Autodesk invests in new AI-Powered CNC Startup

Autodesk has just announced a strategic investment in the AI-focused CNC startup Toolpath, founded by former product manager Al Whatmough. In a company blog post, Stephen Hooper, VP of Autodesk’s cloud-based product design and manufacturing solutions, said, "Our investment in Toolpath is anchored in a shared vision for the manufacturing industry—one where cutting-edge technology like AI is leveraged to transform the productivity, profitability, and creativity of manufacturers around the globe."

Toolpath was cofounded in 2021 by Andy Powell, an entrepreneur, and Justin Gray, an aerospace engineer and computer scientist. Whatmough, who led the initiative to bring CAM features into Autodesk Fusion at Autodesk, joined Toolpath as CEO in 2024. The company says its mission is to “accelerate innovation by making it faster, easier, and less expensive to prototype and produce CNC machined parts." In May, Toolpath received a fresh round of funding led by the machine-tool supplier Kennametal Inc.

“I know firsthand the craftsmanship, innovation, and sheer engineering excellence that exists within Fusion,” said Whatmough, “and I’m thrilled to be working again with friends at Autodesk to create the next generation of outstanding tools for machining. On multiple levels, from the drastic increases in efficiency we can bring to industry by working together, to the productivity that comes from building with people you’ve known and trusted for years, this investment marks the start of multiple powerhouses collaborating for the benefit of industry.”

Toolpath is optimized to simulate 3-axis CNC machining. Its centerpiece is the AI-trained algorithm to estimate production cost by analyzing a CAD model's characteristics, identifying the machines and the tooling required to manufacture the part. In doing so, the software automates a process that largely remains manual currently, Whatmough explained.

Toolpath's strategy is to target machine shops that need to analyze parts quickly and estimate the cost of production based on the machines available onsite. Toolpath has developed an Autodesk Fusion add-on, allowing Fusion users to import Toolpath's CNC program into Fusion and further refine it before sending it to a machine. 

Whatmough said the recent investments in Toolpath by industry leaders are "more than validation — it’s a signal that Toolpath is creating something genuinely valuable and impactful for our industry.”