s extensive background in both venture capital and infrastructure investment gives him an authoritative platform. He advocates for a new investment paradigm that combines startup agility with the staying power of legacy capital, positioning NIC to play a central role in America’s industrial resurgence689.

Summary:
The New Industrial Corporation’s thesis is to operationalize reindustrialization through the fusion of cutting-edge innovation and large-scale investment, focusing on projects that fundamentally rebuild and modernize the U.S. industrial landscape, with measurable long-term national impact68.

Citations:
1 American Banker – Gregory M. Bernstein
3 LinkedIn – Gregory M. Bernstein
5 Axios – A new tech alliance looks to reclaim U.S. industrial leadership
6 GregoryBernstein.com – Personal statement
8 The New Industrial Corporation – “How Crisis Creates New Industrial Champions”
9 The New Industrial Corporation – Team page

Related
  • What is the core thesis of The New Industrial Corporation’s reindustrialization approach
  • How does Bernstein envision transforming legacy markets through new industrial frameworks
  • Why does Bernstein emphasize project development at the intersection of venture and infrastructure capital
  • What role does geopolitics play in Bernstein’s vision for reindustrialization efforts
  • How might Bernstein’s experience influence the strategic direction of The New Industrial Corporation

Their investment portfolio includes:

  • Atomic Industries (AI-enabled manufacturing),
  • Verkor (now Europe’s largest domestic battery manufacturer),
  • Rainmaker Technologies (weather modification through data-enabled hardware), and many others.

SECTION 4.1: ATOMIC INDUSTRIES vs Numorpho Cybernetic Systems

Can you review Atomic Industries whose basis is AI-enabled manufacturing. It is in the portfolio of investments by The New Industrial Corporation. Also how does it compare to Numorpho Cybernetic Systems whose onus is intelligent process engineering and smart automation.

Atomic Industries: AI-Enabled Manufacturing

Overview

Atomic Industries is redefining modern manufacturing with a sharp focus on automating the highly specialized domain of tool and die making through artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Detroit, the company is backed by The New Industrial Corporation and aims to eliminate bottlenecks in tooling—a critical pain point in high-volume manufacturing—by encoding decades of expert trade knowledge into scalable AI systems134.

Key Features

  • AI-Driven Tool & Die Production:

    • Uses proprietary AI to replicate and automate the skills of experienced tool and die makers, enabling faster turnaround and reduced reliance on scarce talent13.

    • Demonstrated 15% efficiency gains (2024) in production via its technology3.

  • Metal Additive Manufacturing:

    • Integrates 3D printing (notably with Velo3D’s Sapphire printers) for rapid prototyping and production of M300 tool steel tooling, qualified for injection molding and other high-spec industrial uses2.

  • Vertical Integration:

    • Operates its own manufacturing facility in Detroit, signaling intent to become both a provider of advanced manufacturing platforms and a direct producer of tooling components45.

  • Market Focus:

    • Serves automotive, aerospace, and energy clients needing rapid, precise, and affordable tool and die solutions2.

Strategic Edge

  • Knowledge Digitization: By capturing tacit knowledge (i.e., trade skills) and deploying it through advanced AI, Atomic Industries provides consistency, scalability, and agility in tool and die making13.

  • Agility: Rapid prototyping and iterative design, enabled through computational manufacturing, speed up adaptation to evolving market needs3.

  • Investor Confidence: Strategic investment from large industrial players (e.g., Toyota) and leading venture groups support its potential to capture a significant share of the global tooling market5.

Numorpho Cybernetic Systems vs. Atomic Industries

Feature/Attribute Atomic Industries Numorpho Cybernetic Systems
Core Focus AI-enabled manufacturing, specializing in automating tool and die making13 Intelligent process engineering and smart automation of entire workflows
Technology Edge Proprietary AI for replicating skilled trade workflows; vertical integration; additive manufacturing AI, edge computing, and IoT for contextual, end-to-end automation
Market Orientation Automotive, aerospace, energy; tool and die vertical12 Industrial manufacturing, supply chain, process-intensive sectors
Key Differentiator Digitizes craft expertise for complex, high-value bottlenecks in manufacturing Connects disparate industrial processes, enabling cyber-physical optimization
Manufacturing Approach Offers both software (AI) and factory-based hardware (own production facility) Systems integrator; typically partners with manufacturers, adding smart automation layers
End-User Impact Major reductions in tooling cycle time and cost; increased throughput Streamlined, adaptive operations; autonomous, data-driven decision making
Strategic Vision Disrupt or dominate tool and die manufacturing; adjacent expansion possible35 Become the go-to platform for industrial digital transformation
 

Analysis

  • Atomic Industries stands out by directly attacking a foundational bottleneck—tool and die making—with an AI system that not only speeds up the process but also encodes rare trade expertise for universal scalability135.

  • Numorpho Cybernetic Systems operates further “up the stack,” integrating smart automation and intelligence across entire industrial processes, leveraging contextual AI and IoT to optimize variably complex workflows.

Atomic Industries is best positioned for sectors where high-value, high-precision tooling is critical and cycle speed is a competitive lever. Numorpho, meanwhile, targets organizations seeking full-spectrum transformation towards adaptive, connected manufacturing environments.

Conclusion

Both firms embody the transformation of American industry through AI. Atomic Industries exemplifies deep vertical focus, leveraging AI and physical manufacturing to disrupt a critical industrial niche, whereas Numorpho Cybernetic Systems delivers horizontal, cyber-physical automation adaptable across many industries.

Their convergence signals a manufacturing future where specialized AI workflows (like tool and die) seamlessly plug into fully contextualized, intelligent factories—delivering greater autonomy, precision, and agility to the next generation of industrial operations.

Sources:
1 PromptLoop – What Does Atomic Industries Do?
2 DBusiness – Atomic Industries Upgrades Metal 3-D Printing
3 Canvas Business Model – Atomic Industries Competitive Landscape
4 FreightWaves – Atomic Industries CEO on AI in Manufacturing
5 YouTube – AI Tool and Die Manufacturing with Atomic Industries

 
Related
  • How does Atomic Industries’ AI-driven tool and die manufacturing compare to Numorpho’s focus on process engineering and automation
  • What are the key technological differences between Atomic Industries’ AI systems and Numorpho’s intelligent process solutions
  • How might Atomic Industries’ approach to replicating high-skill trade knowledge influence Numorpho’s automation strategies
  • In what ways do Atomic Industries’ metal 3-D printing upgrades complement or differ from Numorpho’s automation offerings
  • How could the investment by The New Industrial Corporation impact the competitive positioning of Atomic Industries versus Numorpho

SECTION 4.2: VERKOR vs Bedrock Materials

Can you review Verkor which is now Europe’s largest domestic battery manufacturer, which is also a portfolio company with The New Industrial Corporation. A battery tech company called Bedrock Materials that incubated at Stanford and was part of the mHUB ecosystem recently closed shop and returned their seed funding because their technology using Sodium instead of Lithium was not viable from a business cost perspective. Can you therefore compare Verkor with Bedrock Materials?

SECTION 4.3: RAINMAKER TECHNOLOGIES

What is Rainmaker Technologies that does weather modification through data-enabled hardware. It is part of The New Industrial Corporation portfolio. mHUB is a hard tech innovation center and runs accelerator programs in Clean Tech, Climate Tech and Water Tech (others conducted or slated are in Industry IoT and Sustainable Manufacturing. Is there a synergy between what Rainmaker and similar such companies do with the investment and mentorship that mHUB provides via its accelerator programs.

Rainmaker Technologies is a California-based, next-generation weather modification company specializing in data-enabled hardware for cloud seeding and precipitation enhancement. It is part of The New Industrial Corporation’s investment portfolio14. 

Using advanced drones, proprietary radar systems, and numerical weather modeling, Rainmaker targets clouds optimal for seeding (adding cloud condensation or ice nuclei to encourage rain), with a focus on increasing rainfall in drought-prone areas1246. 

Their operations are supported by partnerships with leading meteorology firms such as Atmo, whose deep learning models help identify seeding opportunities and improve AI-powered precision in operations27. Rainmaker’s technology emphasizes sustainability, operational flexibility, and measurable environmental impact, contrasting with older cloud-seeding methods that relied on manned aircraft and were harder to verify14.

Rainmaker Technologies: Key Capabilities

  • Drone-Based Cloud Seeding: Deploys weather-resistant drones to accurately release cloud seeds in specific locations to maximize precipitation.

  • Radar Validation and Data Integration: Uses radar and proprietary data systems to track weather and quantify the effects of interventions.

  • Numerical Weather Modeling: Integrates diverse data sources for reliable prediction and planning.

  • Environmental Stewardship: Develops and uses eco-friendly seeding agents and aims for quantifiable, positive ecological impacts14.

  • Scalable and Operationally Flexible: Drones allow fast, safe, and responsive operations even in hazardous airspace14.

mHUB’s Role: Accelerator and Ecosystem for Hard Tech & Climate Tech

mHUB is a renowned U.S. hard tech innovation center that runs accelerator programs in Clean Tech, Climate Tech, Water Tech, Industry IoT, and Sustainable Manufacturing. It provides access to advanced prototyping facilities, business mentorship, pilot opportunities, and investment connections for startups developing hardware and data-driven solutions in climate, water, and industrial sectors—fields closely aligned with Rainmaker’s mission.

Synergy Between Rainmaker and mHUB’s Accelerator Ecosystem

Potential points of synergy include:

  • Acceleration and Testing: Rainmaker and similar climate hardware startups could leverage mHUB’s facilities and accelerator support for rapid prototyping, testing new drone payloads, improving sensor accuracy, or data integration for actionable climate solutions.

  • Mentorship and Market Access: mHUB’s network of industry mentors, utilities, and water agencies could catalyze Rainmaker’s expansion into municipal or global water markets, and help with regulatory, public perception, and business development hurdles.

  • Investment Collaboration: mHUB’s investment syndicate, often specializing in climate- and water-related ventures, can provide follow-on funding or connect Rainmaker with further industrial and municipal partners.

  • Innovation Bridging: mHUB enables cross-pollination between climate, clean water, and smart manufacturing sectors—allowing Rainmaker to collaborate with firms solving adjacent challenges, such as IoT-enabled water monitoring, sustainable agriculture, or disaster resilience.

Strategic Context

As a data-driven, hardware-focused climate tech firm, Rainmaker sits at the intersection of the physical (drones, seeds, sensors) and digital (AI, weather modeling, impact quantification)—a combination that resonates with mHUB’s focus areas. Their scalable approach to weather modification could be accelerated and de-risked by the unique startup infrastructure, funding pathways, and commercialization support mHUB offers.

In summary:
Rainmaker Technologies exemplifies the new wave of scalable, data-enabled climate hardware startups that are well-positioned to benefit from and contribute to the mHUB accelerator model, especially as global demand rises for real-world solutions to water scarcity and climate resilience142.

Related
  • How does Rainmaker’s weather modification tech complement mHUB’s climate and water innovation focus
  • What synergies exist between Rainmaker’s cloud seeding and mHUB’s industry IoT initiatives
  • Could mentorship from mHUB accelerate Rainmaker’s scalability in drought-prone regions
  • How might investment in Rainmaker enhance mHUB’s portfolio in sustainable water tech solutions
  • What opportunities are there for collaboration between Rainmaker and other startups in mHUB’s accelerator programs

SECTION 5: INVESTORS TAKE

Who were the key investors at the Reindustrialize 2025 conference in Detroit and what was their take in terms of where they would be looking at investing.

Inside the 'Save America' Reindustrialize Summit - Business Insider
 
 
The Reindustrialize Summit Returns to Detroit to Shape the Future of ...
 
Key Investors at Reindustrialize 2025 and Their Investment Focus

Major Investors Present

The Reindustrialize 2025 conference in Detroit drew a diverse and influential group of investors, representing over $1 trillion in managed capital. The cohort included:

  • Venture Capital Firms:

    • Y Combinator – Leading accelerator with a strong push for startups modernizing manufacturing12.

    • Founders Fund – Noted for major investments in advanced manufacturing and defense tech1.

    • Lux Capital – Key backer of technology-driven industrial ventures, including automation and AI-enabled manufacturing1.

    • General Catalyst – Focused on dual-use technologies for defense and critical infrastructure1.

  • Institutional and Strategic Investors:

    • Ark Invest – Active in disruptive industrial tech including automation, AI, and next-generation energy32.

    • PGIM (Prudential Global Investment Management) – Their global macro team highlighted prospects for industrial and infrastructure investments2.

    • Rock Ventures (Dan Gilbert’s family office) – Serves as a presenting partner, specifically supporting innovative physical infrastructure and workforce development in Detroit32.

  • Corporate and Industrial Magnates:

    • Anthony Pratt (Pratt Industries) – Commits significant funding toward American manufacturing and recycled materials4.

    • Automakers and Defense Primes: Senior executives and strategic investment units from companies like General Motors, Honeywell, and Anduril Industries participated, underscoring the cross-sector appeal25.

  • Specialized Investment Platforms:

    • The New Industrial Corporation – Represented by CEO Gregory Bernstein, focuses investments on emerging U.S. industrial champions and re-shored manufacturing321.

Investors’ Stated Focus and Future Investment Themes

At the summit, investors consistently emphasized several future-facing themes:

1. National Security & Dual-Use Technology

  • Significant interest in companies developing technologies suitable for both defense and civilian industrial applications (e.g., AI-driven manufacturing, autonomous hardware, directed energy, hypersonic transport)12.

2. Reshoring & Supply Chain Sovereignty

  • Investors are prioritizing ventures committed to domestic manufacturing, advanced robotics, and local supply chain development to decrease reliance on foreign production—particularly in critical sectors like semiconductors, batteries, and rare earths6125.

3. Industrial Automation & AI

  • Strong appetite for startups leveraging artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced fabrication techniques to modernize legacy industries, boost productivity, and address skilled labor shortages123.

4. Clean Energy & Electrification

  • Renewable energy infrastructure, low-carbon battery production (e.g., Verkor), and electric mobility solutions continue to be high-priority investment targets due to federal funding and evolving industrial policy23.

5. Critical Infrastructure & Climate Resilience

  • Investors are scouting companies at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and resilience: examples include data-enabled weather modification, grid modernization, and sustainable water/energy tech32.

6. Workforce Empowerment & Upskilling

  • A renewed focus on industrial workforce training, with VC platforms and corporate backers funding companies and platforms aimed at “teaching people to use their hands” and modernizing vocational training125.

Direct Quotes and Sentiment

  • Gregory Bernstein (The New Industrial Corporation):

    “This is our moment to shape a new era of industry but also this generation’s identity2.”

  • Shyam Sankar (Palantir CTO):

    “Reindustrialize is uniting the builders who are relighting the forges of the American industrial base. It’s an urgent and vital gathering. The time to mobilize is short2.”

  • Y Combinator, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund leaders:
    Expressed an intent to double down on dual-use and industrial automation, targeting startups that can scale production on U.S. soil while bridging defense requirements and commercial demand1.

Summary Table: Investor Focus at Reindustrialize 2025

Investor/Group Focused Sectors & Themes
Y Combinator Advanced manufacturing, AI startups
Founders Fund, Lux Capital Automation, defense tech, U.S.-based industry
Ark Invest, PGIM Disruptive industrial tech, critical supply chains
Rock Ventures Detroit workforce, infrastructure, tech modernization
The New Industrial Corporation Re-shoring, industrial champions, infrastructure
 

Collectively, these investors at Reindustrialize 2025 signaled strong conviction in U.S. industrial resurgence and targeted their capital toward startups and projects modernizing manufacturing, securing critical supply chains, enabling dual-use technologies, and addressing both national security and sustainabilityity imperatives26511.

What was Cathy Wood’s (from ARK Invest) perspective at REIND 2025

Cathie Wood’s Perspective at REIND 2025

Overarching View

Cathie Wood, CEO of ARK Invest, brought a future-driven, optimistic perspective to the Reindustrialize 2025 summit, rooting her outlook in ARK’s doctrine of “disruptive innovation.” Her message centered on the belief that America’s industrial base can achieve a dramatic resurgence—led by radical advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, and automation. She urged investors and industrial leaders to seize the current moment as a new golden era for American productive capacity, powered by technology convergence and visionary investment12.

Key Themes from Her Address

  • AI as the Ultimate Productivity Engine

    • Wood identified AI as not only the biggest catalyst for innovation across every industrial sector, but as an “extremely deflationary” force—one that reduces costs, boosts productivity, and spurs a new wave of growth without triggering inflation.

    • She referenced the analogy of past revolutions: just as the assembly line revolutionized car production, AI-driven automation, combining robotics and advanced analytics, is now accelerating manufacturing and infrastructure projects34.

    • She highlighted that companies whose core is AI and automation—particularly those building industrial robots, autonomous vehicles, and intelligent supply chain systems—will unlock exponential value in the years ahead.

  • Investment in U.S. Production—Not Just Digital Innovation

    • Wood emphasized the need to “return to our roots in industrial dominance,” arguing that hard-tech manufacturing in America is now at a historic inflection point thanks to innovations in energy storage (batteries), smart automation, and digital platforms powering physical goods1.

    • She spotlighted current “Big Ideas” of ARK Invest: lithium battery production, sustainable manufacturing, and robotics as sectors ripe for disruption and domestic leadership.

  • Democratizing Opportunity via Technology

    • Wood contended that these technological waves are expanding—not eliminating—opportunity. By reducing the cost of production and increasing abundance, automation allows workforces to shift into higher value, creative, and supervisory roles3.

    • She specifically called out the self-reinforcing loop between productivity gains and lower prices, suggesting that the U.S. can lead the world in widely shared economic growth.

Concrete Investment Insights

Theme Cathie Wood’s Guidance
AI & Robotics Invest in platforms merging physical automation with digital intelligence—robotics, industrial AI, autonomous manufacturing35.
Energy Storage Focus on scalable, low-carbon battery ecosystems as the backbone for both mobility and industrial power.
Industrial Software Software-defined factories and supply chains will unlock new efficiencies and adaptability.5
Workforce Upskilling Prioritize ventures building tools to reskill workers and democratize access to advanced tech roles.
 

Market Outlook and Sentiment

Wood forecast a shift from a “rolling recession” to a broad-based recovery, driven by innovation-led productivity. She dismissed concerns about macro headwinds, arguing that genuine deflationary effects from new technologies will enable robust GDP growth with muted inflation. She sees the current market as a rare chance: “Innovation is on sale,” pointing to historically attractive valuations for companies building at this intersection of disruption and industry64.

Takeaway

Cathie Wood’s REIND 2025 address was an urgent call for investors, executives, and policymakers to back technologically enabled, domestic industrial regeneration—betting on the U.S. to set the pace for a new era of productivity, abundance, and global industrial leadership673.

 
Related
  • What insights did Cathie Wood share at REIND 2025 about future tech trends
  • How did Wood describe the role of AI in transforming industries at REIND 2025
  • Why did Cathie Wood emphasize disruptive innovation during her REIND 2025 address
  • What optimistic outlook did Wood present for the U.S. industrial sector at REIND 2025
  • How does Wood believe Reindustrialize will influence America’s economic and technological future

NITIN UCHIL – Founder, CEO & Technical Evangelist
nitin.uchil@numorpho.com

 

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