Industrial Vanguard Vol. 21

Introduction

This edition of Industrial Vanguard follows an insightful week capped by the Society of Automotive Analysts’ Purchasing Summit, where supply chain pressures, tariff mitigation strategies, and supplier-OEM collaboration were front and center. Against that backdrop, we’ve curated the most impactful developments across materials, energy, AI, robotics, supply chains, and venture trends.

Materials

• BASF & Group14 Team Up: Their new silicon anode tech delivers durability at extreme temperatures. Read more

• IEA Critical Minerals Outlook: A strategic review of global demand and supply shifts. Read more

• Converge Raises $22M: AI-powered construction material intelligence firm secures growth funding. Read more

Energy

• $51M for Nuclear Buildout: The Nuclear Company aims to scale massive commercial reactor sites. Read more

• Hyperscale Storage Collaboration: Prometheus Hyperscale and XL Batteries target long-duration data center energy storage. Read more

• AI x Energy: MIT Technology Review's series explores how AI will reshape grids, generation, and demand forecasting. Read more

• Rivan Raises £10M: UK startup developing solar-powered synthetic fuel for heavy industry. Read more

• Reflect Orbital Scores $20M: Developing satellite-based solar generation platforms. Read more

• Voltra Pre-Seed Round: $1.8M to scale modular, portable battery tech. Read more

Design & Development

• OpenAI Launches Codex: A new AI-powered coding agent integrated into ChatGPT. Read more

• Nvidia Eyes Quantum: In advanced talks to invest in PsiQuantum. Read more

• Nvidia Expands in China: Announces Shanghai R&D center to maintain APAC presence. Read more

• Samsung Buys FläktGroup: To bolster data center cooling systems amid AI demand. Read more

• InfinitForm Closes $12.7M: Expanding rapid, AI-driven manufacturing design tools. Read more

Manufacturing

• Semiconductor Uncertainty: Trump’s policies cloud potential U.S. chip boom. Read more

• Reshoring Not So Simple: Robotics execs weigh the realities behind political rhetoric. Read more

• Dark Factories Test-Run: Tesla, BMW, and others explore human-free robotic factories. Read more

• 10 Trends from Automate 2025: A comprehensive snapshot of what’s next in robotics. Read more

• akeno Raises €4.5M: Early-stage funding for industrial robotics components. Read more

Supply Chain & Logistics

• Toyota Forecast Reform: Shifting from 13-week to 52-week demand outlooks. Read more

• Panasonic Cuts 10K Jobs: Major restructuring effort across global ops. Read more

• Stord Raises $200M+: Fueling seamless e-commerce fulfillment at scale. Read more

Recycling

• $500M Fashion Recycling Facility: U.S. startup to build Europe’s largest textile-to-fiber plant in France. Read more

Markets, Policy & Venture Capital

• Stanley Black & Decker Hikes Prices: A direct response to tariff impacts. Read more

• Hankook Launches CVC Fund: $11M commitment to strategic mobility innovation. Read more

• IPO Watchlist: Eight venture-backed startups to monitor. Read more

• Wall Street Eyes Private Credit: Shadow banks like Blackstone and Apollo are booming. Read more

• Silicon Valley in D.C.: Lobbying influence is hitting new highs. Read more

• GM vs. California Mandate: Pushing back on EV rules while ceasing U.S. exports to China. Read more Read more

• IPO Market Warming Up: But valuations remain cautious. Read more

• Austin’s Tech Appeal Slips: Growth slows amid new market dynamics. Read more

• Bezos Earth Fund Awards AI Grants: 24 early-stage climate tech projects selected. Read more

• Toyota Warns on Tariffs: Holding prices steady isn’t sustainable. Read more

• Lux Capital Taps Academia: Seeking novel deep tech investments. Read more

• Michigan R&D vs. Startup Gap: Strong in research, weak on commercialization. Read more

Thanks for reading Industrial Vanguard. Stay curious, stay invested.