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MarketsCNBCFiled 16 h ago

Eric Trump-backed robot soldier startup can't pay staff after founder borrowed $4.6 million from company to buy home

Open the sourceReported by CNBC, cnbc.com, 14 November 2026

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Foundation Future Industries, a robot-soldier startup backed by Eric Trump, has missed payroll after running low on cash, with CEO Sankaet Pathak under scrutiny for borrowing $4.6 million from the company to buy a home. The funding shortfall has left staff unpaid and raised governance questions at the startup, which is developing autonomous military robots. The loan to Pathak has drawn attention as the company struggles to meet basic obligations, underscoring the cash pressures facing early-stage defense-tech ventures. Investors will be watching whether Foundation secures fresh capital or restructures its finances, and whether the board tightens oversight of related-party transactions.

Muhabbit's AI wrote this summary in its own words from CNBC's report. It can get details wrong, so check the source.

Named in this story

Foundation Future Industries, Sankaet Pathak, Eric Trump