Silicon Valley investors are turning a blind eye to the past decade’s niche market, pouring money into companies that solve hard, physical problems. One such example is San Diego‑based Firestorm Labs, which raised $82 million in a Series B led by Washington Harbour Partners. The round brings the company’s total funding to nearly $150 million.

Firestorm’s containerized “xCell” platforms aim to manufacture drones, parts and other gear directly on the frontlines, shrinking supply‑chain latency for forces in contested regions. Investors including IQT, Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen Ventures see the model as a strategic shift away from centralized, back‑office production.

Meanwhile, Manifest OS has secured $60 million in a Series A that values the startup at $750 million. The company targets AI‑native law firms that bill by outcome, offering a unified back‑office that frees attorneys from routine tasks. With 150+ corporate clients and over 100 lawyers onboard, it positions itself as the new operating system for legal work.

Elsewhere, ROSI raised €20 million (≈$23 million) to build a 10,000‑tonne‑per‑year solar‑panel recycling plant in Spain, targeting the projected 2050 waste stream. Montreal’s Opalia captured $2.3 million CAD in seed funding to produce cell‑based milk from mammary cells, aiming to supply the dairy industry rather than consumers. These deals signal a shift toward tangible, high‑impact solutions.