Former Apple Engineer Launches Fund Focused on Physical AI, Manufacturing Tech

Venture capital has long flowed primarily into pure software and internet services, leaving manufacturing startups overlooked by capital markets for years. But growing global concern over supply-chain security and industrial transformation is turning “physical AI,” which bridges the physical and virtual worlds, and factory automation into crucial drivers of industrial productivity and national security. The shift is prompting venture investors to reassess and return to physical manufacturing.

Omni Ventures, a venture capital firm founded by a former Apple engineer, announced in July 2026 that it had closed $33 million for its debut fund. The fund focuses on manufacturing technologies including factory automation, robotics and physical AI. It has already invested in several AI application platforms, including Uptool and Dystr, reflecting a broader return of venture capital to physical technologies and industrial digitalization.