Dynamo Dispatch (2025/12/08)
Issue 355 | Confluent, Mujin, Tutor
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 đ
A major headline in this weekâs Dynamo Dispatch is IBMâs acquisition of Confluent, underscoring how essential real-time data infrastructure has become as AI and automation spread through the industrial economy. Alongside this, Appleâs expanded manufacturing academy, ongoing onshoring challenges, network disruptions, and tariff uncertainty highlight how quickly operating conditions are shifting â and how much demand is building for tools that boost resilience, visibility, and edge decision-making.
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Make, Move, and Monetize đŚ
â Apple Manufacturing Academy Launches Virtual Programming to Train More American Businesses. Apple expanded its Apple Manufacturing Academy with free virtual courses aimed at US small and midsize manufacturers, covering automation, predictive maintenance, quality control optimization, and ML/visionâplus professional skills. Built in collaboration with Michigan State University, the online program builds upon a Detroit pilot that has already trained over 80 businesses, with a curriculum set to expand over time. Expect lower barriers to advanced manufacturing adoption, faster upskilling, and tailwinds for US capacity expansionâcreating opportunities for equipment vendors, systems integrators, and founders building AI-in-manufacturing tools aligned to Appleâs ecosystem. Completely unrelated, Amazon Eyes Expanding Delivery Network After Talks with USPS Stall.
18,000 Reasons Itâs So Hard to Build a Chip Factory in America. TSMCâs $165B Phoenix complex lays bare the frictions of US chip onshoringâ18,000 permitting rules costing $35M, skills gaps and cultural clashes, water constraints, and local pushback (e.g., Amkorâs relocation). Despite ~$40B in supplier co-investment and CHIPS support (~$6.6B), only one fab is producing with two more underway, and timelines/costs remain far above Taiwan norms even as AI demand (Nvidia) pulls capacity stateside. Executives should plan for schedule and capex risk and higher unit costs, making permitting reform, workforce pipelines, and local stakeholder management non-negotiable; EPC, automation, training, and water-reuse providers are positioned to win as onshoring shifts from announcements to execution. Also, AI Chip Demand Creates New Global Supply Chain Strains and The Power Crunch Threatening Americaâs AI Ambitions
Copper Thieves Are Wreaking Havoc Across America. Copper theft has surged to epidemic levels in the US, with 9,770 incidents reported from January to June, and outages affecting over 8 million customers. Los Angeles is a hotspot, as organized crews cut telecom lines, disrupt 911 services, schools, and businesses, amid copper prices near records. Carriers are fighting back with GPS in cables, sensors, fencing, rewards, and tougher state laws (14 enacted this year). Yet, losses mountâAT&T alone reports $76M in repair costs in the first 10 monthsâand thieves increasingly mimic utility crews to strike again after repairs. For operators and investors, expect elevated opex, service-risk headlines, and accelerated capex to retire copper and push fiberâplus tighter scrapyard compliance and enforcementâwhile price and outage pressures could catalyze regulatory support and reshape timelines for network upgrades. For more, check out The Great Global Copper Swindle.
Costco Sues Trump Administration as Tariff Backlash Intensifies. Costco sued the Trump administration to challenge broad tariffs imposed under emergency powers and to preserve refund claims before CBP begins liquidating entries on Dec. 15. It joins dozens of importers as the Supreme Court reviews the tariff regime, which helped push duties to ~$195B in FY2025 from $118B in FY2024, amid growing corporate backlash. If the regime is overturned, import-heavy companies could see sizable cash refunds and earnings volatility; if upheld, expect continued margin pressure and a push to tighten tariff pass-through and contingency clauses in supplier contracts. Related, Why Costco is the Only Big Retailer to Challenge Trump on Tariff Refunds.
10 Roads Express to Shut Down After Losing USPS Business. 10 Roads Express will shut down after losing the US Postal Service, which accounted for ~70% of its revenue, as the USPS revamps its network toward insourcing and brokered capacity. The company is winding down while completing its remaining obligations, ending a 50-year relationship with USPS. Why it matters: Postal linehaul capacity will reshuffle quickly with brokers absorbing lanes at tighter margins; expect distressed equipment/terminal sales and elevated revenue-concentration risk for carriers tied to USPS as the network redesign advances.
Kroger Dismantles Its Ocado Network: Billion-Dollar Vision Turns Into Industry Warning. Kroger is unwinding its Ocado bet, paying a $350M penalty and closing three CFCs plus spokes after a density-first cube system couldnât meet US same-day speed and volatile demand, pushing costs above digital growth. The pivot moves to store-based picking, light in-store automation, and Instacart/DoorDash/Uber, with CFCs used only where density truly pencils, while Ocadoâs âflexible ecosystemâ echoes past US micro-fulfillment disappointments. The implication is clearâprofit will favor flexible, edge-first networks, so re-run cost-to-serve on real demand, optimize for proximity and cycle time, and preserve optionality to avoid lock-in and margin drag. Completely unrelated, US Vows Over $1B for Congo Critical Minerals Supply Chain.
Return of Container Ships to Red Sea Edges Closer: Major Carrier Announces New Full-Loop Service via Suez Canal. CMA CGM is formally routing its INDAMEX service back through the Suez Canal on both legs starting Jan 15, its first full-loop return to Suez since Red Sea diversions began. It will drop two ships from the rotation due to shorter transit times, while peers remain cautious and ZIM awaits insurance, with Suez transits still far below pre-crisis levels. A structured return to Suez restores speed and effective capacity; if others follow, capacity could flood back and drive sharper spot-rate declinesâimproving shipper costs and lead times while pressuring carrier margins and remaining contingent on security/insurance conditions. Also, CMA CGM Set to Restore First Route Through Suez/Red Sea, and Shipping Industryâs Return to Suez Will be Gradual, Hapag-Lloyd CEO Says.
DHL Supply Chain Launches Singaporeâs First Autonomous Vehicle in Supply Chain Operations. DHL Supply Chain launched Singaporeâs first autonomous, fully electric vehicle for supply-chain ops at its Asia Pacific Advanced Regional Centre, co-developed with Zelostech and deployed across Infineon. Integrated with DHLâs WMS and advanced navigation/monitoring/safety, itâs expected to cut emissions by >80% vs the prior diesel truck. Phase one precedes expansion onto selected public roads and additional customers, aligning with Strategy 2030âand signaling a shift from pilots to scale that boosts productivity, safety, and decarbonization, sets an AV template for Asia, and intensifies demand for AV platforms/sensors/AI while pressuring 3PLs to automate yard and linehaul handoffs. For more, check out DHL Deploys Autonomous Supply Chain Vehicle in Singapore.
IKEA to Ramp Up US Production as Tariffs Bite. IKEA will ramp up US sourcing and production as tariffs raise import costs, reversing a decade-long slide in US-made share (now ~15%). The shift includes a $70M SBA Home factory in North Carolina making KALLAX shelves and plans to buy more from US suppliers, with a goal to produce most mattresses in-country. While unit manufacturing costs are higher in the US, IKEA cites rising, less predictable shipping costs and the need for faster, more resilient supply. This points to a broader localization push in home goods: expect new supplier opportunities in bulky categories, capex into automated plants near demand, and pricing steadier on tariff-exposed SKUs as IKEA trades ocean freight risk for domestic cost control.
Tariff Threat Forces US Ports to Rethink Upgrade Plans. Threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese ship-to-shore cranes (now paused for a year) have frozen US port orders, nudging operators to sweat or upsize aging gear. With ~80% of cranes sourced from China and just three non-Chinese suppliers charging ~15% more and capped at ~20 units/year, modernization for larger vessels is slipping into retrofits. Expect delayed capex, rising berth bottlenecks and costs, near-term tailwinds for life-extension/automation vendors and non-Chinese OEMs, and a costly, multi-year path to any domestic crane build-out. Related, Trumpâs Trade War Shift Away from Chinese Manufacturing Has Reached Tipping Point.
The Future of Supply Chain đď¸
Check out our podcast series thatâs 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.
Request for Startups đ˘
Dynamo is always looking to meet startups that are helping to make, move, and monetize goods. Check out our latest request for startups below!
Starlink as a Platform â Dynamo believes Starlink will unlock massive value by connecting previously offline parts of industrial supply chainsâcreating investable opportunities for founders building real-time, data-driven platforms that transform how physical operations are monitored, optimized, and insured. Read more here.
Fundraises and M&A đ¸
Hypercritical Raises ÂŁ2M in Pre-Seed Funding. Hypercritical develops AI-powered agents that autonomously generate, verify, and optimize control software for safety- and mission-critical systems in heavy industry. The funding will support team expansion and cloud compute resources to further develop its proprietary foundation model. Join Capital led the round, with participation from Octopus Ventures, Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company (tiny.vc), and Plug and Play.
Interface Raises $3.5M in Seed Funding. Interface provides an AI-powered industrial safety platform that integrates with existing systems to help operators reduce document review time, unplanned downtime, and regulatory exposure. The funds will support expansion across the Americas, including new engagements with producers in Guyana and Brazil. The round was led by defy.vc, with participation from Precursor Ventures, Rock Yard Ventures, and angel investors including Meta board member Charlie Songhurst.
Spotlite Raises âŹ3.5M in Seed Funding. Spotlite provides a satellite-powered platform that delivers automated infrastructure monitoring and predictive maintenance insights for sectors like transportation, mining, energy, and construction. The funding will support global expansion and further development of its AI-driven infrastructure intelligence capabilities. The round was co-led by Ăndico Capital Partners and Explorer Investments.
Reditus Space Raises $7.1M in Seed Funding. Reditus Space is developing a reusable orbital platform for microgravity research and in-space manufacturing, with its first ENOS spacecraft set to launch in mid-2026. The funding will support the development and deployment of a 40-kilogram payload demonstrator designed for recovery after an eight-week orbital mission. The round included participation from Antler, Y Combinator, and other investors in a party round format.
Autolane Raises $7.4M in Seed Funding. Autolane provides coordination software and infrastructure to manage autonomous vehicle pickups and drop-offs on private property, starting with retail locations. The funding will support the deployment of its âair traffic controlâ system for AVs at Simon Property Group shopping centers in Austin and San Francisco. The round was backed by Draper Associates and Hyperplane.
Ply Raises $8.5M in Strategic Funding. Ply provides an inventory and purchasing platform tailored to contractors and suppliers in the trades. The funds will be used to expand product capabilities, deepen integrations with field service and accounting platforms, and strengthen supplier partnerships. The round was led by Ferguson Ventures, with participation from Primary and SignalFire.
StirlingX Raises $11M in Seed Funding. StirlingX develops secure drone operations and data intelligence systems for critical national infrastructure and defense applications. The funds will accelerate product development, international expansion, recruitment across technical roles, and the scaling of manufacturing and R&D at its Cambridge and Oxford facilities. The round was led by the RCM Private Markets Fund managed by Rokos Capital Management, with participation from GALLOS Technologies, ONE9, and a group of angel investors.
Unlimited Raises $12M in Seed Funding. Unlimited is an AI-native, vertically integrated construction company automating the end-to-end delivery of large-scale infrastructure like data centers, power plants, and mining facilities. The funding will accelerate development of its AI platform, which compresses engineering timelines and delivers optimized, automation-ready designs. The round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and CIV, with participation from Abhijoy Mitra and Kathryn Boyle
Gravis Robotics Raises $23M in Series A Funding. Gravis Robotics develops autonomous earthmoving technology that retrofits heavy machinery with AI and vision systems to boost productivity and safety on construction sites. The funding will accelerate global expansion, grow the team, and deepen partnerships with OEMs, contractors, and equipment dealers. The round was co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with participation from Pear VC, Imad (CVC of Nesma & Partners), Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment, and Holcim.
PermitFlow Raises $31M in Series A Funding. PermitFlow provides end-to-end workflow and automation software for construction permitting, streamlining the process for residential and commercial developers. The funds will support national expansion, platform enhancements, and integration of LLMs to further simplify permitting across municipalities. The round was led by Kleiner Perkins, with participation from Initialized Capital, Y Combinator, Felicis Ventures, Altos Ventures, and several angel investors.
Tutor Raises $34M in Series A Funding. Tutor develops low-cost, drop-in robots powered by fleet-scale learning for manufacturing and logistics applications. The funds will support further development of high-capability robotic systems, expanding deployment, and learning efficiency across customer operations. The round was led by Union Square Ventures, co-led by Fundomo, with continued support from Neo.
Mujin Raises $233M in Series D Funding. Mujin develops MujinOS, an intelligent robotics platform that integrates perception, motion planning, and digital twin orchestration to automate manufacturing and logistics operations. The funding will accelerate MujinOS productization, expand real-time digital twin capabilities, and drive global expansion across Europe and North America. The $133M equity round was led by NTT Group and co-led by Qatar Investment Authority, with debt financing of $100M secured from Japanese financial institutions.
Stonepeak and EEP Acquire 65% Stake in JET in âŹ2.5B Deal. JET operates a major network of fuel retail stations across Germany and Austria. The acquisition supports JETâs continued service delivery while positioning it to contribute to the broader energy transition. Stonepeak and Energy Equation Partners led the deal, acquiring the majority interest from a subsidiary of Phillips 66.
IBM to Acquire Confluent for $9.3B. Confluent provides a real-time data streaming platform that enables enterprises to process and analyze live data flows, supporting applications like inventory optimization and fraud detection. The acquisition supports IBMâs strategy to expand its enterprise AI software offerings and is expected to close by mid-2026. The $9.3B transaction, representing an $11B enterprise value, follows a five-year partnership between the two companies.
Whoâs Hiring? đŠâđť
Be sure to check out the Dynamo website for more job opportunities at our portfolio companies!
Sales Development Representative (SDR) at Mello in Berlin, Germany.
Cassette Assembly Operator at Manna in Leinster, Ireland.
Founding GTM at Ceto in Newcastle, London.