London-based CloudNC has closed a $20 million funding round to accelerate the adoption of its AI-powered manufacturing software. Led by Nimble Ventures, the investment includes participation from Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneur First, and LM Ventures, the strategic arm of Lockheed Martin. This capital injection targets global expansion, aiming to embed artificial intelligence deeper into the often-analog world of precision machining. With headquarters in London and production facilities in Chelmsford, the company is positioning itself as a critical infrastructure player for modern supply chains.
The core product, CAM Assist, automates the tedious process of computer numerical control (CNC) programming. Instead of relying solely on manual expertise to generate toolpaths from CAD models, the software accelerates the transition from design to physical production. Theo Saville, CEO and co-founder, notes that machine shops are under immense pressure to deliver more with existing resources. The technology is already active in over 1,000 machine shops globally, including several hundred in the US, with confirmed users like Major Tool and Machine. This traction suggests that automation is no longer just a novelty but a necessity for maintaining margins in tight-tolerance manufacturing.
Looking ahead, CloudNC is tackling another bottleneck: quoting. The company plans to launch Quote Agent in late 2026, an AI tool designed to streamline cost estimations and bid preparations. Currently, evaluating technical drawings and calculating cycle times is a heavy manual lift that slows down procurement and risks margin errors. By automating these early-stage assessments, CloudNC aims to help suppliers respond to customers faster while keeping expert judgment in the loop. John Burbank of Nimble Ventures argues this workflow automation will support massive increases in onshoring, making local production more viable against low-cost overseas alternatives.
Regulatory compliance remains a key hurdle for broader adoption in sensitive sectors. CloudNC is collaborating with Knox Systems to achieve FedRAMP certification for CAM Assist. This authorization would allow US government departments and defense contractors to use the software for regulated workloads, a significant expansion given Lockheed Martin’s existing involvement as both an investor and user. If successful, this move could set a precedent for how AI tools enter secure, high-stakes industrial environments, bridging the gap between rapid innovation and strict federal data governance.
