Edward Mehr, CEO, Machina Labs, on Scaling Advanced Manufacturing Factories, Working w/ the DOW.

Manufacturing is not new to the US. It has been a core foundation of its economic rise. But the way we think about manufacturing is undergoing a structural shift. While traditional assembly-line production models optimized for low-mix, high-volume output (e.g., automotive) continue to exist, evolving customer and business needs are driving increasing importance of high-mix, low-volume production environments. For example, in a Blue Yonder 2024 survey, 92% of respondents were willing to pay extra for personalized vehicle features - a clear signal of rising demand for customization. Further, global military expenditure reached ~$2.89tn in 2025, its highest level as a share of GDP since 2009. At the same time, the US Department of War has proposed ~$3.3bn toward additive manufacturing-related initiatives, reflecting a growing focus on faster, more flexible production systems for complex, program-specific components. Machina Labs serves these requirements. Founded in 2019, Machina Labs operates intelligent, software-defined factories that manufacture complex metal structures for defense, aerospace, and mobility. In February 2026, it raised $124mm from Woven Capital (Toyota’s growth-stage venture arm), Lockheed Martin Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, and Strategic Development Fund (SDF), and announced a joint venture with SDF focused on producing advanced metal structures in the region. In the latest episode of Humans Who Build with Edward Mehr, Co-founder & CEO of Machina Labs, we discuss the following themes, among others: What it takes to build and scale factories in high-mix environments? How to work with the US Department of War? Capital formation and partnerships when building in hardware. How entrepreneurship makes you more grateful? Please watch and share any feedback or questions from your journey of building an industrial automation company. We’ll bring in world-class operators and founders to answer them! #defense #mobility #departmentofwar #manufacturing #customparts