The future of precision manufacturing is at a crossroads. Small businesses, which represent 95% of manufacturing capacity, are rapidly disappearing, with the average owner’s age now surpassing 65. Alarmingly, 40% of small manufacturers plan to retire within the next five years. This aging workforce is creating an existential threat to manufacturing capabilities across Europe and North America.
At the same time, demand for precision manufacturing is soaring, particularly as British companies are set to invest $650 billion to reshore production in the next three years. Without intervention, the widening gap between supply and demand threatens to destabilize industries that are vital to national security and economic resilience.
Bridging the Manufacturing Gap with Innovation
To address this critical issue, Isembard was founded with the mission to transform manufacturing for critical industries. Established in 2024 by Alex Fitzgerald, Isembard is pioneering a network of modular, highly automated manufacturing units that are powered by its proprietary MasonOS software. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, AI-driven production planning, and a revolutionary business model, Isembard is setting a new benchmark for efficiency, scalability, and resilience in the UK’s critical supply chains, as well as those of its global allies.
Isembard’s vision has already attracted significant investment. The company has secured $9 million (£7 million) in a seed round led by Notion Capital, with backing from the UK Government’s National Security and Investment Fund (NSIIF) and the German Federal Government. Additional funding came from 201 Ventures, Basis Capital, Forward Fund, Material Ventures, Neverlift Ventures, and NP-Hard Ventures. Notable angel investors include Andreas Klinger (Product Hunt), Charlie Delingpole (ComplyAdvantage), Joshua Western (SpaceForge), and Salar al Khafaji (Monumental).
The funding will enable Isembard to expand its first factory, scale its engineering team, and enhance its technology platform to provide faster, more reliable, and cost-effective production solutions to industries including defence, aerospace, and energy.
How Isembard is Bridging Software-Driven Efficiency and Real-World Production
Isembard’s software-first, distributed manufacturing model is redefining how industries meet production demands. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, Isembard offers businesses faster, greener, and more scalable production. Its MasonOS platform unifies every stage of manufacturing—from quoting and supply chain management to scheduling, machining, and billing. This integration enables rapid turnaround and high-precision production.
For example, MasonOS reduces the quoting process from one week to just one day and cuts machine setup time from three days to one, enabling businesses to deliver mission-critical parts in as little as three days. This combination of AI and automation ensures that businesses can meet the growing demands of fast-moving sectors without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
A New Franchise Model for Entrepreneurs
One of Isembard’s key innovations is its franchise model, which empowers local entrepreneurs to run their own high-tech machine shops. Franchisees can rent key equipment, hire local talent, and benefit from Isembard’s technology, support, and access to national contracts. This model not only reduces overheads but also provides franchisees with recurring revenue from diverse industries, making it easier to scale operations.
Isembard’s prototype factory, which opened in London’s Zone 3 in February 2025, serves as a testbed for its distributed, software-first manufacturing model. The company plans to replicate this factory model across hundreds or even thousands of sites in the UK, Europe, and North America. These AI-optimized machine shops will create a resilient and scalable network that can rapidly respond to the evolving needs of industries critical to national security and economic prosperity.
Isembard’s mission goes beyond just transforming manufacturing — it’s about industrial acceleration. Alexander Fitzgerald, Isembard’s founder and CEO, explains, “Manufacturing is the backbone of economic prosperity, national security, and our collective purpose as humanity. Yet our industrial base is dying. We’re building a new model, one that decentralizes production while driving efficiency through software and automation. With support from top investors who share our vision, we are forging industrial acceleration for the West.”
This commitment to industrial acceleration is shared by Isembard’s investors. Jos White, General Partner at Notion Capital, praised the company’s approach: “Isembard is tackling one of the hardest, most ambitious challenges today, bringing software-driven transformation to precision manufacturing. Alex and his team have the vision, technical expertise, and relentless execution needed to redefine this space.”
