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- Industrial Vanguard Newsletter Vol. 15
Industrial Vanguard Newsletter Vol. 15
Week of April 7, 2025
Joe Tenbusch
April 11, 2025
Introduction
As the global industrial system adapts to tariff tremors and shifting supply chains, companies and governments are recalibrating around energy demands, manufacturing resilience, and AI-powered innovation. This week, volatility surrounding Trump’s steel and energy policies added uncertainty to cross-border commerce, while China responded with tariff hikes of its own. Yet across the sectors—materials, manufacturing, energy, and logistics—capital continues to flow into solutions aimed at securing industrial autonomy. From copper extraction and fusion reactors to AI networking chips and drone logistics, the future is being forged in real time—under policy pressure.
Materials
FaradaIC Sensors raises €4.5M for next-gen gas detection systems. Read more
Chemours & Energy Fuels partner to strengthen the domestic critical minerals supply chain. Read more
Maverick Metals secures $19M to develop new copper extraction technology. Read more
New Mexico enacts PFAS bans, signaling growing regulation of "forever chemicals." Read more
Trump’s inconsistent stance on Nippon Steel’s bid for U.S. Steel sends markets reeling. Read more
Energy
Excelsior Energy launches a $1B second fund to back emerging energy ventures. Read more
The U.S. solar industry decouples from China, building parallel supply chains. Read more
Base Power raises $200M Series B to reinforce the Texas grid and scale manufacturing. Read more
Trump pivots to coal to support data center growth—raising environmental concerns. Read more
Avalanche Energy prepares a $100M raise for micro-fusion reactor deployment. Read more
Volkswagen's Scania acquires Northvolt’s industrial battery division post-bankruptcy. Read more
Kazam partners with Yuma to integrate battery swapping into EV charging hubs. Read more
White House issues executive order protecting federal energy development from state interference. Read more
Design & Development
SandboxAQ raises $150M with backing from Google and Nvidia. Read more
Blumind raises $20M CAD for neuromorphic chip development. Read more
nEye Systems secures $58M, backed by Alphabet’s CapitalG, for AI networking chips. Read more
Google reveals Ironwood, a next-gen AI accelerator chip. Read more
Tech luminaries back a stealth R&D startup promising to reinvent corporate innovation. Read more
Manufacturing
UAW President backs Trump’s tariffs, citing labor gains. Read more
Trump says it will take 2 years for tariffs to yield results in U.S. manufacturing. Read more
Surging costs complicate factory construction across the U.S. Read more
Tesla plans a new megapack factory in Houston. Read more
Jeff Bezos–backed EV startup reveals itself. Read more
Luxshare weighs U.S. production to mitigate tariff exposure. Read more
Lucid Motors acquires Nikola’s factory and other assets via bankruptcy auction. Read more
Trump signs executive order to revive domestic shipbuilding. Read more
Supply Chain & Logistics
BNSF and Norfolk Southern partner on rail service for Pacific Northwest ports. Read more
Zipline teams with Walmart for drone delivery in Dallas. Read more
Shanghai–U.S. air cargo rates jump 40% as companies rush to preempt tariffs. Read more
Parallel Systems raises $38M to commercialize self-powered railcars. Read more
BetterFleet, Gallatin AI, and Cargado raise funding to enhance supply chain visibility, military logistics, and cross-border trucking.
Recycling
Market Updates & Policy Watch
Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” order adds 84% duties on select imports; China responds in kind. Read more
Multiple firms explore legal action against U.S. over tariffs. Read more
J.P. Morgan’s Campbell Global closes $1.5B Forest & Climate fund. Read more
Lerer Hippeau and Revent close new VC funds to support innovation and sustainability.
South Korea launches emergency support package for auto sector impacted by U.S. tariffs. Read more