Isembard raised $9M to address manufacturing capacity crisis in the West

UK software-first manufacturing company Isembard has raised $9M Seed funding

Small businesses account for 95 per cent of  precision manufacturing capacity yet are rapidly disappearing.

The average owner’s age exceeds 65 years, and 40 per cent plan to retire within 5 years, resulting in an existential threat to the sector in Europe and North America.

 This erosion of manufacturing capacity coincides with surging demand from critical industries, as British companies plan to invest $650 billion over the next three years to reshore production. Without intervention, this widening gap between supply and demand threatens to undermine the collective sovereignty of the West.

Founded to reshape manufacturing for critical industries, Isembard is pioneering a network of modular, highly automated manufacturing units powered by its proprietary MasonOS software.

By integrating cutting-edge robotics, AI-driven production planning, and a unique business model, Isembard is setting a new standard for efficiency, scalability, and resilience in the critical supply chains of the UK and its allies.

The company is already working with fast-growing European defence and autonomy startups to deliver high-precision products faster, at a lower cost, and with better quality assurance than traditional methods.

According to Alexander Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of Isembard:

"Manufacturing is the backbone of economic prosperity, national security and our collective purpose as humanity. Yet our industrial base is dying. We’re building a new model, one that decentralises production while driving efficiency through software and automation.

 With support from top investors who share our vision, we are forging industrial acceleration for the West."

Notion Capital led the round, which is backed by the UK Government’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) and the German Federal Government. Follower funds include 201 Ventures, Basis Capital, Forward Fund, Material Ventures, Neverlift Ventures and NP-Hard Ventures. Angel investors in the round include Andreas Klinger (Product Hunt), Charlie Delingpole (ComplyAdvantage), Joshua Western (SpaceForge) and Salar al Khafaji (Monumental).

Jos White, General Partner at Notion Capital, added: 

"Isembard is tackling one of the hardest, most ambitious challenges today, bringing software-driven transformation to precision manufacturing.

 Alex and his team have the vision, technical expertise, and relentless execution needed to redefine this space.”

With the new funding, Isembard will expand its first factory, grow its engineering team, and scale its technology platform to enable defence, aerospace, energy, and other critical industries to access faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective production.