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- Scheduled Shipment #86
Happy Friday.
Big week for defense autonomy (is that every week?). Blue Water Autonomy raised $50 million to build self-driving ships for Navy. Reliable Robotics signed a $17 million deal to build self-driving aircraft for the Air Force. Our militaries are automating.
$161 million raised across 10 startups. 2 exits.
Let’s dig in.
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Top News
Global robotics funding topped $4.35 billion in July 2025.
Reliable Robotics signed a $17.4 million deal to supply autonomous aircraft to the US Air Force.
Frontier, the carbon-removal company founded by Google, Stripe, Shopify, and others, is buying $31 million in carbon removal credits.
Timeline
“Anything that is theoretically possible will be achieved in practice, no matter the technical difficulties, if it is desired strongly enough.”
— Arthur C. Clarke, Profiles of the Future
— The Humanoid Hub (@TheHumanoidHub)
6:12 PM • Aug 23, 2025
Paul Graham on why startups should deliberately choose hard problems:
— Y Combinator (@ycombinator)
5:30 PM • Aug 21, 2025
Massive Fundings
Blue Water Autonomy, a 1-year-old Boston, MA startup that develops autonomous ships, raised a $50.0 million Series A led by GV with participation from Eclipse Ventures, Riot Ventures, and Impatient Ventures. More here.
Keychain, a 2-year-old New York, NY startup that provides a manufacturing partner discovery platform for CPG companies, raised a $30.0 million Series B led by Wellington Management with participation from BoxGroup. More here.
Mid-Size Fundings
Loft Dynamics, a 9-year-old Zurich, Switzerland startup that provides a VR flight training platform, raised a $24.0 million Series B led by Friedkin with participation from Alaska Airlines, Sky Dayton, Craft Ventures, and UP.Partners. More here.
General Fusion, a 23-year-old British Columbia, Canada startup that provides nuclear fusion technology, raised a $22.0 million financing from Chrysalix Venture Capital, Gaingels, Hatch, MILFAM, JIMCO, PenderFund, Presight Capital, Segra Capital Management, and Thistledown Capital. More here.
Dirac, a 2-year-old New York, NY startup that provides an assembly automation platform, raised a $10.7 million financing from Founders Fund and Coatue. More here.
Chemfinity, a 3-year-old New York, NY startup that provides recovery systems for critical minerals, raised a $7.0 million Seed led by At One Ventures and Overture Ventures with participation from Closed Loop Ventures Group, Pace Ventures, WovenEarth Ventures, and Climate Capital. More here.
Heave, a 5-year-old Tampa, FL startup that provides a technician marketplace for construction equipment repairs, raised a $7.0 million Series A led by Outsiders Fund with participation from FJ Labs, Long Journey Ventures, and Slow Ventures. More here.
Grid Aero, a 1-year-old San Leandro, CA startup that provides cargo drones, raised a $6.0 million Seed from Calibrate Ventures and Ubiquity Ventures. More here.
Smaller Fundings
Oway, a 2-year-old San Francisco, CA startup that provides an AI-enabled marketplace for less-than-truckload shipping, raised a $4.0 million Seed from Y Combinator, General Catalyst, Wayfinder Ventures, Phosphor Capital, and Soma Capital. More here.
Highway, a 3-year-old Dallas, TX startup that provides carrier identity solutions, raised an undisclosed financing led by FTV Capital with participation from Lead Edge Capital. More here.
Exits
Data2Logistics, a 61-year-old Fort Myers, FL startup that provides a freight audit and payment platform, merged with Loop. More here.
Optoro, a 15-year-old Washington, DC startup that provides a returns management platform, was acquired for an undisclosed amount by Blue Yonder. More here.
Thanks for Reading!
-Greg
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