Armada and Newlab Partner to Build a Global Edge Startup Ecosystem

DETROIT & RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Armada, a leader in edge computing infrastructure, and Newlab, a venture platform for critical technology startups, today announced a strategic partnership to foster the growth of a global startup ecosystem focused on edge and AI applications. Together, the two organizations aim to address industrial-scale challenges across sectors such as mobility, energy, and defense.

The collaboration will center on deploying Armada’s innovative edge computing infrastructure across strategic geographies worldwide, enabling startups, researchers, and corporate R&D teams to develop, test, and scale new solutions. This initiative will begin with the deployment of an Armada Galleon—an advanced, self-contained 20-foot edge compute and connectivity unit—at Newlab’s regional innovation hub in Detroit, Michigan, in the first half of 2025, followed by a second deployment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later in the year.

A Shared Vision for Innovation at the Edge

Armada and Newlab share a vision to create a distributed infrastructure platform that empowers startups and researchers to develop edge AI applications. By providing localized compute and connectivity capabilities, the partnership will enable teams to:

• Validate and De-Risk Solutions: Pilot technology applications with potential end-users.
• Catalyze Early-Stage Investment: Generate actionable data to de-risk investments in promising startups.

Historically, building complex, industrial AI applications in disconnected or bandwidth-constrained environments has been nearly impossible. With Armada’s infrastructure, the smartest minds in AI can now seamlessly deploy their cutting-edge applications anywhere—regardless of connectivity or compute limitations. By eliminating these barriers, Armada is enabling a new wave of innovation and unlocking opportunities in industries and locations that were previously inaccessible.

"This partnership represents a major step towards scaling real-world AI and bridging the digital divide," said Dan Wright, CEO of Armada. "By combining Armada’s technology platform with Newlab’s unique venture platform, we aim to accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions that address critical challenges across industries."

Strategic Deployment Locations

The initial deployments in Detroit and Riyadh will serve as dual-purpose platforms for R&D and commercialization, supporting a range of use cases in edge computing and AI. The Detroit hub, located in the heart of one of the world’s leading automotive and mobility regions, focuses on advancing mobility and industrial technologies. The Riyadh hub will build on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, driving economic diversification and innovation in mining and critical minerals, energy, and logistics.

“Newlab exists to accelerate the commercialization of technologies the world needs now,” said Liz Keen, Chief Strategy Officer at Newlab. “Our partnership with Armada gives Newlab’s network of founders access to state-of-the-art edge computing infrastructure to enable rapid development and initial validation with potential end users before deploying technology in the field.”