Eclipse

Last week, Gravity CEO & Co-founder Saleh ElHattab and Eclipse Partner Aidan Madigan-Curtissat down with Jill Malandrino to break down how investing in climate tech has proven to cut costs, mitigate risk, and future-proof companies ahead of regulatory changes. Here's a snapshot of the first few questions: Q: How can companies proactively approach sustainability to ensure long-term benefits? Saleh: Sustainability should be viewed as a two-sided coin: emissions and energy cost. By focusing on total energy consumption and optimizing sources, companies can align with traditional business priorities such as cost and risk mitigation. This approach remains relevant regardless of evolving regulations, making it a strategic move that offers long-term benefits. Q: What is the role of infrastructure in achieving climate and energy goals? Aidan: Our country is facing an energy crisis, with forecasted demand growing by 50% from five thousand terawatt hours per year to more than seven thousand terawatt hours per year in the next decade. We need a modern infrastructure for energy generation, transmission, storage and measurement to come remotely close to satisfying this massive leap in demand. At Eclipse, we invest in a wide array of technologies that transform physical industries, including energy infrastructure. Examples include new battery storage solutions for renewable energy, energy management and decarbonization software, microgrid orchestration technology, and other energy solutions for industrials. Q: Can you share a use case where Gravity's technology has made a significant impact? Saleh: There are many, but to pick one: a prominent utility company uses Gravity's technology to manage its cooling loop for the city, including stadiums and pharmaceutical manufacturers --- through the volatile seasons of the Midwest where it's hot one day and cold the next. By leveraging Gravity’s intelligent management of temperatures, they reduced cooling system consumption by 30%, resulting in significant cost savings and reduced carbon consumption, highlighting the potential of energy efficiency solutions. To see the full interview, visit: https://lnkd.in/gWZjFr_h

Labor has always been a cornerstone of GDP, yet the U.S. economy is increasingly constrained by labor shortages. Historically, offshoring spurred productivity, but now we face the daunting challenge of reshoring manufacturing amid labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, trade disputes, and geopolitical tensions — each affecting productivity and national security. Imagine, however, a future where embodied AI elevates labor productivity to digital-era heights. In this scenario, the "labor" component of GDP wouldn't merely grow; it would become virtually limitless. Eclipse Partner Seth Winterroth explains why embodied AI and autonomy holds the promise to transform the U.S. economic trajectory. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTMnd4d4

Despite moving 80% of the world’s goods and being a $432B cornerstone of the U.S. economy, the marine industry has seen little innovation over the past several decades. Enter Arc, founded by rocket engineers, EV experts, and passionate boaters, who are leveraging EV advancements from the auto industry to revolutionize marine transportation. Electric boats offer lower maintenance, higher efficiency, zero emissions, instant torque, reduced costs, and quieter rides. However, electric boats have faced a significant barrier — insufficient battery capacity to rival gas-powered boats. By harnessing and pushing the boundaries of EV innovations, Arc conquered this challenge at record speed by designing boats around their batteries from the ground up. In just three years, the Arc team introduced the Arc One and Arc Sport, smashing product-launch expectations. Read more on Arc’s journey to bring the EV revolution to the marine industry: https://lnkd.in/gGDtSfPN

Bright Machines made it to the Big Apple! 🍎 Since announcing our Series C fundraise, we've been overwhelmed with outreach and support from our partners, customers, and community. A special thank you to NYSE for commemorating this milestone by showcasing our achievement on their iconic Trading Floor! We are deeply grateful for the encouragement we’ve received and are eager to keep pushing the boundaries in manufacturing. The possibilities are endless at Bright Machines!💡 #SeriesC #ManufacturingInnovation #FutureOfManufacturing

Retail is undergoing a massive transformation and Simbe is leading the way. Their cutting-edge AI and robotics make managing inventory easier, streamline store operations, and help retailers support their staff, while improving the shopping experience for customers. Help power retail transformation with Simbe: ➡ Senior Software Engineer: https://lnkd.in/gXATGhTQ ➡ Web Full Stack Developer: https://lnkd.in/gC4enV_2 ➡ Quality Assurance Engineer: https://lnkd.in/gKjB4atU   Full listings here: https://lnkd.in/geW6-aHm 

Last week, Marissa Peretz, founder of Silicon Beach Talent, and Eclipse Partner Charly M. hosted a recruiting/talent roundtable focused on empowering startups in traditional industries to build exceptional teams. Key takeaways from our discussion include: ➡ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: CEOs need to take a major role in the early days. HR or people leaders can't forge a transformative culture alone. ➡ 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Recruit intellectually curious people. They offer deeper problem-solving skills and a passion for continual learning, which is essential for startups. ➡ 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: Use unprecedented industry changes as a recruiting tool. Highlight the opportunities for innovation and growth that big companies might lack. ➡ 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: Make the recruitment process unforgettable. Give candidates a taste of your company's culture and potential with factory tours and product showcases. ➡ 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Ensure candidates leave with a positive, lasting impression, even if they don't join. Will they speak highly of your company and its process to their friends? Thanks to everyone who attended! Contact Lilyann Colton if you’re interested in future events for startups focused on transforming physical industries.

In physical sectors, strategic partnerships are often a company’s catalyst. These alliances allow startups to harness existing infrastructures, expand market reach, and draw on deep experience to ignite change. So, how can founders ensure mutually beneficial relationships that translate to their companies gaining significant advantages, while minimizing risk for the large corporation? After nearly a decade of building and growing companies, our team of former operators at Eclipse has navigated the complexities of crucial alliances that have shaped success. This includes major partnerships led by Founding Partner Lior Susan between Bright Machines and Microsoft, and Eclipse Partner Jiten Behl’s early work with Rivian and Amazon. In our newest blog, Jiten and Lior share 3 questions every founder should ask: ➡ Are You Ready to Embrace Their Complexity? ➡ How Will You Equip Your Internal Champions? ➡ Why Should They Bet on You? Read more: https://lnkd.in/gE7Fpt3j

In his latest piece, Eclipse Partner Seth Winterroth dives into why robotics companies prove to be good businesses. Early adopters have seen ROI soar, driven by lower material costs, reduced operational expenses, and the ability to tackle complex, high-value tasks. As labor shortages persist, robotics companies that leverage human-level AI systems to address productivity and labor challenges have a massive opportunity to drive tangible economic value. ➡ High-value contracts with substantial long-term value and generous profit margins. ➡ Contracts often start at seven figures, scaling to eight or nine. ➡ Notable cash management advantages, including high up-front payments from customers and established debt instruments for working capital. ➡ High stickiness and challenging to replace, resulting in low customer churn. ➡ Potential for added value through continuous improvements and new features is paramount. Read more about: https://lnkd.in/eTMnd4d4

This week, Eclipse Partners Charly M. and Aidan Madigan-Curtis joined panels at the #Reindustrize event to discuss the future of manufacturing and investing in the next generation of industrials. If you’re at Reindustrialize and want to talk about the pioneers transforming our critical industries, reach out to Charly and Aidan. Paul Kwan, Peter Tague, JR Gibbens, Rob McHenry, Kevin Czinger, and Austin Bishop

Despite all of today's technological innovations, the manufacturing industry still heavily relies on human labor, with robots making up only 1.41% of the global workforce. In 2013, during his time at Flex, Eclipse Founding Partner Lior Susan recognized the opportunity to transform the $481B electronics manufacturing industry as he witnessed tens of thousands of workers performing repetitive tasks in the company's factory located in Zhuhai, China. Five years later, he co-founded Bright Machines with the mission to give machines human-like adaptability in electronics assembly. Today, the company announced its $126M Series C led by investment from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, participation from Eclipse, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Jabil, and Shinhan Securities Co. and venture debt secured by J.P. Morgan, to continue to execute on their mission to rethink manufacturing. For more on today's news: https://bit.ly/4eEfW5r