Latest news with #ReindustrializeSummit
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US military hardware maker Anduril's founder Palmer Luckey on possibility of American-made PCs: ‘I think there's a chance…'
Image credit: X (Twitter) US military hardware maker Anduril 's founder, Palmer Luckey , has recently teased the possibility of the company producing American-made PCs . This week, while talking at the 'Reindustrialize Summit' in Detroit, US, Luckey said, 'I think there's a chance that it's going to be Anduril.' He also noted that conversations about this PC-making initiative began years ago. He added that Anduril has engaged with 'everyone you would need to have to do that,' including individuals "on the chip side, on the assembly side, on the manufacturing side." Despite these discussions, Luckey is not entirely committed to the effort as he also told the audience that "there are some things Anduril has to do," while "there are other things we'd rather have other people do. This is something I'd rather have other people do." However, he didn't share a potential name for the computer but suggested that it would be "pro-American, and also a gambling reference." It's important to note that the concept of American-made computers is not new. For example, PC manufacturer Dell operated several manufacturing plants across the US before closing its North Carolina plant in 2009 and shifting to an international manufacturing partner in Poland. Anduril will not build its own humanoid robot: Palmer Luckey by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doctors Beg: Take These 4 Ingredients Before Bed to Burn Fat The Healthy Way Learn More Undo At the event, Luckey spoke to the audience both virtually and through a humanoid robot developed by a company named Foundation. Sharing a post on X, he wrote: "I finally pulled off my long-standing goal of speaking at a conference via VR telerobotics! Thousands of miles of travel saved, and no chance of Luigi." He clarified that Anduril does not plan to create its own humanoid robot as well: 'We're going to partner with other companies where it makes sense.' Founded by Luckey in 2017, Anduril develops US military hardware such as drones, underwater submersibles, and an AI-driven software platform called Lattice. The company is also collaborating with Meta on extended reality headsets and other wearable devices for military use—a partnership which was announced in May. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I went to the 'save America' conference in Detroit, where patriotic founders vied for VC dollars
At a still-under-construction tower in downtown Detroit, venture capitalists and founders from both coasts gathered for the second annual Reindustrialize Summit. The site was a fitting, if unintentional, metaphor for the conference's central theme: how startups and venture capitalists can spur an American industrial renaissance. The conference speakers, who were mostly company builders and their investors, boldly shared the event's mission: "Welcome to year two of the save America conference," Chris Power, CEO of automated factory startup Hadrian, said in his opening speech. "We're about to go into a generational grudge match with the Chinese Communist Party." Reviving the country's manufacturing and defense base has become an ascendant obsession in Silicon Valley, fueled in part by Trump 2.0's assertions about tariffs energizing American manufacturing and a proposed $1 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2026. (The House passed an $832 billion defense funding bill for the same year early Friday.) Y Combinator, a program that invests in and provides mentorship for early-stage startups, collaborated with the June event in requesting applications from founders who hope to modernize manufacturing. According to PitchBook, defense tech investments soared to $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, compared with $200 million in the same period last year. A handful of companies announced news at the two-day event in what seemed like a competition for venture eyeballs. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey hinted at the possibility of the company producing American-made computers. Hadrian announced its $260 million Series C financing led by Founders Fund and Lux Capital, and a factory expansion loan facility arranged by Morgan Stanley. Chariot Defense, a startup that makes energy infrastructure for the military, launched at Reindustrialize, publicizing a seed funding round led by General Catalyst and XYZ Venture Capital. Regent said that it will start making its seaglider vessels for defense applications. It became yet another company targeting dual-use strategies. And California Forever, the group behind a new city a stone's throw away from San Francisco, announced on Thursday plans to build a manufacturing park. Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you. What is your job title? (1 of 2) Entry level position Project manager Management Senior management Executive management Student Self-employed Retired Other Continue By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . 'The art of the possible' Growing geopolitical tensions with China, which has a strong manufacturing base and a modernizing military, undergirded Secretary of the Navy John Phelan's address about the importance of skilled laborers in the industrial race against American adversaries. "We've spent the last 10 years teaching people how to code," he said in a speech on Wednesday. "We're going to spend the next 10 years teaching people how to use their hands." Selling venture capitalists with deep pockets on the image of a pro-industrialization America seemed as important as the mission itself. Whitney Houston's 1991 Super Bowl performance of the national anthem blasted over speakers to a packed auditorium before Phelan's speech. The conference's imagery blended old and new Americana: a waitress confronted with a buzzing drone, a worker riding an electric scooter, and Wyoming's cowboys under the shadow of the Grand Tetons and a fighter jet. "The people that founded this country and the people that pushed out into the frontier are really inspiring to a lot of the folks who are attending," Mike Slaugh, a Reindustrialize cofounder and producer, told Business Insider. "They see the art of the possible." Slagh worked on Reindustrialize's branding with Warpcraft, a design firm for hardware and frontier tech startups. He said the creative team generated and edited the images using artificial intelligence. Americana Swagger Attendees' outfits spoke volumes, too. They sported event-provided nametags affixed to American flag-printed lanyards and picked up tie-dye merch on their way out. Some strutted the halls wearing "Make American Nuclear Great Again" caps, a riff on Trump's MAGA trucker hat. Others opted for headgear that promoted their portfolio companies. Swag aside, Gregory Bernstein, a Reindustrialize cofounder and CEO of investment firm New Industrial Corporation, told BI that the mission captivated many: "It's like an actual movement," he said. "The people who come are here because they legitimately want to solve this problem. It's not an ego thing." But not everyone bought in. Protesters from a group called Engineers Against Apartheid, according to a flyer obtained by BI and distributed by the demonstrators, gathered outside the conference venue and in front of a nearby Gucci store to protest the event and defense companies like Palantir Technologies. Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar said at the conference on Thursday, "Our greatest threat isn't China. It's ourselves."
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Anduril founder Palmer Luckey wants to make computers American again
Palmer Luckey teased the idea of Auduril manufacturing American-made computers. Luckey joined the Reindustrialize Summit in Detroit virtually. The Anduril founder also emphasized the importance of working with partners to build tools. "This is one of those things where I started talking to companies years ago about this," Luckey said. "I think there's a chance that it's going to be Anduril." Luckey added that Anduril has held conversations with "everyone you would need to have to do that," including people "on the chip side, on the assembly side, on the manufacturing side." Anduril doesn't yet make computers, and Luckey isn't completely sold on the effort. He told the crowd: "There are some things Anduril has to do," he said. "There are other things we'd rather have other people do. This is something I'd rather have other people do." American-made computers aren't a novel concept. PC-maker Dell had several manufacturing plants throughout the US, but in 2009, it closed its North Carolina plant and announced a change to its international manufacturing partner, moving from Ireland to Poland. Luckey, who addressed the crowd virtually and with a humanoid robot from Foundation, also added that Anduril will not build its own humanoid robot: "We're going to partner with other companies where it makes sense," he said. Anduril, which was cofounded by Luckey in 2017, makes hardware for the US military, including drones and underwater submersibles, and an AI-powered software platform, Lattice. The company is also working on extended reality headsets and other wearables for the military in a partnership with Meta, which the companies announced in May. Luckey declined to share what he would name the computer if he were to make it, but hinted that "it's pro-American, and also a gambling reference, but I'll leave it at that."
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Anduril founder Palmer Luckey wants to make computers American again
Anduril, the defense tech giant that makes weapons and military products, could produce American-made computers, founder Palmer Luckey announced at the Reindustrialize Summit, a conference about modernizing American manufacturing, in Detroit on Thursday. "This is one of those things where I started talking to companies years ago about this," Luckey said. "I think there's a chance that it's going to be Anduril." Luckey added that Anduril has held conversations with "everyone you would need to have to do that," including people "on the chip side, on the assembly side, on the manufacturing side." Anduril doesn't yet make computers, and Luckey isn't completely sold on the effort. He told the crowd: "There are some things Anduril has to do," he said. "There are other things we'd rather have other people do. This is something I'd rather have other people do." American-made computers aren't a novel concept. PC-maker Dell had several manufacturing plants throughout the US, but in 2009, it closed its North Carolina plant and announced a change to its international manufacturing partner, moving from Ireland to Poland. Luckey, who addressed the crowd virtually and with a humanoid robot from Foundation, also added that Anduril will not build its own humanoid robot: "We're going to partner with other companies where it makes sense," he said. Anduril, which was cofounded by Luckey in 2017, makes hardware for the US military, including drones and underwater submersibles, and an AI-powered software platform, Lattice. The company is also working on extended reality headsets and other wearables for the military in a partnership with Meta, which the companies announced in May. Luckey declined to share what he would name the computer if he were to make it, but hinted that "it's pro-American, and also a gambling reference, but I'll leave it at that."
