Boston remains a top startup hub

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April 13, 2026

NPA Insights, April 2026

Hi all!

We took a bit of a break, but the NPA Newsletter is back!!

Thank you for all the nice comments during our hiatus.

The supply chain landscape is becoming increasingly complex as Iran boosts its military support to Russia, particularly in supplying drones and missiles. This alliance not only complicates existing logistics but also raises concerns about how Western sanctions are influencing procurement strategies.

Manufacturers and suppliers may need to rethink their routes and sourcing, as geopolitical tensions alter traditional partnerships. This situation highlights the vulnerability of supply chains amid conflict, reminding us that the ripple effects of one country’s actions can impact operations far and wide.

AND NOW SOME OPERATIONS NEWS

The State of Manufacturing

The Manufacturing PMI Index registered at 52.7% in March, expanding for the third month in a row following a 10-month period of contraction.

The New Orders Index expanded for the third straight month after four straight readings in contraction, registering 53.5%, down 2.3 percentage points compared to February’s 55.8%.

March's Production Index registered 55.1%, 1.6 percentage points higher than February's 53.5%.

The manufacturing landscape is on the verge of transformation. OpenAI's former research chief is spearheading an initiative to harness AI technology to automate manufacturing processes. This could revolutionize how goods are produced, potentially streamlining supply chains and reducing reliance on manual labor.

By integrating AI into manufacturing, the aim is to enhance efficiency and scalability, which can alleviate some of the pressures on existing supply chains. This push towards automation comes at a crucial time, as industries face ongoing challenges such as labor shortages and rising costs.

If successful, this approach could reshape not only how products are made but also how they are distributed, ultimately changing the dynamics within global supply chains.

STARTUP STUFF

Boston’s venture capital scene continued to flourish in March, surpassing $1 billion in monthly funding for the second time this year.

Boston-based fitness tracker, Whoop, achieved decacorn status (a private company whose value exceeds $10 billion) after closing a $575 million funding round.

CavilinQ raised $8.8 million in seed funding to create hardware that helps connect multiple quantum processors, allowing quantum computers to grow bigger than just one processor. They are building special photonic links to join these processors into flexible, modular systems.

A team made up of a navy veteran and MIT entrepreneur make up Gander Robotics, launching a defense robotics company to tackle the man-overboard crisis and combat its 72% fatality rate at sea.

In a significant boost for the manufacturing sector, Nominal has successfully closed an $80 million acceleration round led by Founders Fund, elevating its valuation to an impressive $1 billion. This funding aims to enhance the company's efforts in making manufacturing processes more efficient through innovative solutions.

Nominal is poised to scale its operations, further integrating advanced technologies designed to streamline manufacturing workflows. This investment reflects strong investor confidence in Nominal's potential to transform the industry, positioning the company for substantial growth as it seeks to address the evolving challenges within manufacturing.