On October 20, 2026, AI manufacturing startup Arda Industries emerged from stealth announcing it raised $232 million in total funding, including a $160 million Series A round at a $1.5 billion valuation.

From the articleOpenAI’s former research chief launches Arda at a $1.5bn valuationAlso in Arda raises $230 million at $1.5 billion valuation to automate US manufacturing, Arda Industries raises $232M to make production lines more adaptable - SiliconANGLE, Former OpenAI exec has quietly built $1.5 billion startup, betting AI can revive U.S. manufacturing