A Town for Hard Tech Founders + More

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Howdy 👋

Welcome to your weekly dose of all things RAD—where we dig into the latest and greatest from the world of hard tech news.

Grab your white zero ultra monster energy (or whatever gives you fuel), and let’s dive in!

1. A Town for Hard Tech Founders is Taking Applications

If you want to be around ambitious people building hard tech, then look no further.

Over the constant noise, restrictions, and software-centric culture of SF and NYC? So are the founders of Proto Town.

Just outside Austin, Texas, Proto Town is carving out 540 acres as a dedicated hub for hard tech founders who are ready to make real things, free from urban limitations.

Their mission: to create a place where hardware innovation can truly thrive.

Why Proto Town?

🚀 Room to Build – 540 acres of open Texas land means real space to tinker, test, and bring hardware visions to life, minus the city congestion.

🔧 Hardware-First Culture – No SaaS distractions here. This place is laser-focused on tangible innovation for people building the next big thing in hardware.

🌵 Escape the Noise – Forget heavy regulations and software-driven culture. Proto Town’s all about giving founders the freedom to focus on what matters: making tech that’s real, physical, and built to last.

The Offer:
Proto Town is calling on five hardware founders ready to take on this frontier, investing $1M uncapped + 2.5% equity in each selected team. The aim? To foster a tight-knit, hard tech-focused community in a space designed for serious building and serious impact.

Apply Here: 021

Also watch this kick-ass video about it to get you hyped:

2. Robotics Rundown: Brightpick’s $12M Boost: Bringing AI Robots to U.S. Warehouses at Scale

Brightpick just snagged up $12M in equity and debt to fuel its U.S. expansion, aiming for 50% of its revenue stateside in 2024.

Since debuting Autopicker last year, CEO Jan Zizka says demand has surged:

Brightpick now operates near Cincinnati, with its AI-driven robots transforming warehouse fulfillment across the globe. The Autopicker system, designed for fast deployment, handles picking and consolidation right in warehouse aisles—like a human with a cart, only faster.

With over 300 AI robots already in play, Brightpick counts major clients like Rohlik Group and The Feed and took home the RBR50 Application of the Year award for 2024.

3. Aerospace Adventures: The Commercial Aerospace Market Set to Take Off!

Hold onto your boarding passes —the commercial aerospace digital solutions market is set to soar, doubling its value to an insance $57 billion by 2033, up from $29 billion in 2023.

So, what’s fueling this lift-off? A combo of skyrocketing air travel demand and the industry’s digital makeover. It’s all systems go for a high-flying decade ahead! ✈️

Here’s the high-altitude view: this sector’s revenue—$28.97 billion in 2023—is projected to climb to $57.03 billion by 2033, fueled by digital transformation, sustainability, and the rebound in air travel.

What’s Fueling the Growth?

1. Air Travel Demand is Back
   Air traffic is set to hit pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, pushing airlines, airports, OEMs, and MROs to adopt digital tools to keep pace. Increased aircraft utilization = higher demand for new aircraft and smarter aftermarket services.

2. Regional & Strategic Expansion
   North America leads revenue, but all regions are set for takeoff. Airlines and OEMs drive the charge, and acquisitions by top aviation tech firms (e.g., Amadeus, SITA) signal a wave of digital transformation across the board.

3. Innovation for a Sustainable Future
   Disruptive tech like eVTOL aircraft and AI-enhanced operations are moving the industry towards greener solutions. Expect IoT and AI to be the backbone of the new aerospace ecosystem.

4. Inter-Industry Convergence
   Aerospace is teaming up with other sectors to co-develop hybrid aircraft, share best practices, and create sustainable solutions for a digital-first industry.

The Key Players

• Airlines – From full-service to low-cost, across all regions

• Airports – All five commercial tiers represented

• MRO Providers – Global maintenance and repair services

• OEMs – Manufacturers spanning all commercial tiers

This report lays out how digitalization, sustainability, and collaboration will drive aerospace into the future, creating a smarter, greener, and more efficient air travel experience.

Get the report here: Commercial Aerospace Digital Solutions Sector, 2024-2033

🚀 Upcoming @SpaceX Launches: Clear your schedules, space fans – it’s going to be a packed launch week!

• Nov 13 – F9 Starlink 9-11

• Nov 14 – F9 Starlink 6-68

• Nov 16 – F9 Starlink 6-66

• Nov 17 – F9 Optus-X

• Nov 18 – Starship Flight 6

• Nov 19 – F9 GSAT-20 (GSAT-N2)

Reads for the Trail! 🌄🐂

• Is Palantir overvalued?

• Possible Manufacturing Issues Under Trump Presidency

• Autonomous Flight: Rapid Wildfire Detection and Suppression Test in Action

Meme of the week:

Stay RAD, stay ahead!

That’s a wrap for the week, RAD Readers! Keep the curiosity flowing, push those hard tech boundaries, and let us know what’s on your mind.

We’ll be back on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with fresh insights, new innovations, and all the hard tech updates you crave.