Industrial Vanguard Newsletter Vol. 14

Introduction

As the industrial economy adjusts to mounting geopolitical tensions and tariff-driven uncertainty, innovation and investment continue to surge across sectors. This week brought major funding rounds in AI, battery recycling, and robotics, while nations ramp up efforts to localize manufacturing and energy production. From ExxonMobil’s semiconductor materials expansion to fusion startups and embodied AI robots, a new wave of industrial technologies is taking shape—backed by both policy and capital. But with tariffs roiling markets and global alliances shifting, the path forward remains as volatile as it is transformative.

Materials

• Fiberdom raises €3.5M to scale plastic-free packaging. Read more

• ExxonMobil to invest over $100M to upgrade its Louisiana plant for ultra-pure isopropyl alcohol used in semiconductors. Read more

• Lithium Americas reaches final investment decision for the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada. Read more

Energy

• TotalEnergies launches six new battery storage projects in Germany to support grid growth. Read more

• GM, Pilot, and EVgo connect EV charging corridors across 25 U.S. states. Read more

• Volt Carbon and Charge CCCV sign MOU to collaborate on next-gen battery innovation. Read more

• XGS Energy secures $13M for advanced geothermal deployment. Read more

• Focused Energy seeks $150M to push forward laser fusion technology. Read more

• Fourier develops hydrogen electrolyzers inspired by data center design. Read more

• AetherFlux receives backing from Index Ventures to rethink energy delivery infrastructure. Read more

• Beagle reveals a new long-range drone with applications across energy and logistics. Read more

Manufacturing

• Samsung SDI increases reliance on Chinese battery equipment vendors. Read more

• China pushes ahead on humanoid robots, seeking to overcome current limitations. Read more

• Chef Robotics raises $43.1M Series A to deploy AI-enabled kitchen robots. Read more

• Nanoprecise raises $38M Series C for predictive maintenance tools. Read more

• Dyna Robotics secures $23.5M to scale low-cost embodied AI robots. Read more

• Hyundai’s U.S. MetaPlant is heralded as revolutionary—and possibly tariff-proof. Read more

• The PMI shows U.S. manufacturing stalling amid ongoing tariff confusion. Read more

• PBS explores Trump’s claim that tariffs will revive U.S. manufacturing. Read more

• Auto suppliers prepare contingency plans as tariff talks intensify. Read more

Supply Chain & Logistics

• LightSource raises $33M to help companies navigate tariff-related supply chain challenges. Read more

• OpenTug lands investment to modernize barge logistics infrastructure. Read more

• Ford pushes back on investor-driven emissions proposal for its supply chain. Read more

• A new drone delivery service outpaces Amazon in speed and deployment. Read more

Productization

• OpenAI’s latest funding round comes with a $20B valuation caveat. Read more

• Sourcetable raises $4.3M for the world’s first self-driving spreadsheet. Read more

• MemryX raises $44M to expand edge AI semiconductor development. Read more

• Redpanda lands $100M and launches enterprise-grade agentic AI. Read more

• Retym, a data center AI chipmaker, secures $75M from Spark, Mayfield, and Kleiner Perkins. Read more

Recycling

• Livium signs exclusive battery recycling agreement with power tool maker Hilti. Read more

• Porsche pilots high-voltage battery recycling program. Read more

• Redwood Materials and Isuzu to partner on EV battery recycling. Read more

Other

• Construct Capital raises $300M to double down on Industrial Tech investing. Read more

• Trump’s tariffs sink the Dow by 1,600 points; global markets wobble. Read more

• China, Japan, South Korea vow joint response to U.S. tariffs. Read more

• CoreWeave’s IPO flops, triggering VC reassessment of IPO outlooks. Read more

• Larry Fink’s 2025 Letter urges broader access to private assets. Read more

• Elon Musk’s X–xAI megadeal blurs traditional dealmaking boundaries. Read more