CloudNC raises $20M to automate CNC manufacturing workflows
Original: CloudNC raises $20M to automate manufacturing’s most pressing bottlenecks
Why This Matters
AI automation of CNC machining workflows addresses a critical skilled-labor bottleneck in defense, automotive, and hardware manufacturing.
UK-based manufacturing software startup CloudNC announced a $20M Series B extension on September 8, 2026, bringing its total funding to $128M. The company's AI-powered CAM Assist software serves over 1,000 machine shops worldwide, with 80% of customers in the U.S.
CloudNC, founded in 2015 by CEO Theo Saville and CSO Chris Emery, has raised a $20 million B extension round led by Nimble Ventures, with participation from Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneur First, and LM Capital — Lockheed Martin's venture arm. This brings the company's lifetime total to $128 million, with the last major raise occurring four years ago.
The company offers CAM Assist, an AI-powered software plugin that integrates with traditional CAM platforms such as Autodesk Fusion and Mastercam. Rather than replacing existing tools, CAM Assist automates the first-pass strategic decisions in CNC machining — including tool selection, approach directions, and cutting feeds and speeds — and generates the code needed to instruct CNC machines. Human programmers then review, edit, and approve the output.
Saville described the software as "an expert assistant sitting alongside the programmer, automating much of the first-pass thinking and repetitive setup." Over 1,000 machine shops globally use CAM Assist, and the company employs 80 people. Proceeds will fund go-to-market expansion, new market entry, and new products including Quote Agent, targeting manufacturing quoting workflows.