Last Updated: 9 September 2026
CloudNC, a London company developing AI software for precision machining, is using automation to help machine shops produce more with the workers and equipment they already have. Its software focuses on some of the most time consuming parts of CNC machining.
Manufacturers are still facing pressure around skilled labor. In the US, manufacturing job openings rose by 79,000 to 580,000 in July 2026, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. The sector's job openings rate increased to 4.4%, while durable goods manufacturers accounted for 429,000 of those openings. Finding enough skilled workers remains a practical concern for manufacturers.
CloudNC has raised $20 million in new investment capital led by US based Nimble Ventures. Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneurs First and LM Ventures, Lockheed Martin's venture capital fund, also participated.
CloudNC's main product, CAM Assist, uses artificial intelligence to generate CNC machining strategies and toolpaths. These are parts of the programming process used to prepare a machine to manufacture a component. The aim is to shorten programming time.
The software reduces the time required to create machining strategies and toolpaths. According to CloudNC, this helps teams move from design to production faster and allows skilled operators to increase their output. The company also says humans remain firmly in control of the process.
CAM Assist is now used by more than 1,000 machine shops around the world, including hundreds in the US. Named customers include Lockheed Martin and Major Tool and Machine. This puts the product beyond its earlier stage of adoption, with CloudNC now seeking wider commercial use.
The company is also working with Knox Systems toward FedRAMP certification for CAM Assist. The certification would help make the software available to US government agencies, defense contractors and other organizations with strict security and compliance requirements for sensitive manufacturing work.
"CloudNC’s automation of CNC will enable massive increases in onshoring of manufacturing and global production of mission-critical components."
John Burbank, founder of Nimble Ventures
CloudNC plans to use the new capital to increase adoption of CAM Assist and expand in existing and new markets. The company also intends to invest in its commercial operations, including customer support, partner activity and its presence in markets where demand is growing.
Product development is another major use of the funding. CloudNC is preparing to launch Quote Agent, an AI product designed to help machine shops assess potential jobs and prepare estimates. The company describes assessing new work and preparing quotes as one of the most manual and commercially important parts of the machining process.
Quote Agent will apply AI to quoting and estimating. CloudNC says the product is intended to help manufacturers respond to customer enquiries more quickly and consistently, reduce administrative work and improve confidence in early stage job assessment.
The product is expected to become available later in 2026. CloudNC says it will complement CAM Assist by addressing an earlier part of the manufacturing workflow, when a machine shop is deciding how to assess and price potential work.
CloudNC was founded in 2015 by Theo Saville and Chris Emery. Emery is now the company's chief science officer, while Saville serves as CEO and co founder. The company is headquartered in London and also operates a factory in Chelmsford.
Its team combines experience in computer science and physical manufacturing. That combination sits at the center of CloudNC's work. The company develops software for machining while also operating in a physical manufacturing environment.
CAM Assist focuses on repetitive and time consuming parts of CAM programming, including the development of machining strategies and the generation of toolpaths. CloudNC says the software is designed to automate those parts of the process while keeping people in control.
"Machine shops everywhere are under pressure to quote and program faster, and deliver more with the people and machines they already have. This investment allows us to stay focused on what matters most to our customers: making CAM Assist even more effective at accelerating daily production, expanding into more markets, and developing new AI products that address critical bottlenecks across machining workflows."
Theo Saville, CEO and co founder of CloudNC
Nimble Ventures led the latest $20 million investment. Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneurs First and LM Ventures also participated, with CloudNC identifying LM Ventures as Lockheed Martin's venture capital fund.
CloudNC was already backed by venture capital firms Atomico and Episode 1 Ventures. Autodesk and Lockheed Martin are also listed by the company as strategic partners. Lockheed Martin has several connections with CloudNC because it is a named customer and strategic partner, while its venture capital fund took part in the latest financing.
The round comes as CloudNC moves from early adoption of CAM Assist to broader commercial scale. The company plans to use the funding to support wider adoption, new products and further market expansion.
