3Bolts is a Venture Capital Catalyst by Ayna

SCALING Industrial Technology

Industrial technology spans sectors such as semiconductors, defense, automation, aviation, data centers & more.

Industrial technology is underfunded by 4X compared to the relative contribution to gross US output. Fewer early investors lead to fewer industrial start ups; reinforcing the notion that industrial technology is challenging. We’re closing that gap.

View The Typical Cycle

Addressing The Barriers

A tailored support model that aligns with the unique needs of industrial startups.

Specialized Funding & Capital

Ready to invest larger seed amounts (up to $5M) and participate in follow-on rounds with co-investors to de-risk these companies by advancing them further along the development curve.

Access & Partnerships

Tap into Ayna’s network within the industrial sector to provide startups with direct access to pilot programs, beta customers, administrative resources, and opportunities for industry validation.

Customer & Knowledge Support

Help define what good looks like; leverage analytical tools and playbooks (via Ayna’s consulting expertise) to help startups beat the right benchmarks.

Mentorship & Experience

Supported by an advisory board of 15+ CEOs and a mentor network of experienced industrial technology leaders, these domain-specific experts can mentor or assume operational roles to help guide incubated startups through technical and market challenges.

Engaged Investor Operator Model

Hands-on advisory and operational support from the Ayna team to help our cohorts scale more quickly, including market analysis and go-to-market strategy design.

Our 3 BOLTS

Capital

Strategic funding to drive growth.

Expertise

Hands-on approach driven by seasoned industrial technology operators.

Access

Exclusive access to industry leaders, pilot programs, and strategic partners.

THE MISMATCH: Industrial Tech vs. Traditional VC

The funding gap in Industrial Tech is rooted in a fundamental mismatch with mainstream venture capital models.

Long Time Horizons & Patience
7+ years versus 2-3 years at a typical software startup.
Knowledge & Expertise Gaps
Most venture capital firms are  staffed with other expertise areas.
Capital Intensity
Industrial tech startups do not have near 100% gross margins of pure software.
Multiples & Exit
Incorrect perception that Industrial Tech will not receive high valuation multiples.

3BOLTS is built for Industrial Technology

Who We Are

We’re former consultants and operators with deep expertise in industrial technology. We know how to scale companies and drive profitability by:
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  • Attracting and developing the right talent through our extensive network
  • Building organizations for scale and aligning incentives
  • Creating the systems, processes, and decision-making tools companies need


We bring together top-tier industrial tech execs who are ready to invest capital and collaborate as strategic partners. Think more than money: real-world experience, proven playbooks, and access that moves the needle.

What We’re Not

  • We’re not a traditional VC
  • We don’t pretend to know what the next big thing is
  • We don’t manage outside capital; we invest our own and co-invest with corporate VCs

Work with Us

We bring in expertise and access, not just capital.

Get in touch if you’re building in industrial tech and ready to scale.

LET'S TALK

Investment Focus

Scale With Us

Fewer early investors lead to fewer industrial startups scaling, resulting in fewer big exits. This reinforces the belief among VCs that the sector is too risky, creating a vicious cycle that stifles growth and innovation.

3BOLTS is built for industrial technology. We are evaluating a pipeline for our 2025 cohort.

Stage

Seed to Early Stage

Targeted End Markets

Semiconductors, Defense, Automation, Aviation, Data centers & more

Example Technologies

Applied AI, Digital/Analytics, Robotics, and Automation within Industrial Technology

Mentors for 3Bolts

Advisory Board

Tom Ferguson

President & CEO, AZZ

Bill johnson

CEO, Avail Infrastructure Solutions

Joe Malchow

Founding Partner, HNVR

Baljinder singh

CFO, REALTRUCK

serg bell

Chairman, Acronis

ahmad chatila

Former CEO, MEMC

stephen smith

President & CEO, Amsted Industries

mark sheehan

CEO, Graco

brent yeagy

President & CEO, Wabash

dan fisher

President & CEO, Ball

dr. shih-wei sun

Former CEO, UMC

Amit Jain

Co-Founder & CEO, Zamp
Co-Founder, Roma

Success at 3Bolts

Learn how we support you through our ecosystem, deep industry expertise, and network, and how we measure the success of our incubator companies.

3bolts advantageOur success Metrics