Ep. 26 How To Scale In an Old-School Industry with Manukai Startup Founder Pascal Weber
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n this episode of Funded, Now What?!, host Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Pascal Weber, Co-Founder of Manukai — a deep tech ETH spin-off that just raised a $3M oversubscribed seed round to solve one of the most critical bottlenecks in modern manufacturing: CNC machine programming. While the world rushes to digitize, manufacturing still leans heavily on manual labor — especially in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, where skilled labor is increasingly scarce and efficiency is lagging behind modern AI capabilities. Manukai is changing that, building proprietary AI models that automate complex, high-precision processes and unlock massive efficiencies in global production lines. Pascal shares the vision behind Manukai, their early traction with industry giants like Bosch, and how they’re tackling one of the most outdated-yet-essential processes in industrial manufacturing. Andrew steps in with sharp, tailored launch marketing strategies to help Pascal and his team break through in a conservative, relationship-driven industry. Tune in as we cover: ✅ How Manukai raised $3M pre-seed in a technical, niche category ✅ The labor shortage crisis in CNC machining — and why it matters now ✅ How to launch and scale AI products in traditional industries ✅ Pascal’s approach to product development with enterprise customers ✅ Tactical growth advice from Andrew on GTM strategy, positioning & credibility building If you’re building in deep tech, working on AI for industry, or just fascinated by the future of manufacturing — this is a rare look inside a truly disruptive startup poised to reshape the supply chain. 🔗 Learn more about Manukai: LinkedIn: Manukai on LinkedIn About the show: Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup podcast for founders, entrepreneurs, and growth-focused leaders. It’s the world’s only show that interviews recently funded founders to uncover how they raised millions — and gives them tactical advice on how to spend it. About GrowthExpertz: After driving growth for his third VC-backed exit in 2016, Andrew Lee Miller (@andrewstartups) founded GrowthExpertz, a Fractional Expert Consultancy for early-stage startups and tech companies looking to scale without paying bloated full-time salaries. With over a dozen 8–9 figure valuation projects, exits, and nearly 100 success stories, GrowthExpertz helps companies dominate in marketing, product, HR, and more. Why Fractional Consultants? Harvard Business Review found that startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth thanks to their cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower. Some of our clients include: 🟢 DataDistillr.com (raised $10M off our work) 🟢 CanWeApp.com (acquired) 🟢 WithDouble.com (30% growth in 90 days) 🟢 Retention.com (formerly GetEmails, now $30M ARR) 🟢 CrownDating.com (exit to Match Group) 🟢 Denizen.io (BBVA Incubator) 🟢 Zedge.net (100M+ installs) 🟢 Different.com.au (leading Aussie proptech startup) 🟢 Fly.com (300% traffic increase in 12 months) 🟢 OpenInvest.co (acquired by Chase) Want in? 📩 [email protected] 📅 Book a call: www.growthexpertz.com
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