Masha Bucher, founder of Day One Ventures, has publicly announced her firm's early support for RMFG, an innovative company positioning itself as a key enabler within the deep tech ecosystem. This endorsement follows RMFG's recent capital raise of $4.5 million, aimed at scaling its AI-powered sheet metal fabrication operations. The investment underscores a growing trend in venture capital towards companies leveraging advanced technology to revolutionize traditional industries.
RMFG, led by founder Kenneth Cassel, is transforming the sheet metal manufacturing sector by integrating artificial intelligence and computer vision into its factory processes. This technological approach allows the Dallas-Fort Worth-based company to automate tasks such as quoting, quality control, and design adjustments, significantly reducing lead times from months to mere weeks. Cassel previously noted a "renaissance" in manufacturing, driven by AI capabilities eroding the value of pure software startups, making physical products more appealing.
The company's advanced systems include custom computer vision solutions that optimize material usage by intelligently nesting parts onto remnant sheets, a process that traditionally takes operators 10-20 minutes but is completed in 30 seconds with RMFG's software. This efficiency not only minimizes waste but also ensures consistent quality and faster production cycles. RMFG primarily serves fast-moving hardware startups in robotics and aerospace, having shipped over 100,000 parts to approximately 200 customers, including Durin and Rainmaker.
Day One Ventures, under Masha Bucher's leadership, is known for its unique model of combining financial investment with hands-on public relations and communications support for its portfolio companies. Bucher expressed her enthusiasm on social media, stating, "> Excited to be an early supporter of RMFG—one of the key enablers of the entire deep tech ecosystem." The firm's investment strategy targets early-stage founders who are "solving humanity’s most pressing issues" and demonstrate a strong customer-centric approach, aligning with RMFG's mission to provide rapid, high-quality manufacturing solutions for complex hardware.