AI startup CloudNC raises £14.8m led by Nimble Ventures with LM Ventures
This article covers CloudNC, an AI startup that has raised £14.8m in a series B funding round. The funding will be used to accelerate adoption of its CAM Assist precision machining software, develop new AI tools such as Quote Agent and expand commercial operations, affecting machine shops and manufacturers.
CloudNC, an AI startup, has raised £14.8m in a series B funding round to accelerate adoption of its CAM Assist software for precision machining and to fund new products such as Quote Agent, an AI tool for quoting and estimating due later in 2026. The capital will be used to grow commercial operations, expand into new markets and further develop the company’s product suite.
Why it matters
Manufacturing remains labour and expertise intensive, and CNC programming is a common bottleneck that slows the path from design to production. CloudNC’s funding underscores growing interest in applying AI to routine manufacturing tasks to increase throughput, reduce variability and make smaller shops more competitive. The deal comes as manufacturers in the US and UK look to onshore more production and as enterprises demand faster, more consistent quoting and programming.
Inside the product
CloudNC’s core product, CAM Assist, uses machine learning to speed up creation of CNC machining strategies and toolpaths, reducing the time skilled operators spend on programming. The company says CAM Assist is used by more than 1,000 machine shops worldwide, including a growing number in the US. Named customers include Lockheed Martin and Major Tool and Machine, firms that illustrate the software’s use across defence and industrial subcontracting.
The company plans to launch Quote Agent later in 2026, an AI-driven quoting and estimating tool intended to reduce administrative load and speed responses to customer enquiries. CloudNC is also working with Knox Systems towards FedRAMP certification for CAM Assist, a move that would make it easier for US government agencies and defence contractors to run sensitive manufacturing workloads on the platform.
Who are the investors?
The round is being used to scale commercial presence, customer support and partner activity in fast-growing markets.
Lead investor: Nimble Ventures.
Participating investors named in the announcement include Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneur First and LM Ventures, the venture fund affiliated with Lockheed Martin. CloudNC’s earlier backers and strategic partners include Atomico, Episode 1 Ventures, Autodesk and Lockheed Martin, which the company lists among its strategic partners.
In the announcement, John Burbank, founder of Nimble Ventures, said:
CloudNC’s automation of CNC will enable massive increases in onshoring of manufacturing and global production of mission-critical components.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Theo Saville, CEO and co-founder of CloudNC, said:
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.
In the announcement, Theo Saville, CEO and co-founder of CloudNC, said:
Quote Agent is a natural next step for CloudNC as we seek to accelerate global machining with AI. CAM Assist already helps machinists get parts onto machines faster; Quote Agent will help shops assess new work, prepare quotes more efficiently and respond to customers with greater confidence.
In the announcement, Theo Saville, CEO and co-founder of CloudNC, said:
Quoting is one of the biggest hidden bottlenecks in precision machining: move too slowly and shops can lose the opportunity, or price inaccurately and they can lose margin once the job reaches production. We believe our AI can make quoting faster, more consistent and more scalable, helping manufacturers win more of the right work while keeping expert judgement firmly in control.
The bigger picture
CloudNC was founded in 2015 and operates from London with a factory in Chelmsford. The company’s funding and product roadmap reflect broader trends: manufacturers adopting AI to offset skills shortages and meet tighter lead times, and a parallel push to bring production closer to end markets. Progress toward FedRAMP certification also signals ambitions to win sensitive defence and government work in the US.
For the UK and European ecosystem, the round is another example of capital flowing into industrial AI applications rather than solely software-focused sectors. If CloudNC can convert the funding into broader commercial traction, it could help modernise smaller machine shops and support a more resilient manufacturing supply chain across Europe and beyond.
They've invested in CloudNC
Get to know these AI investors
| Investors | Investment Focus | Startup Investments | Round Size | Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nimble Ventures( ) | ||||
 Calculus Venture Capital( ) | ||||
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 LM Ventures( ) | ||||
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 Episode 1 Ventures( ) The firm specialises in investing in Pre-Seed and Seed stage B2B software compan... London  | ||||
 Lockheed Martin( ) Bethesda, US  | ||||
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