RMFG Raises $4.5 Million Pre-Seed to Accelerate AI-Powered Sheet Metal Manufacturing
RMFG, the Dallas‑Fort Worth, Texas–based AI‑powered sheet metal manufacturing startup, has raised $4.5 million in a pre‑seed funding round to accelerate its mission of modernizing U.S. manufacturing with advanced automation and artificial intelligence. Founded in July 2024 by self‑taught programmer and entrepreneur Kenneth Cassel, the company has built a vertically integrated manufacturing platform that combines software, robotics, and AI to automate traditionally manual processes such as quoting, quality control, and design adjustments for custom parts fabrication. The fresh capital will be used to expand the company’s technology team, enhance automation capabilities, and deepen RMFG’s service offerings for hardware startups and industrial clients.
The pre‑seed round was led by Y Combinator, the renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator behind companies like Dropbox and Airbnb, which has supported RMFG since its early stages and provided credibility to the company’s bold vision of automated manufacturing. Additional participation came from Day One Ventures, a venture capital firm known for backing early‑stage founders and offering hands‑on support beyond traditional investment, signaling confidence in RMFG’s leadership and technological approach.
Other notable investors in the round include Soma Capital, a firm focused on innovative enterprise and deep technology companies; and a slate of high‑profile angel investors who bring a blend of entrepreneurial experience and strategic insight to the startup. Among the angel backers were Balaji Srinivasan, a prominent tech entrepreneur and former CTO of Coinbase; Patrick Collison, co‑founder and CEO of Stripe; Charlie Songhurst, a former Microsoft executive and seasoned angel investor; and Joshua Browder, founder of DoNotPay, a legal services AI platform. These investors’ involvement reflects a belief in RMFG’s potential to reshape industrial manufacturing with software‑defined factories.
RMFG’s approach to manufacturing aims to slash lead times that have traditionally slowed hardware development. By integrating AI and automation into every step of the sheet metal fabrication process — from instant online quoting to CNC bending, welding, and finishing — the company reports lead time reductions from months to just weeks. This efficiency is particularly attractive to hardware startups that often lack the capital or infrastructure to build their own facilities and avoid the risks of overseas outsourcing.
Since its inception, RMFG has already shipped more than 100,000 parts and serves around 200 customers spanning industries such as robotics, aerospace, cloud seeding, and industrial equipment. Its customer base includes startups that are scaling rapidly and need reliable domestic manufacturing partners capable of delivering high‑precision components on tight timelines. The new funding is expected to help RMFG further automate its operations and expand its service portfolio to support more complex parts and manufacturing tasks.
Kenneth Cassel has described the company’s mission as part of a broader “manufacturing renaissance,” where advanced software and AI are revitalizing U.S. production and giving rise to innovative hardware companies that can compete globally without relying on offshore facilities. RMFG’s technology incorporates computer vision and machine learning to optimize material usage, reduce waste, and ensure consistent quality, allowing the company to operate leanly with a small but highly skilled team.
The infusion of $4.5 million is also expected to help RMFG attract and retain top engineering talent. Currently operating with a team of about nine employees, the company plans to grow its technical staff to accelerate development of core automation systems and enhance its software infrastructure. These enhancements will support not only increased manufacturing capacity but also new capabilities that enable customers to move beyond standard sheet metal parts into more sophisticated components requiring tight tolerances and advanced fabrication techniques.
RMFG’s funding success highlights a broader shift in investor interest toward startups that blend AI with physical production, an area historically seen as less attractive due to high capital requirements and longer time frames compared to pure software ventures. By demonstrating tangible progress — significant shipment numbers, a growing customer base, and a clear path to scalable automation — RMFG is positioning itself as a leader in the emerging intersection of AI and industrial manufacturing.
As the company moves forward with its funded roadmap, RMFG is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping how precision parts are manufactured in the United States. With strong backing from seasoned investors and a technology‑driven strategy, the startup is preparing to deliver faster, smarter, and more efficient manufacturing solutions for the next generation of hardware innovators.
