AtomsNotBits

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Convective, the VC fund focused on fire tech and disaster resilience, has secured $85M for its Fund II. - NVIDIA and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. plan to build a Bay Area robotics development center, targeting mobility and medical robot development first. - Ratio Drones Inc. has launched. The Austin, Texas startup is developing heavy-lift UAVs for contested logistics. - Robert Bosch GmbH, the global German engineering firm, has partnered with Humanoid to manufacture humanoid robots. - Antares secured a deal with Urenco, the uranium enrichment company, to supply enrichment services for HALEU fuel for Antares’ microreactors. - Reaction Dynamics, the Canadian launch startup, has signed an MOU with Hanwha Ocean focused on advancing Canadian sovereign launch capability. - Australia has approved a $1.6B rare earth mining project in Northern Australia, set to become the third-largest rare earths operation in the country. - HANMI Semiconductor, the Korean semiconductor packaging firm, is entering the American market with its U.S. HQ in San Jose, California. - RoboStrategy has listed on Nasdaq. The investment fund focuses on robotics and physical AI companies across private and public markets. - Valinor has opened its manufacturing and R&D facility in Cookeville, TN, for Dispatch, its modular charging node product for powering autonomous systems. - Canadian Armed Forces are looking to procure sUAS integrated with laser range-finding capabilities that can operate in contested environments. - Asylon Robotics is using robotic security dogs to support farm security operations at Bayer’s Hawaii sites. The platform can be remotely operated and includes thermal and optical cameras.

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Anduril Industries has launched Voyager Gateway 1, a new compute and communications system for operators. The low-power, waterproof device is designed for rugged environments and brings together communications, compute, and edge networking, enabling AI to run on-prem. - Amca has secured a $300M Series B led by Caffeinated Capital, reaching a $1B+ valuation. The El Segundo startup designs and manufactures critical aerospace & defense components, and has acquired 6 component shops nationwide. - Orbit Robotics has launched out of stealth. The Swiss startup is developing humanoids for space stations and space research. - The U.S. Department of Energy is deploying $45.7M across 19 projects focused on American critical mineral and material security. - Boskalis, the global marine firm, has purchased a new-age cable lay vessel, enabling the large-scale installation of subsea cables. - aramco, in partnership with Pasqal, the French quantum computing firm, will put Saudi Arabia’s first quantum computer online. - The Swiss Armed Forces have begun training with Orqa FPV drones as part of broader live drone warfare trials in Elm, Switzerland. - The Dallas Police Department has launched a new Drone as First Responder program, with eight drones docked on top of fire department infrastructure. - Colossal Biosciences, the Dallas-based biotech firm, has successfully hatched live chicks using its fully artificial egg system.

BREAKING: Amca has secured a $300M Series B led by Caffeinated Capital, reaching a $1B+ valuation. The El Segundo startup designs and manufactures critical aerospace & defense components, and has acquired 6 component shops nationwide.

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Armada secured a $230 million Series B. The startup develops forward-deployed modular data centers, and co-lead investors include Overmatch Ventures, BlackRock, and 8090 Industries. The company will use the capital to build out its Galleon Forge One manufacturing facility, which will span up to 400,000 square feet. Additionally, Armada secured a Global Framework Agreement with Johnson Controls focused on modular data center systems. - SendCutSend secured $110 million in funding. The Reno, Nevada-based company produces custom sheet metal and CNC parts for America’s industrial base. Investors include Sequoia Capital, Paradigm, and Patrick Collison and John Collison, who founded the fintech giant Stripe. The capital will be used to bring more factories online. - Shield AI will integrate its Hivemind autonomy package onto Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System drones under a new Pentagon deal. - Vast, the Long Beach space company, is now developing high-power satellite buses. - Hellbender Inc., the Pittsburgh startup, secured a $12.5 million seed round led by Magarac Venture Partners and Veredas Partners. The company develops cameras, sensors, and computing hardware for edge computing applications. - Mach Industries has acquired Exquadrum, the Victorville aerospace and defense manufacturer that develops technologies in areas such as rocket motor propulsion and energetics, and operates a 700,000-square-foot facility. The deal size is reported at $50M according to the WSJ. - Varda Space Industries W-6 reentry capsule completed a successful landing at Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, the Canadian mining firm is building out their  Hope Bay mining project in Canada, focused on gold (2.5B) - Cellula Robotics Ltd., the underwater robotics company, has partnered with Metron Inc. to integrate mission autonomy capabilities onto Cellula’s AUVs for defense applications. - Re:Build Manufacturing and Enigma Aerospace signed an MOU to produce Enigma’s contested logistics drone. - NanduX, the El Segundo and Chilean mining tech firm, secured an agreement with Expande from Fundación Chile to further develop the country’s mining industry. - HII and MetalCraft Marine Inc., the high-performance aluminum boat manufacturer, built two USVs (pictured below) for the Marines through Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and have already delivered and tested them on the water.

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Ondas Inc. is planning to acquire Omnisys, which develops battle resource optimization software. The deal size is $199M. - The United States Air Force is exploring ways to repurpose offshore oil rigs for reusable rocket recovery. - Faraday Future secured $25M in new funding for the development of humanoid, wheeled, and four-legged robots for the security, education, and tourism end markets. - Playground Global has launched a $475M Fund IV focused on deep tech investments. - Orion Edge Group Inc., the Florida electronic warfare startup, has secured a $3M seed round led by Backswing Ventures. The startup has already delivered systems to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. - DZYNE Technologies demonstrated its Long-Range Grasshopper autonomous aerial resupply system during Exercise Trojan Footprint 2026 in Europe. The system was deployed from an aircraft to support contested logistics missions. - REGENT, the Rhode Island seaglider startup, partnered with Schneider Electric and World4Solar to demonstrate remote charging for its Viceroy Seaglider prototype. - The Bald Hill lithium mine in Western Australia is restarting operations in mid-summer. The mine is operated by Mineral Resources Limited. - Boston Dynamics showcased its Atlas humanoid robot picking up and moving a small fridge. - Nishati, Inc. and Chariot Defense recently trained National Guard warfighters on an integrated expeditionary power setup, combining NPT hybrid generation and solar systems with Chariot’s Amphora 24 power storage and distribution system. - Rheinmetall and Destinus have built a new deep-strike cruise missile with containerized launch capabilities. - Booz Allen Hamilton partnered with Anduril Industries to integrate its C2, cyber, RF effects, and zero trust capabilities with Anduril’s Menace systems and Lattice software. - Sean Plankey has joined UFORCE as U.S. CEO. Plankey previously served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security and held roles at the National Security Council and the Department of Energy. - Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) has rolled out a $30M VC fund focused on deep tech investments. - transload (YC P26) has launched. The startup turns existing warehouse security cameras into freight measurement and warehouse intelligence systems for logistics operators (pictured below).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sinan Kanatsiz Announces Ownership Stake in “Atoms Not Bits” Hard Tech Media Company TOKYO, JAPAN — May 18, 2026 — Announced from Tokyo, Japan, entrepreneur, media executive, and Internet Marketing Association (IMA) founder Sinan Kanatsiz announced his ownership stake in “Atoms Not Bits”, one of the fastest-growing media platforms focused on deep technology, hard technology, and frontier innovation. The strategic investment brings together Atoms Not Bits (ANB) and the Internet Marketing Association (IMA) to build one of the most influential communities of founders, investors, policymakers, and operators driving the future of global innovation. Together, the partnership will focus on multi-trillion dollar sectors shaping the New Frontier economy, including artificial intelligence, defense technology, aerospace, space, robotics, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, quantum computing, energy, nuclear, cybersecurity, semiconductors, mobility, infrastructure, climate technology, human systems, subterranean, private equity, and venture capital. “Many of the most important companies in the world are being built quietly without the media attention they deserve,” said Sinan Kanatsiz. “Atoms Not Bits has emerged as one of the few platforms telling meaningful stories about the founders, technologies, and investment firms reshaping the future. I’m excited to help scale that vision globally through our network and enterprise.” As part of the announcement, Atoms Not Bits will also serve as the Official Media Partner of IMPACT 250, the invitation-only New Frontier Roundtable and Conference taking place in Washington, D.C. this Fall 2026. The outlet will provide full media coverage of IMPACT 250 while also delivering exclusive interviews, breaking news, and in-depth reporting on the companies, founders, venture firms, private equity leaders, and policy influencers building the next generation of global industry. IMPACT 250 has quickly become a major platform focused on aligning innovation, capital, media, and policy as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. From Washington D.C. to Silicon Valley to Tokyo, this partnership reflects a growing global movement centered around the future of hard tech and frontier innovation. About Sinan Kanatsiz: Sinan Kanatsiz is CEO of KCOMM, a strategic communications firm focused on innovation, media, and emerging industries. He is also the founder and chairman of the Internet Marketing Association (IMA) and host of IMPACT 250 - http://www.impact250.live About Atoms Not Bits: Atoms Not Bits is a leading media platform covering deep technology, hard technology, national security, venture capital, private equity, and frontier innovation. Media Contact: Caroline Comer, Chief of Staff, KCOMM caroline@kcomm.com +1 (864) 804-0074 Nolan Carroll AtomsNotBits Internet Marketing Association

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Northrop Grumman secured a $325.5M U.S. Army contract for a high-altitude drone supporting hypersonic weapons data collection. - WIRobotics Inc., the Korean humanoid robotics startup, secured a $68M Series B and is expanding to North America. - The Chula Vista Police Department, the first police department in America to launch Drone as First Responder, just crossed 25,000 drone responses to emergency calls. - Super Powers Mobility (SPM), the Pittsburgh utility terrain vehicle manufacturer, completed over 100 successful vehicle demos and 60 miles in high-desert terrain for Special Operations Forces technology evaluators at a recent exercise. - Saab, the Swedish defense firm, launched the Barracuda Poncho, a new camouflage system designed to help troops evade drone-based thermal and UV detection. - Tesla has reportedly filed a permit for a dedicated Cybercab autonomous fleet cleaning facility in Las Vegas. - Japan is looking to potentially join NATO DIANA, the defense tech accelerator under NATO, according to Nikkei Asia. - Andreessen Horowitz is opening an office in Japan this summer, making Tokyo the firm’s only international office. - Sinan Kanatsiz has joined Privateer as a strategic advisor. Privateer, co-founded by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, develops space-based and all-domain geospatial intelligence infrastructure for defense, government, and commercial markets. - Figure, the Bay Area humanoid robotics startup, has deployed its robot in a logistics environment, where it has sorted 76,940 packages over 61 hours and 18 minutes as of last night. - KROHNE is expanding further into manufacturing industrial meters and instrumentation for liquid cooling in data center infrastructure. - Motorola Solutions deployed its L6D Dual Lens Camera on a major American interstate. The camera enables long-range license plate recognition, live video monitoring, and AI-based vehicle detection for law enforcement and logistics security, according to Lane Thompson. - Atoco, the water tech startup, now has a working prototype that can produce 4,000 liters of water per day from air, according to Bloomberg. - Incerta Intelligence Inc., the Charlotte, NC startup, secured a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with SOCOM’s Science and Technology Directorate focused on human-machine teaming and augmenting intelligence analysis with AI. - BlackSea Technologies, the Baltimore maritime autonomy startup, tested its GARC unmanned surface vessel in the Arctic during NATO’s Arctic Sentry 2026, as the region becomes more contested.

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Anduril Industries has been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence for the next phase of Project NYX, developing autonomous wingmen to operate alongside British Army Apache attack helicopters. - Arkeus, the Australian defense tech startup, secured an $18M Series A led by QIC Ventures. The round will fund expansion across the U.S., Europe, and Australia. The startup develops sensing technology for autonomous defense systems. - Saronic Technologies has partnered with Castelion to pair Saronic’s 180-foot Marauder autonomous ship with Castelion’s hypersonic capabilities. - Neros Technologies, the LA-based drone company, demoed its Archer FPV drone system and kinetic payload capabilities for Defence Australia. - Oishii secured a $150M Series C. The New Jersey startup operates highly automated vertical farms that use robots to grow strawberries. - AG3 Labs secured first place in the XPONENTIAL Show pitch competition. The Michigan startup builds attritable American drones for defense and law enforcement training and operations. - Skydio has started delivering its R10 drone to customers, designed for indoor, confined-space, and GPS-denied missions.

Exclusive: Gallatin AI, Inc. team breaks down their agentic radio agent for critical battlefield communications, built in 24 hours at the Cerebral Valley National Security Hackathon (by Army xTech).

Daily Hard Tech Headlines: - Furientis has launched. The El Segundo startup is building low-cost interceptor missiles designed for mass production and secured a $5M seed round led by Silent Ventures. - Skydio secured a multimillion-dollar follow-on contract with the U.S. Air Force to expand X10D drone deployments across EOD units for situational awareness and standoff support during bomb disposal missions. - Kodiak, the autonomous trucking startup, secured a pilot with West Fraser, the Canadian lumber company. Kodiak will deploy its autonomous trucks to haul timber in the remote Canadian forest. - The Department of Energy has awarded $94M to eight companies to push forward the light-water small modular reactors industry, the companies include - Argentina approved two major lithium and copper mining projects, with investment totaling over $2B. - The Royal Navy tested forward-deployed medical capabilities inside a containerized pod at sea (pictured below), with the system now at TRL 8. The unit carries its own power redundancy, water capacity, waste handling, medical oxygen production, and equipment sterilization systems. - Motorola Solutions is deploying $100M to scale the manufacturing and supply chain of Silvus Technologies, which develops wireless communication technology for the defense and civic end markets. They will build out a 165,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. - Transit Tech Lab, the accelerator created by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Partnership Fund for New York City, selected 18 startups to work with major New York-area transportation agencies, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NYC DOT, NJ TRANSIT, and NYC DDC. Key hard tech companies include In In A Blink, developing photonic wireless technology for sensor data transfer, and CYVL, developing infrastructure failure detection technology. - DZYNE Technologies, the Irvine defense tech firm, has launched a new Group 1 UAS (pictured below) developed for swarm deployment and affordable mass.