Arda Industries
AI software that turns product designs into assembly plans and keeps manufacturing lines current as designs change.
$72MPreviously undisclosed seed
LeadFF
Founders Fund
Activity from announced rounds
Activity in this selectionOct 24, 2026 · Industrial tech · Jan 1, 2026
Founders Fund is a technology venture firm with partners working in engineering-led businesses across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport, biotechnology and defence.
The partnership combines investing with direct company creation. Trae Stephens co-founded Anduril and serves as its executive chairman; Delian Asparouhov co-founded Varda Space Industries; Scott Nolan founded uranium-enrichment company General Matter. These roles put investors inside the work of building industrial and defence businesses.
Nolan’s investing focus includes engineering-driven startups in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation and biotechnology. Stephens brings experience developing products and expanding government business at Palantir, including in intelligence and defence.
- Rounds participated in
- 10
- Confirmed lead rounds
- 1 7 roles undisclosed
- New companies
- 9 First participation on record · 1 follow-on
- Funding in participating rounds
- $5.7B 9 disclosed · full round size, not this investor’s share
By stage
By primary sector
By country
Rounds
10 in this selectionCrusoe
AI infrastructure combining GPU cloud services, managed AI tools, large-scale data centers and modular AI factories for model developers and enterprises.
$3.9BSeries F (initial close; anticipated total)
ParticipantHadrian
Builds highly automated factories producing defense and aerospace systems
$1.4BSeries D
ParticipantSenra Systems
Software-driven manufacturing company modernizing wire harness production
$65MSeries B
Role not disclosedLayup Parts
Provides on-demand composite parts manufacturing for aerospace, defense, and motorsports customers
$42MSeries A
Role not disclosedWestmag
American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators
$11MSeed
Role not disclosedNominal
Offers software for hardware engineers to test designs
$80MSeries B+
Role not disclosedFreeform
Develops AI-native 3D-printing systems for metal components using real-time simulations
$67MSeries B
Role not disclosedOnodrim Industries
Develops defence industrial platform for Europe's security and resilience
€40MSeed
Role not disclosedHadrian
Builds highly automated factories producing defense and aerospace systems
UndisclosedUndisclosed
Role not disclosed