Critical Mass came to Detroit for the first time. 

This edition paid tribute to the city's legacy of innovation: industrial, technological, musical, and to the member companies pushing its next chapter forward. Bangers spotlighted some of the standout companies from our Detroit cohort; the ones moving fast, building hard, and creating new systems in a city that knows what it means to make noise

Over 400 members, investors, and industry partners joined in celebration of these companies: Nox Metals, blueflite, Observable Space, Shandoka, Ecosphere Organics, Aerialoop, Cambrian, Thermoverse, and wheel.me. Learn more about our exhibiting startups below.

Nox Metals‍

Nox Metals is bringing automation, software and advanced manufacturing to the metals supply chain. As "the modern factory for fast, low-cost metals," the company offers custom-cut plate, blocks, tube, and sheet. Along with real-time quoting, efficient scheduling and rapid delivery­ they are eliminating traditional mark-ups and slow workflows. Their vertically ­integrated factories process orders at software-speed.

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blueflite

blueflite is a U.S.-based drone manufacturer developing advanced, fully electric tilt-rotor aircraft for rapid, automated logistics. Built and manufactured in Michigan, the aircraft uses a hybrid production architecture that blends high-strength composites with HP Multi Jet Fusion-printed components to create a lightweight, highly adaptable structure.

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Observable Space

Observable Space develops vertically integrated optical systems and software platforms engineered for commercial space and defense-grade observation. These systems enable persistent observation from low Earth orbit to deep space, providing modular control over data capture, analysis, and tasking. All hardware is designed and manufactured at the advanced R&D campus in Michigan, ensuring domestic production, quality assurance, and deployment readiness.

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Shandoka

Shandoka's solution for the 9.6 million motorcycles on the road in the USA is not to replace them, but to rebuild them. Their patented retrofit system makes it safe and affordable to convert existing gas motorcycles to electric drive. The adapter and hub motors are produced here in Detroit and fit over a dozen motorcycle models.

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Ecosphere Organics

Ecosphere Organics is a materials innovation company transforming food and agricultural waste into sustainable raw materials for manufacturing, design, and agriculture. With modular processing units, integrated data systems, and community-driven supply chains, they are redefining waste as infrastructure for the next generation of materials. By turning discarded organics into valuable resources, Ecosphere Organics is advancing a regenerative materials economy that supports circularity, resilience, and equitable growth.

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Aerialoop

While billions have been invested in last-mile delivery, Aerialoop is leading the charge in drone­based middle-mile logistics. Aerialoop seamlessly connects central city warehouses to neighborhood stores, making next-hour deliveries a cost-effective reality. With operational success across multiple cities around the world, and a scalable business model, Aerialoop is leading a new logistics revolution enabling the shift from just in case inventory, to just in time.

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Cambrian Robotics 

Cambrian Robotics develops an AI-powered 3D-vision system called Cambrian Vision that gives industrial and collaborative robots high speed, high precision capabilities for complex manufacturing tasks. It excels in use-cases like bin-picking, kitting, assembly, cable handling and insertions, and feature detection.

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ThermoVerse

ThermoVerse is an advanced materials and urban innovation startup at the forefront of energy innovation from the building edge to grid edge. They have developed a system that charges and discharges excess heat to keep occupants comfortable while turning the building into a smart, grid-interactive energy asset allowing bulding owners to reduce HVAC usage costs.

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wheel.me

wheel.me specializes in developing autonomous robotic solutions for material handling. Their innovative "smart wheels" bring mobility to everyday objects, revolutionizing logistics and intralogistics across various industries. wheel.me works closely with global OEMs to deploy autonomous systems that optimize operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance flexibility. With a focus on intelligent automation, wheel.me aims to simplify movement in smart environments, making autonomous mobility accessible and scalable for businesses around the world.

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