Acadia Woods Partners is an investment partnership that focuses primarily on early-stage technology companies. It was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York, United States.

Acadia Woods Partners

NewView Capital is a new model venture capital. It spun out of New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in response to evolving market dynamics, including extended exit timelines. NewView Capital has developed a new model in venture capital to drive sustainable growth for entrepreneurs, venture capital firms, and limited partners in this changing venture landscape.

NewView Capital

New Enterprise Associates is a prominent venture capital firm focusing on investments in technology and healthcare startups. They help entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors, and geographies. With over $19 billion in cumulative committed capital since the firm’s founding in 1977, NEA invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company’s lifecycle, from the seed stage through the IPO. The firm's long track record of successful investing includes more than 210 portfolio company IPOs and more than 360 acquisitions.

New Enterprise Associates

WiL (World Innovation Lab) is a venture capital firm that partners with leading global corporations and government entities in Japan and Asia. With offices in Palo Alto, California, and Tokyo, the firm’s mission is to serve as a bridge between startups and corporations in the United States and Asia, with a particular focus on Japan. WiL supports its portfolio companies by establishing corporate partnerships that enable U.S. and European startups to scale globally, and Japanese startups to innovate and globalize. WiL invests in emerging technology spanning fintech, insurtech, automation and productivity, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, developer tools, health tech and sustainability. Notable WiL investments that have exited to public markets from Fund I and Fund II include Asana, Mercari, Raksul, Wise and Auth0 — whose acquisition by Okta was completed in May 2021. WiL also invests in exceptional venture funds, and supports its LPs in corporate venture investment efforts. WiL also works with its corporate investors on evolving their own innovation capabilities through new business creation, partnerships with leading startups, and organizational culture change. WiL acts as the bridge between startups and corporates across key innovation hubs around the globe in driving growth - starting with Japan and the US.

WiL (World Innovation Lab)

Franklin Resources is a global investment management organization known as Franklin Templeton Investments. They have an extensive global presence, including offices in 35 countries and clients in more than 150. Their common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEN and is included in the Standard & Poor’s 500:registered: Index. Franklin Resources Inc. NYSE: BEN is an investment firm originally founded in New York in 1947 as Franklin Distributors, Inc. It is listed on the NYSE under the ticker BEN as in Benjamin Franklin, whom founder Rupert Johnson, Sr. admired. In 1973 the headquarters moved from New York to San Mateo, California. The firm specializes in conservatively managed mutual funds. It offers products under the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series and Fiduciary brand names. Like other large investment companies, the firm offers a wide variety of funds but is traditionally best known for bond funds under the Franklin brand, international funds under the Templeton brand, and value funds under the Mutual Series brand.

Franklin Templeton

Qualcomm is an American fabless semiconductor company that designs, manufactures, and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services. It produces processors and connectivity solutions, displays, software, and charging products. The company is focused on various industries: automotive, education, healthcare, Internet of Everything, mobile computing, networking, smart cities, smart homes, and wearables. Qualcomm’s products include Gobi, Hy-Fi, IPQ, IZat, Powerline, Snapdragon, Small Cells, VIVE, Wi-Fi platforms, Mirasol, Pixtronix, AllPlay, 2net, Brew, HealthyCircles, QChat, QLearn, RaptorQ, Vuforia, Halo, and WiPower.

Qualcomm

Bridgestone Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells tires and other rubber products worldwide. It operates in two segments: tires and diversified products. The tires segment develops, manufactures, and markets tires and tubes, and automotive parts for passenger cars, trucks, buses, construction and mining vehicles, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, aircraft, motorcycles and scooters, racing cars, karts, utility carts, subways, and monorails. The company also supplies tires to airlines and manufacturers of commercial aircraft, airbus, and boeing. Bridgestone Corporation was founded by Shojiro Ishibashi in 1931. The company has collaborated with Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd.

Bridgestone Corporation

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft

J.P. Morgan Asset Management is an asset manager for individuals, advisors, and institutions. Their investment professionals are located around the world, providing strategies that span the full spectrum of asset classes. As one of the largest asset and wealth managers in the world, with assets under management of $1.7 trillion (as of December 31, 2014), they provide global market insights and a range of investment capabilities that few other firms can match.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management

M12 - Microsoft’s venture fund, invests in early-stage enterprise software companies with a focus on AI, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, developer tools, vertical SaaS, and Web3/Gaming. Since 2016, M12 has invested in over 100 companies, helping startups accelerate growth with unparalleled access to Microsoft.

M12 - Microsoft's Venture Fund

Eileses Capital is an investment firm that invests in companies that focuses on information technology. They look for teams whose creativity matches with bold ambition and are ready to adapt themselves to changes in the world.

Eileses Capital

JP Morgan is a financial institution. It offers asset management, commercial banking, investment banking, merchant services, securities services, treasury and payments, and wealth management services.

JP Morgan

Qualcomm Ventures is the investment arm of Qualcomm Incorporated. Founded in 2000, Qualcomm Ventures is a corporate venture capital fund with over 150 active portfolio companies and more than 20 exits over a billion dollars, including 99 Taxis, Cruise Automation, Fitbit, Invensense, NQ Mobile, Waze, and more. As a global investor, Qualcomm Ventures helps connect entrepreneurs to the resources, relationships, and deep industry expertise they need to succeed in the mobile technology ecosystem.

Qualcomm Ventures

Bridgestone Americas is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader providing sustainable mobility and advanced solutions. Bridgestone Americas develops, manufactures, and markets a diverse portfolio of original equipment and replacement tires, tire-centric solutions, mobility solutions, and other rubber-associated and diversified products that deliver social value and customer value. Guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment, its Way to Serve, Bridgestone is dedicated to shaping a sustainable future of mobility and improving the way people move, live, work and play.

Bridgestone Americas

ClearMotion

ClearMotion builds products enabling a next-generation user experience in vehicles. The company’s active suspension technology and proactive road sensing combine software and hardware to mitigate vehicle movement across uneven road surfaces. ClearMotion was founded out of MIT and has locations in the greater Boston area and Birmingham, UK. For more information visit https://www.clearmotion.com/.

<div>ClearMotion develops proactive suspension and road-sensing hardware and software to mitigate vehicle motion across uneven terrain. Its patented flagship product, &ldquo;ClearMotion1&rdquo; (CM1), incorporates high-bandwidth, active suspension technology that can cancel unwanted motion in the car. It is pitched as an alternative chassis for vehicle manufacturers that could replace traditional physical shock absorbers with digital, software-driven adaptive actuators. It also offers &ldquo;Roadmotion,&rdquo; a software that analyzes road surfaces for better chassis control.</div>

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

ClearMotion Announces Grand Opening of Production Facility, Marking the Next Phase in Global Expansion

Volkswagen Group

To enhance vehicle dynamics through advanced chassis technology via developing its vehicle's (Porsche brand) performance further through this partnership.

Providers of software such as collision avoidance alerts, blind spot detection, automatic braking, and other advanced driver assistance systems

<div>
 
 ClearMotion develops proactive suspension and road-sensing hardware and software to mitigate vehicle motion across uneven terrain. Its patented flagship product, &ldquo;ClearMotion1&rdquo; (CM1), incorporates high-bandwidth, active suspension technology that can cancel unwanted motion in the car. It is pitched as an alternative chassis for vehicle manufacturers that could replace traditional physical shock absorbers with digital, software-driven adaptive actuators. It also offers &ldquo;Roadmotion,&rdquo; a software that analyzes road surfaces for better chassis control.
 
 
 In September 2023, ClearMotion announced that its intellectual property portfolio had surpassed 500 patents and applications in the field.
 
 
 The company has offices in Boston (US), Birmingham (UK), and Shanghai (China). It also started constructing its first production facility in Changshu, China 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21108">
 in August 2023
 </a>
 (to be operational by Q1 2024).
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 ClearMotion has customers including Volkswagen-owned car brand Porsche 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28326">
 (April 2024),
 </a>
 EV maker NIO (for 3 million units; 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25061">
 December 2023),
 </a>
 and another undisclosed EV manufacturer company (to be rolled out in 2024; 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18795">
 May 2023).
 </a>
 The company also has partnerships with parties including Bridgestone to jointly develop new solutions for the automotive industry (2017), United States Seating Company (USSC) to license out ClearMotion&rsquo;s system (2018), and with BWI Group to supply full-active suspension components and subsystems to an EV manufacturer 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20000">
 (July 2023).
 </a>
 
 
 ClearMotion also acquired Bose Ride, Bose Corporation&rsquo;s active motion control business, in 2017 to complement its product offering. 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18795">
 In May 2023,
 </a>
 ClearMotion raised USD 32 million in venture capital to commercialize its technology. Previously, the company raised USD 39 million led by NIO Capital&mdash;also to launch the product in 2024, with plans to expand globally.
 
 
 Key competitors: None comparable 
 (ClearMotion is the only startup covered in the Auto Tech hub that develops suspension technology.)
 
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Aeva develops next-generation sensing and perception systems including 4D LiDAR-on-chip for autonomous vehicles and robotics. Its LiDAR sensors dubbed &ldquo;Aeries II&rdquo; are equipped with unique frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) 4D technology for high sensing capabilities and use a continuous laser. It can sense objects 500 meters away over a field of view (FoV) of 120 x 30 degrees. Aries II is powered by the company&rsquo;s proprietary 4D Perception software. Aeries II is reportedly the world&rsquo;s first LiDAR-on-chip silicon photonics design.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company launched Aeva Atlas, an automotive-grade 4D LiDAR sensor, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25293">
 in January 2024.
 </a>
 It can sense objects 500 meters away over a field of FoV of 120 x 30 degrees. The company claims that Atlas is the first automotive-grade 4D LiDAR sensor for mass production in automotive applications. Atlas is powered by Aeva&rsquo;s proprietary Digital Signal Processing Software. The company claims the unit is 70% smaller and 4x more energy-efficient than the company&rsquo;s previous lidar solutions.
 
 
 
 
 Aeva sources product components from third-party vendors and assembles the final product in its assembly facility in San Francisco, California. However, since September 2021, the company has gradually shifted to a manufacturing model that solely relies on local and foreign third-party suppliers for both manufacturing and assembly. The company began shipping its LiDAR systems to strategic customers in mid-2022 and reported shipping 40+ units to customers by 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17245">
 December 2022
 </a>
 .
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company has entered into product collaborations with partners including automotive component manufacturers ZF Group (September 2020), Denso (January 2021), and Fabrinet (November 2021) to develop LiDAR systems for vehicles and Nikon to develop sensors for robotic factory production lines (August 2021).&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Avea has high-volume production deals with autonomous shuttle services provider May Mobility 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23631">
 (November 2023)
 </a>
 and an unnamed global automotive OEM 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25168">
 (January 2024).
 </a>
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 Aeva generated revenue of USD 4.3 million and reported a non-GAAP operating loss of USD 124.1 million in the year ended December 2023. The company has been listed on NYSE since March 2021, via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 2.1 billion (November 2020).
 
 
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23632">
 In November 2023,
 </a>
 the company raised USD 145 million via a combined private investment and preferred facility deal from existing long-term stockholders. The company intended to utilize the funds to enhance its standing with OEMs, and improve its ability to support various high-volume production programs, potentially increasing its prospects for securing additional contracts.
 
 
 
</div>

Aeva

Israel-based Innoviz Technologies develops LiDAR sensors and perception software specifically catering to autonomous vehicles. Its LiDAR product portfolio includes 1) “InnovizOne,” a solid-state LiDAR sensor specifically designed for autonomous vehicles with a detection range of up to 250 m and field of view (FoV) of 115 x 25 degrees; 2) “InnovizTwo,” a next-gen automotive-grade LiDAR sensor with a detection range of up to 300 m and FoV of 120 x 40 degrees; and 3) “Innoviz360,” a 360-degree LiDAR sensor with a detection range up to 300 m and pitched toward automotive and non-automotive applications.&nbsp;The company’s target market spans across the US, Europe, and Asia, and it had an order book worth USD 6.9 billion <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14444">as of September 2022. </a>As of February 2024, Innoviz Technologies had 18 of Innoviz’s products protected by US patents.&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26155">In January 2024, </a>Innoviz released a strategic realignment plan for its operations from Q1 2024, which included a reduction of its workforce by ~13% (about 60 employees) to lower expenses and enhance its financial longevity. This was to mainly consolidate expenditures by transitioning the InnovizOne program to series production and focusing on the InnovizTwo sensor and software suite.Key customers and partnershipsInnoviz Technologies has entered product collaborations with partners including Curium, a developer of automated calibration services for autonomous systems (August 2021); Ansys, a provider of simulation software (January 2022); Visionary.ai, a developer of software-based image signal processor technology (June 2022); Japan-based software company Kudan&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14117">(October 2022)</a> and Mobileye (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/37124">December 2024</a>) to obtain technology to be integrated with its LiDAR solutions.The company secured 15 pre-production orders and four series production customers as of September 2023. Its customers include Twinner, Whale Dynamics, Syracuse, BMW, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12378">Volkswagen, </a>and Delphi Automotive—of which BMW and Volkswagen were among the series production customers.&nbsp;Innoviz Technologies generated revenue of USD 20.9 million and reported an operating loss of USD 132.6 million during the year ended December 2023. The company has been listed on the Nasdaq since April 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 1.4 billion (December 2020).

Innoviz Technologies

<div>
 
 AEye develops artificial intelligence (AI)-powered LiDAR for various applications, including vehicle autonomy, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and robotic vision. The company&rsquo;s products include &ldquo;4SIGHT,&rdquo; a software-defined, solid-state LiDAR sensor for automotive applications. The company claims that 4SIGHT offers the industry&rsquo;s longest detection range with the ability to identify small obstacles at over 300m and a 128 degree horizontal field of view (FoV). 4SIGHT uses adaptive LiDAR sensors as opposed to traditional sensors that passively collect data. AEye&rsquo;s next gen product 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24047">
 &ldquo;4IGHT Flex,&rdquo;
 </a>
 is an ultra-compact, high-performance LiDAR for in-cabin autonomy and safety features. It comes with a 120 x 30-degree FoV, high resolution, and a detection range of up to 275 meters. The company 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14502">
 launched a new 4Sight product line
 </a>
 in November 2022, which it claims was built on a high-performance adaptive LiDAR platform. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=70">
 March 2024
 </a>
 , AEye announced the launch of Apollo, the first product in the 4Sight Flex Lidar series. As of July 2023, AEye held 120 patents for its technology solutions.
 
 
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s business model also involves licensing software sensing platforms to automotive partners and outright sale of software-configured hardware products in partnership with system integrators in industrial markets.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company began has been producing and supplying its sensors since late 2021, in partnership with electronic solutions provider LITEON Technology Corporation 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29284">
 (May 2024),
 </a>
 electronics manufacturer Sanmina Corporation (July 2021), German automotive parts manufacturer Continental (October 2020), simulation software provider Ansys (January 2020), and other system integrators. Its customers include Nvidia (July 2020), Continental (August 2021), and autonomous trucking company TuSimple (July 2021).
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 AEye generated revenue of USD 1.5 million and reported an operating loss of USD 87.8 million during the year ended December 2023. The company has been listed on Nasdaq since August 2021, via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 1.52 billion (May 2021).
 
 
 
</div>

AEye

LeddarTech is a Canadian company offering environmental sensing and perception solutions for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions. The company’s main product offering “LeddarVision,” includes four scalable raw-data sensor fusion and perception platforms for Level 2/2+ ADAS applications (i.e., Level 2 refers to vehicles that can control both the speed and the steering, but the driver must maintain full vigilance). LeddarTech also offered LiDAR hardware components for LiDAR manufacturers, system integrators, and Tier 1–2 suppliers. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14304">in November 2022,</a> the company announced plans to move away from its LiDAR hardware component business and focus on software development going forward. As of February 2024, LedderTech had 150+ patents (granted or applied).&nbsp;LeddarTech acquired VayaVision (sensor fusion and perception software company) in July 2020 and Phantom Intelligence (signal processing and LiDAR technology company) in September 2020 to complement its operations.&nbsp;LeddarTech became a publicly traded company via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25036">December 2023.</a> The company generated revenue of USD 7.4 million and an operating loss of USD 52.5 million in 2023.Key customers and partnershipsThe company has partnerships with technology companies such as&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27813">Renesas Electronics,</a> STMicroelectronics, Flex, dSPACE, Ningbo Sunny Optical, Black Sesame Technologies,&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27574">Arm Technologies,</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29173">Immervision</a> for the joint development and delivery of LiDAR solutions.In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/37030">December 2024</a>, LeddarTech partnered with Texas Instruments (TI) to develop integrated solutions for ADAS and autonomous driving (AD) markets.

LeddarTech

<div>
 
 Seyond (formerly known as Innovusion) offers image-quality long-range LiDAR solutions for the automotive and other industries. Its product portfolio includes 1) &ldquo;Falcon,&rdquo; a LiDAR sensor specifically designed for the automotive industry, with a detection range of up to 500 meters and field of view (FoV) of 120 x 25 degrees; 2) &ldquo;OmniVidi,&rdquo; a perception service software platform, powered by a proprietary single-laser Forward SightNet and multi-laser fusion perception lightweight model; and 3) &ldquo;Robin,&rdquo; a short- to medium-range LiDAR sensor, with a detection range of up to 250 meters and FoV of 120 x 24 degrees.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company, headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, also has operations in China and Germany. As of November 2023, the company had an annual production capacity exceeding 300,000 units at its facility in China, and had plans to commence mass production by December 2023. In November 2023, the company reported delivering 200,000 automotive-grade LiDAR to customers.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 Seyond primarily targets China and has entered several partnerships in the region. This includes a strategic partnership with Chinese EV maker NIO to supply LiDAR sensors for NIO&rsquo;s vehicles and a partnership with Chinese self-driving tech startup Mogo Auto (January 2022) to promote the adoption and commercial use of LiDAR for autonomous vehicles. The company reportedly delivered 56,000 LiDAR sensors to NIO in 2022.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Meanwhile, the company also has a partnership with Joynext, the smart vehicle arm of Chinese auto component manufacturer, Joyson Electronics, for mass production of LiDAR sensors. It also entered a product partnership with 3D spatial intelligence software solutions specialist Outsight 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24507">
 in November 2023
 </a>
 to combine Outsight's software technology with Seyond's products for enhanced 3D perception capabilities.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In January 2022, Seyond raised USD 118 million in a Series C funding round led by Hermitage Capital at a pre-money valuation of USD 1.1 billion. The company intended to use the funds to enhance production capabilities, expand global reach, increase headcount, and for further research and development (R&amp;D).
 
 
 
</div>

Seyond

Companies developing LiDAR and other sensors for autonomous passenger vehicles and to improve driver safety

Companies developing self-driving technology for autonomous passenger vehicles including cars, buses, and shuttles

Companies providing software solutions for managing devices, and integrating external and internal systems for vehicles using internet connectivity

Companies offering vehicle data capturing, analyzing, tracking, and mapping solutions

Companies providing in-vehicle infotainment products such as audio equipment and other electronic systems

Companies providing cybersecurity solutions for IoT-enabled vehicle devices

Connected vehicles and related services like infotainment and cybersecurity use IoT applications

Some companies use AI/ML tech for autonomous navigation

Autonomous vehicles facilitate efficient and greener transportation, contributing to creating smart cities

Automotive companies utilize GenAI solutions to enhance in-vehicle user experiences—mainly conversational AI technologies

Autonomous cars promote sustainable operations

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 Proactive suspension and road-sensing software developer, ClearMotion, has entered into a partnership with Porsche AG, a car brand owned by Volkswagen. This collaboration, which also comprises a licensing agreement, is geared towards enhancing vehicle dynamics via bleeding-edge chassis technology.
 This partnership intends to push further the performance of Porsche vehicles. ClearMotion’s “ClearMotion1,” a tech-driven active suspension system, coupled with “RoadMotion,” a software dedicated to accurate road surface analysis for optimal chassis control, will be the focus of this partnership.
 Through the combination of these hi-tech systems, the collaboration aims to significantly boost safety, performance, and comfort. This boost will be primarily achieved by employing machine learning to anticipate road conditions, thereby making necessary adjustments to the vehicle's suspension as required.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Today’s collaboration with Porsche will help Clearmotion’s expansion in Europe and will add Porsche to its growing list of customers including <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/25061"> NIO. </a>

ClearMotion

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