Eclipse

Two years ago, Eclipse Partner Aidan Madigan-Curtis asked: “It’s Labor Day, but where is the labor?” That question feels even more urgent in 2025. Persistent skilled labor shortages continue to strain growth across physical industries. Construction, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure are among the hardest hit, with millions of jobs unfilled and 40% of the industrial workforce expected to retire within the next decade. Despite reskilling efforts, U.S. manufacturing employment per capita has barely budged. The good news: Physical AI and robotics are stepping in as critical mitigators. From embodied AI to autonomous heavy machinery (like Eclipse-backed Bedrock Robotics), these tools are unlocking productivity at a time when human labor alone cannot meet demand. But technology alone isn’t enough. As our recent research with Bridgewater Associates shows, reviving U.S. manufacturing requires tackling structural headwinds: High input costs, fragile supply chains, and insufficient workforce pipelines. Tariffs or quick fixes won’t close the gap — long-term competitiveness depends on innovation and productivity. Reindustrialization is real and accelerating. To make it sustainable, we must embrace automation, invest in our workforce, and align policy, capital, and industry. The future of U.S. growth and security depends on it. Read our original 2023 post here: https://bit.ly/4oZLlEK

Yesterday, Blue Water Autonomy announced its $50M Series A — less than 4 months after coming out of stealth — to continue on its mission to turn unmanned ships into reality. In a recent Q&A, we introduced the CEO and co-founder, Rylan Hamilton, a Navy veteran turned robotics entrepreneur. Rylan revealed how his operational experience shaped everything from product design to strategic alignment with the Department of Defense. Designed for autonomy, flexibility, and scale, Blue Water’s vessels are “software-defined, modular surface ships” that complement — not replace — traditional naval assets by gathering intelligence, extending reach, and absorbing risk. Between the Blue Water team’s military experience and Rylan’s entrepreneurial chops, Blue Water is accelerating toward its prototype, rewriting the playbook for naval defense, and has cemented momentum with its Series A. https://bit.ly/3UKyLLM

In a powerful validation for mission-driven innovation, automation-first modular housing startup Reframe Systems has raised a $20M Series A led by Eclipse and VoLo Earth Ventures. Founded in 2022 by ex-Amazon Robotics leaders, Reframe is redefining homebuilding with AI-powered micro-factories that significantly cut construction costs and timelines. Reframe’s approach is industrial in spirit, local in execution — deploying micro-factories capable of opening within 100 days at under $5M in capital. This model slashes costs by up to 35%, halves project timelines, and allows homes to be customized to meet local zoning and climate requirements — all while enabling net-zero, resilient design. Their founding team’s robotics and operational expertise is a rare asset in an industry that has long lacked R&D investment and the round of funding marks a major step toward making affordable, sustainable housing scalable and ready for widespread deployment. More from Fast Company's Adele Peters: https://bit.ly/3JEBuE5 Congratulations Vikas Enti, Aaron Small, Felipe Polido, and the Reframe team!

Less than 4 months after Blue Water Autonomy came out of stealth and announced its $14M seed funding, today, the company has announced its $50M Series A. Founded by Navy veterans Rylan Hamilton and Austin Gray, as well as Scott N. Miller, Blue Water is building the first generation of fully autonomous, software-defined naval vessels. Their mission: To bring flexibility, speed, and resilience to a U.S. Navy whose fleet has been constrained by decades-old requirements and slow-moving shipbuilding cycles. The company is accelerating toward prototype launch next year — developing ships that can extend reach, gather intelligence, and absorb risk in contested waters. In a moment when naval dominance and geopolitical stability depend on innovation, Blue Water is showing how commercial-grade tech and startup speed can redefine maritime defense. This raise underscores the urgency and opportunity of reindustrializing America’s defense base — building the technologies that will define security for decades to come. More from Fortune's Allie Garfinkle: https://bit.ly/4oSrYxh Congratulations Rylan, Austin, Scott, and Blue Water team!

In his recent conversation with Forbes’ Alan Ohnsman, Eclipse Partner Jiten Behl shared a candid view on the state of the EV market. While incentives rolling back and supply chain costs create near-term headwinds, he believes electrification is a one-way trend — and the companies that fully commit to it will ultimately separate themselves from those hedging their bets. For automakers, this moment demands more than just hardware: It requires investing in automation and robotics to take cost out, doubling down on AI and autonomy, and rethinking energy infrastructure to support fleets that are both electric and self-driving. The convergence of electrification, autonomy, and distributed energy will define the next generation of mobility. The winners will be those who adapt quickly, embrace the hard challenges, and build durable platforms for the decades ahead. https://bit.ly/475qzgs

Today, SafelyYou unveiled Halo™, a new mobile-first platform that redefines care delivery in senior living. Building on proven AI capabilities, Halo™ offers real-time fall detection, virtual check-ins, ambient wellness tracking, and precise staffing insights — all without outdated tech or burdensome workflows. Communities can now detect risks earlier, optimize staffing, and elevate resident care quality across the entire building. Halo™ exemplifies how integrated solutions can bridge the gap between technology and caregiving, delivering unmatched safety, dignity, and operational efficiency. Congratulations George Netscher and SafelyYou team!

Big news at Nucleus RadioPharma: Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Steve Hahn has joined as CEO. Radiopharmaceuticals are one of the most promising cancer treatments but they’ve long been limited by manufacturing and delivery challenges. That’s why Eclipse and Mayo Clinic founded Nucleus in 2022: To build the infrastructure that makes these therapies accessible to every patient who needs them. Dr. Hahn’s mix of clinical expertise, regulatory leadership, and operational experience strengthens Nucleus’ mission to scale life-changing cancer care. With three new facilities underway and innovative delivery systems in progress, the company is tackling the bottlenecks that have slowed this field for decades. At Eclipse, this is personal. Partner Justin Butler’s experience with his wife’s cancer battle fueled our conviction to help build Nucleus from the ground up. Together with Mayo Clinic and a team of world-class operators, we’re working to unlock the full potential of radiopharmaceuticals and transform cancer treatment. More on today’s news from STAT's Allison DeAngelis: https://bit.ly/4oLtjG9 Welcome Dr. Hahn!

Instrumental Inc. is hosting Build Better 2025 — a leadership-focused, in-person summit bringing together engineering and operations leaders shaping the future of complex electronics. On September 30, 2025, the event will take place aboard the historic USS Hornet in Alameda, CA. Attendees can expect practical keynotes, deep-dive panels, and valuable connections with peers from AI infrastructure, consumer electronics, and aerospace and defense. Sessions will explore the new frontiers of manufacturing, including solving bottlenecks in high-performance compute manufacturing and other critical challenges shaping the industry’s future. This knowledge-driven gathering is focused on real challenges, real solutions, and the innovations that will define the next chapter in manufacturing. To attend, reserve your spot here: https://hubs.ly/Q03BzM130

In a new blog, Eclipse Founding Partner Lior Susan pushes back against the tired “hardware is hard” narrative — arguing instead that hardware is essential, and the future of our country depends on whether we have the will to build it. Startups across defense, energy, manufacturing, and construction are proving every day that software + hardware innovation is not only possible, but necessary for U.S. economic stability and national security. From modular nuclear reactors and electrified marine fleets to AI-driven robotics and autonomous construction, founders are reimagining America’s industrial backbone. But policy and capital must move in lockstep — streamlined permitting, smart investment in strategic sectors, and workforce development are critical if we want to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity. As Lior writes: “The next generation of enduring American companies won’t be built on screen swipes and subscriptions. They will be the foundation of an entirely new economy.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4mPbZOE Reindustrialize, VulcanForms Inc., Kevin Kassekert, Aidan Madigan-Curtis, Genesis AI, The Nuclear Company, Jonathan Webb, Greg Reichow, Seth Winterroth, Joe Fath, Charly M., Kaitlyn Glancy, Jiten Behl, Justin Butler, Arc, Mitch Lee, ALSO., Bedrock Robotics, Boris Sofman, Blue Water Autonomy, True Anomaly, Ursa Major, Patrick McGee, Ryan Gibson