Fundraising Fox

Nox Metals

YC S25

Detroit, US · Founded 2025 · 35 employees · Hiring · 6 known investors

NOX operates AI-powered metal manufacturing facilities that provide cut-to-spec metal products to American manufacturers with quote and delivery times measured in milliseconds rather than days. The company uses machine learning for inventory optimization, job scheduling, and bin-packing to reduce lead times and scrap in metal supply.

Also known as NOX METAL

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningDeep TechRoboticsManufacturingUnited States of AmericaAmerica / Canada

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S25)

Nox Metals was founded in 2025 by Zane Hengsperger.

ZHZane Hengsperger
Zane Hengspergerin𝕏FounderZane Hengsperger is founder of Nox Metals, an AI-powered metal manufacturing company that produces cut-to-spec metal products for American manufacturers.30 Under 30 2026

Investors · 6

Anorak VenturesLos Angeles · $25K – $400K
Operator CollectivePalo Alto · $500K – $1.5M
The CouncilSan Francisco · $10K – $100K
Trail Run CapitalMill Valley
Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K
E1 VenturesreportedSan Franciscovia Ana Levine · inferred

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$11.5M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2026

Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.

The YC application· Summer 2025 batch

Alumni Q&A

What is the core problem you are solving? Why is this a big problem? What made you decide to work on it?
The founders point to the slow, manual work factories do to quote, source, and cut aluminum blocks, which adds overhead across many jobs. They started Nox to automate this step.

Summarized from the founders' answers on their Y Combinator profile.

Images

Nox Metals photo

Competitors · 1

by search overlap
Xometry27 shared keywordsXometry operates an on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers—from startups to global enterprises—with a vetted global network of suppliers for precision components across prototyping and high-volume production. It offers an instant quoting engine and supply chain tools for custom parts from design through final delivery.

Companies competing with Nox Metals for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.

In the news

Nox Metals YC S25: $11.5M para automatizar fábricas – El Ecosistema Startupecosistemastartup.com · Jun 2026Y-Combinator backed Nox Metals raises $11.5m seed round for metal manufacturing in Detroitstart-midwest.com · Jun 2026A Detroit Startup Just Raised $11.5mdailydetroit.com · Jun 2026Nox Metals raises $11.5M seed round - Crain's Detroit Businesscrainsdetroit.com · Jun 2026NOX METALS Raises an $11.5M Seed Round to Reindustrialize Americanoxmetals.co · Jun 2026Why We Invested in Nox Metals - by Paige Dohertybehindgenius.substack.com · Mar 2026NOX METALS: The modern metals supplier.ycombinator.com · Aug 2025Nox Metals Funding: $1M | Complete Analysis | Extruct AIextruct.ai

Frequently asked questions

What does Nox Metals do?
NOX operates AI-powered metal manufacturing facilities that provide cut-to-spec metal products to American manufacturers with quote and delivery times measured in milliseconds rather than days. The company uses machine learning for inventory optimization, job scheduling, and bin-packing to reduce lead times and scrap in metal supply.
Who founded Nox Metals?
Nox Metals was founded by Zane Hengsperger in 2025.
Who are Nox Metals's investors?
Nox Metals's investors include Anorak Ventures, Operator Collective, The Council, Trail Run Capital, Y Combinator, E1 Ventures.
How much funding has Nox Metals raised?
Nox Metals has disclosed $11.5M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
Where is Nox Metals headquartered?
Nox Metals is headquartered in Detroit, US.