Arda raises $230M at $1.5B valuation for AI manufacturing software

Arda said it raised $230 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, according to what the company told CNBC. Altimeter Capital, Accel and Khosla Ventures led the round. The startup, co-founded by former OpenAI research chief Bob McGrew, builds software that analyzes factory video, helps production lines adapt when product designs change, and coordinates work between robots and human workers. In March the company had sought $70 million at a $700 million valuation, so the round more than tripled that target. Arda's models are already in use with Anduril, the defense technology company. Reporting on the round did not list other participants beyond the three leads. For founders, Arda shows investors backing AI aimed at physical production rather than office software. Early deployment with a defense manufacturer also suggests industrial buyers will test AI tools in demanding settings before broader adoption.