Dynamo Dispatch (2025/03/24)
Issue 324 | Rerun, Augment, Apptronik
Dynamo Dispatch. A weekly update from Dynamo Ventures covering the latest and greatest in supply chain, mobility, and building venture-scale businesses.
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Weekly Commentary 💭
💥 There was a slew of announcements from Nvidia’s GTC last week, but none that caught our attention more than Dynamo portfolio company Gatik’s partnership with Nvidia and Isuzu Motors to accelerate mass production of SAE L4 production-ready autonomous trucks. For more, read all of the details here.
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Supply Chain 📦
⭐ Exclusive: Proposed US Port Fees on China-Built Ships Begin Choking Coal, Agriculture Exports. The Trump administration’s proposed shipping fees on China-linked vessels are causing major disruptions for US exporters, particularly in coal, agriculture, and energy sectors. The plan, which includes fines of up to $1.5M, is making it difficult for exporters to secure shipping, leading to swelling coal inventories. Industry leaders warn the fees could raise the cost of US coal exports by up to 35% and add hundreds of millions in transportation costs for agricultural goods, making them uncompetitive globally. Energy exporters also face significant barriers, as the current US-built, US-flagged shipping fleet is too small to meet the proposed requirements. Related, Maritime Industry Warns USTR’s China Port Fees Could Sink US Economy and US Port Fees on China Built Vessels Would Hit Grain Exporters.
Threat of Tariffs Forces 65% of CFOs Into Supplier Showdowns. America’s mid-sized companies are being hit hard by global trade tensions, facing rising tariffs, disrupted supply chains, and geopolitical instability without the flexibility of small businesses or the resources of large corporations. CFOs report heightened economic uncertainty, with many anticipating increased costs, supply shortages, and challenges in maintaining profitability. To cope, firms are renegotiating supplier contracts, raising prices, diversifying supply sources, and investing in digital tools like automation and AI-driven forecasting. Despite current volatility, most companies remain cautiously optimistic, with 55% expecting uncertainty to ease over the next year. Related, Costco Leans on Mainland China Suppliers as US Tariffs Bite and For Importers Rushing to Beat Tariffs, It’s Life on the Edge.
Amazon and Walmart Go Head-to-Head Over Logistics and AI. Faced with tariff pressures and market uncertainty, Walmart and Amazon are ramping up investments in AI to boost efficiency and expand into new sectors. Amazon is enhancing customer engagement and automation, while Walmart is using AI to support merchant operations and product sourcing, including the launch of its generative AI assistant “Wally.” Both companies are aggressively moving into new markets — Walmart expanding its freight and fuel services, and Amazon exploring used car sales, which could disrupt traditional dealerships. These strategic moves reflect a broader shift in retail, where AI and diversification are becoming key to staying competitive. Elsewhere, Target and Walmart are Investing in Supply Chain Tech to Compete on Delivery.
Oversupplied Ocean Carriers Sailing Into New Downcycle: Analysts. The container shipping industry is entering a severe downturn due to overcapacity and weakening demand, with freight rates on key routes plunging far beyond typical seasonal declines. Despite strong profits in 2024, analysts predict multi-year losses starting in 2025 as new vessel deliveries outpace modest demand growth, and rates are expected to fall by 30% YoY. Efforts by carriers to raise prices have had little impact, and even ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea haven’t been enough to offset the broader oversupply issue, which is set to worsen through 2027. Geopolitical tensions, reciprocal tariffs, and trade route disruptions continue to inject uncertainty and risk into the already struggling global container shipping market.
FedEx Cuts Outlook, Despite Higher Profit, Sales. FedEx has lowered its full-year outlook due to continued weakness in the US industrial economy and soft demand for B2B shipments. Despite a stronger-than-expected holiday season and higher quarterly profit, FedEx's freight division remains a drag on performance, prompting the company to proceed with plans to spin it off. Economic uncertainty, inflation, and global trade instability continue to pressure demand, with FedEx leadership expecting no significant improvement through the first half of fiscal 2026. Elsewhere, Hapag-Lloyd Publishes 2024 Annual Report and Announces Outlook for Current Financial Year.
Mobility 🚗
⭐ The 1960s ‘Chicken Tax’ Shows the Lasting Impact of Tariffs. The “chicken tax” — a 25% U.S. tariff on imported pickup trucks imposed in 1963 — has effectively insulated domestic truck makers and forced most production to remain within North America. Originally a response to European tariffs on US poultry, the tax has become a long-lasting trade policy with wide-reaching effects, including limiting competition and consumer choice in the US pickup segment. While it helped Detroit automakers dominate the light truck market, it also discouraged foreign rivals from entering unless they invested heavily in local production. As President Trump pursues new tariffs, including potentially on all vehicle imports, the chicken tax stands as a case study in how even narrow trade measures can reshape industries for decades. As for today, Steel, Aluminum Tariffs May Hurt Auto Industry, Supply Chain Risk Expert Says.
How BYD Plans to Make EV Charging As Fast As Filling A Gas Tank. Chinese automaker BYD made headlines by claiming its new Han L sedan can add 248 miles of range in just five minutes. While the claim is technically feasible, the real-world range added is likely closer to 160 miles due to the overly optimistic CLTC test cycle. The vehicle's ultra-fast charging is enabled by BYD’s advanced battery architecture and a dual-charger system that splits the load across two 500 kW ports. While US availability remains unlikely due to 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs, the Han L signals a leap forward in charging speed that could eventually make its way into American vehicles. Also in Asia, Foxconn Closing in On EV Collaboration With Mitsubishi.
Lyft to Roll Out Robotaxis in Atlanta. Lyft is entering the robotaxi race with plans to launch self-driving ride-hailing service in Atlanta this summer, using Toyota Sienna minivans equipped with May Mobility’s autonomous technology. The company also plans to expand to Dallas next year through partnerships with Mobileye and Marubeni, with a longer-term goal of deploying thousands of AVs in more cities. Lyft sees potential for drivers to eventually earn money by owning AVs, removing time constraints tied to traditional gig work. While public skepticism around AVs remains high, Lyft joins rivals like Uber and Waymo in betting big on the future of autonomous transportation. Unrelated in layoff news, VW’s Audi Plans 7.5K Jobs Cut By 2029 to Improve Efficiency and Siemens to Cut Over 6K Jobs in Automation and EV Segments.
GM Taps Nvidia To Boost Its Embattled Self-Driving Projects. At Nvidia’s GTC conference, the chipmaker announced a new partnership with GM to integrate its AI and graphics technologies into GM’s vehicles, robots, and factories. GM will use Nvidia’s Omniverse platform for virtual assembly line simulations, its Drive AGX chip for next-gen autonomous driving, and AI tools to train factory robots for tasks like welding. This marks an expansion of GM’s current use of Nvidia GPUs, now extending into manufacturing and vehicle development. Despite setbacks in its Cruise robotaxi division, GM is doubling down on autonomous features in passenger vehicles with Nvidia’s tech. Nvidia, which currently powers less than 1% of cars on the road, sees automotive as a trillion-dollar market opportunity. Additionally, Ford Looks to Innovate Faster With AI Agents and Nvidia GPUs.
PitchBook Report: Battery Tech, What Is The State of Solid-State. Solid-state batteries are gaining renewed momentum as automakers and governments invest heavily in bringing the technology closer to commercialization. Despite past struggles by public solid-state battery companies to generate revenue, 2024 saw major developments: Mercedes-Benz began road testing Factorial’s lithium-metal SSBs, Honda launched a pilot production line, and Volkswagen's PowerCo deepened its collaboration with QuantumScape. China is also making a big push, committing over $830 million to SSB R&D to maintain a competitive edge. These moves signal growing confidence that SSBs could soon transition from lab-scale innovation to real-world deployment. Related, Honda To Procure Batteries For Hybrids From Toyota’s US Plant and Nissan, SK On Announce $661M EV Battery Supply Deal.
The Future of Supply Chain 🎙️
Check out our podcast series that’s been running since 2018. On each episode of the Future of Supply Chain, we sit down with a different entrepreneur, investor, or industry veteran to discuss innovation, technology, and the most exciting opportunities in supply chain as we build the future of the industry together.
Fundraises and M&A 💸
Evera Raises €2M in Seed Funding. Evera is a Paris-based EV subscription platform that offers flexible, tech-enabled leasing solutions for businesses, including both new and reconditioned EVs. The funding will be used to expand across France, enhance its EV fleet management platform, and launch new services tailored to SMEs. Baltis – Groupe Magellim and Newfund NAEH Innopy led the round, with participation from MCapital, AstoryaVC, and angel investor Eric Ibled.
BlueShift Raises $2.1M in Pre-Seed Funding. BlueShift extracts critical minerals and rare earth elements from industrial waste and seawater through an electrochemical technology. BlueShift will build its pilot facility with the capital. The funding comes from ConocoPhillips, Ridgeline, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
Leta Raises $5M in Seed Funding. Leta is a logistics SaaS platform that helps African businesses move goods more efficiently using AI-powered route optimization, real-time tracking, and dispatch automation. The funding will be used to expand across Africa and the Middle East, enhance financial product offerings like fuel and asset financing, and further reduce logistics costs and emissions. Speedinvest led the round, with participation from Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Equator.
Kaiko Systems Raises €6M in Series A Funding. Kaiko is a frontline intelligence tool for maritime players, streamlining safety inspections, optimizing maintenance, and ensuring compliance. The funding will be used for market expansion and product development to incorporate AI capabilities. The round was led by Hi Inov and Flashpoint Venture Growth, with participation from Motion Ventures.
PULSETRAIN Raises €6.1M in Seed Funding. PULSETRAIN is an AI-driven pulse-loading technology aiming to extend EV battery life by 80% as well as enable efficient reuse. The funding will be used to accelerate product development. Vsquared Ventures and Planet A co-led the round, with Climate Club participating.
Aletiq Raises $6.5M in Funding. Aletiq offers a product lifecycle management software for manufacturing industrial companies. The funding will be used to enhance the company’s software, expand the customer base, and improve integrations with systems such as ERPs. PointNine led the round and was joined by Entropy Industrial and Angel Invest.
Tera AI Raises $7.8M in Seed Funding. Tera AI offers a spatial reasoning system for robots. The funding will be used to deploy the solution into embedded devices, as well as expand the product and research teams.
theion Raises €16M in Series A Funding. Theion is a sulfur battery startup. The funding will be used for scaling. The round was led by Team Global, the Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen group, and German renewables firm Enpal.
Rerun Raises $17M in Seed Funding. Rerun is an open source AI platform for robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles. PointNine led the round and was joined by Sunflower Capital as well as existing investors Costanoa Ventures and Seedcamp.
SkySpecs Raises $20M in Funding. SkySpecs is a renewable energy asset health platform offering autonomous drone inspections and predictive maintenance software for wind turbines. The funding will be used to scale operations globally, advance autonomous inspection technology, and expand its software suite. Goldman Sachs Alternatives led the round, with participation from Statkraft and Equinor Ventures.
Coreshell Raises $24M in Series A2 Funding. Coreshell has developed a silicon anode material for battery technology. The funding will be used for increasing shipments of the company’s material to automakers. The round was led by Ferroglobe, with participation from Asymmetry Ventures, Entrada Ventures, Foothill Ventures, Helios Climate Ventures, Lane Ventures, Translink Investment, Trousdale Ventures, and Zeon Ventures.
Augment Raises $25M in Seed Funding. Augment is an AI-driven logistics platform founded by an ex-Deliverr cofounder. The funding will be used to accelerate product development and expand engineering and customer success teams in San Francisco, Toronto, and Chicago. 8VC led the round.
Buynomics Raises $30M in Series B Funding. Buynomics uses AI technology to optimize pricing and revenue for customers in consumer goods, retail, and more. The funding will be used to enhance the company’s technology. Forestay Capital led the round.
GrubMarket Raises $50M in Series G Funding. GrubMarket is a food eComm and supply chain software company. The funding will support continued AI development, international expansion, and acquisitions across the food distribution sector. The round was backed by 3Spoke Capital, Joseph Stone Capital, Liberty Street Funds, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Pinegrove Capital Partners, Portfolia, and ROC Venture Group.
Apptronik Raises $53M in Series A Extension. Apptronik is a humanoid robotics startup for industries including automotive, logistics, electronics manufacturing, and retail. The funding will be used to fuel the production and deployment of its robot. Investors include B Capital, Capital Factory, Google, Mercedes-Benz, ARK Invest, and others.
Who's Hiring? 👩💻
Be sure to check out the Dynamo website for more job opportunities at our portfolio companies!
Marketing and Growth Manager at Solvento in Mexico City, Mexico.
Systems Engineer at Plus One Robotics in San Antonio, Texas.
Founding Sales at Guided Energy in Paris, France.