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Defense technology startup Mach Industries, a favored entity in the investment community and Sequoia Capital’s inaugural defense tech investment, has garnered over $80 million in funding since its inception in 2023. Founded by Ethan Thornton, who initiated the company as a teenager while studying at MIT before leaving to dedicate himself fully to his venture, Mach Industries has quickly become a注目 entity in the sector.
Hydrogen Gun Prototype Mishap
Prior to receiving seed funding from Sequoia in the summer of 2023, Mach Industries experienced a significant incident. A prototype hydrogen gun under development detonated, discharging fragments of shrapnel and causing injury to a team member, initially reported by Forbes.
Thornton Addresses Safety Concerns Publicly
During an appearance at StrictlyVC in San Francisco on April 3, Thornton publicly acknowledged the incident for the first time in a conversation with TechCrunch, attributing it to insufficient safety provisions at the time.
Lack of Resources Cited as Cause
“At that juncture, we were attempting to be self-funded and lacked the financial means to execute these procedures with the necessary precautions,” Thornton explained.
Post-Explosion Actions and Securing Funding
Following the explosion, Mach Industries “essentially ceased all operations” until securing investment from Sequoia Capital, according to Thornton. He further stated that with these newly acquired resources, Mach has established a dedicated safety team and is collaborating with the U.S. military to engineer advanced weaponry.
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Strategic Shift Away from Hydrogen Technology
The startup has also redirected its focus away from hydrogen, a notoriously unstable gas. Speaking at StrictlyVC, Thornton characterized hydrogen as “probably an unwise technological gamble” requiring extensive further research. However, this strategic pivot has not hindered Mach’s progress.
Expanding into New Weapon Systems
Currently, Mach Industries is engaged in developing diverse categories of armaments, including a novel cruise missile and a bomb named “Glide” designed for deployment from near-space altitudes. The company recently secured a contract with the U.S. Army and unveiled intentions for a network of decentralized manufacturing facilities known as “Forge.”
VC Investment Driven by Prototype Development and Government Partnerships
Thornton indicated that the substantial venture capital investment of $85 million is largely due to the company’s emphasis on “building numerous prototypes.”
Focus on Securing Government Contracts
“It’s not solely my capability to construct these devices, but more critically, our proficiency in engaging with the federal government to establish formal programs around them,” he noted.