A father of four raised $4.5 million to help fuel the US manufacturing 'renaissance' with AI. Read his pitch deck. (www.businessinsider.com)

RMFG, an AI-powered manufacturing startup founded by Kenneth Cassel, has successfully raised $4.5 million in pre-seed funding to enhance U.S. manufacturing capabilities. Launched in July 2024, RMFG operates a sheet metal factory in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that utilizes AI agents to automate processes like quoting, quality control, and design tweaks. This technological approach significantly cuts lead times from months to weeks, positioning the company to meet the growing demand in the robotics industry, where many of its clients reside. This funding round, supported by notable investors such as Y Combinator and Day One Ventures, underscores a resurgence of interest in domestic manufacturing, driven in part by the limitations of purely software-driven startups facing challenges from AI advancements. Cassel, who has a background in blue-collar work and self-taught coding, emphasized the shift in perception surrounding factory jobs, now seen as integral to innovation rather than outdated. With over 100,000 parts shipped and around 200 customers, RMFG aims to expand its technology team and develop additional services, contributing to what Cassel believes may become an industry larger than automotive.