Menlo Ventures provides capital for multi-stage consumer, enterprise, and life sciences technology companies. Since 1976, the firm’s market-driven analysis has led to the identification of opportunities and successful investments in innovative markets. Notable areas of investment include Marketplaces (Uber, Rover.com, Poshmark); Consumer Services (Tumblr, Betterment, Roku, Siri); Dev/Ops (Harness, Edge Delta, Fire hydrant); SaaS (Carta, ScoutRFP, Qualia, Benchling, Everlaw); Fintech (Betterment, Bluevine, Chime); Cybersecurity (Cavium, IronPort, BitSight, Abnormal, StackRox); and Life Sciences Technology (Synthego, Cofactor Genomics, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, 3T Biosciences). Menlo’s portfolio includes more than 70 public companies, and more than 100 mergers and acquisitions, with $5 billion under management. The firm is currently investing in Menlo Ventures XV, a $500 million early-stage fund, as well as its $500 million Inflection Fund, which targets early-growth investments.

Menlo Ventures

Oriza Ventures is a venture capital fund that primarily invests in early stage technological companies in the United States.   Our partners were previously series entrepreneurs, angel investors, and are current professional venture capitalists; thus, we fully understand the startup process, unique culture, and the specific set of skills needed in order to successfully grow a start-up company. Oriza was founded through the philosophy of nurturing business founders through the ups and downs of starting a company with our own experiences and resources.    Oriza seeks to back talented entrepreneurs with emerging, innovative, and disruptive technological pursuits, or creative business ideas. We pride ourselves in our long-term approach to investment, and we invest in the entrepreneurs who deeply understand their market, are passionate about their product, and have the drive to cultivate their businesss towards success.    Our team brings together a unique combination of a strong operating background, extensive investment experience, cross-border business development ecosystems, and well-connected networks in China and Silicon Valley.

Oriza Ventures

The House Fund is a pre-seed and early stage venture capital fund focused on the boldest Berkeley startups.  UC Berkeley has some of the most brilliant minds and daring businesses in the world, like Tesla, Apple, and Intel. It has never had a place to unite its entrepreneurs, until now. Started in 2016, with 50+ investments, $2B in follow-on funding, and 10 exits later, The House Fund has become a thriving ecosystem for the boldest Berkeley startups to grow.

The House Fund

Greenhawk Capital is a private investment firm that manages private equity and venture capital assets.

Greenhawk Capital

Jones Capital is a private investment company founded in 2018 which focuses on control equity investments in middle market U.S. companies across a range of industries. Jones Capitalʼs strategy is to invest in established companies with greater than $2.0 million in EBITDA that are seeking a growth-oriented partner. Jones Capital seeks partners and management teams that share our core values of integrity, passion, unity, sustainability, and humility. Jones Capital traces its heritage over seven decades to the incorporation of Jones Lumber Company in 1949 and has recently completed investments across a number of industries including: transportation & logistics, forest products, industrial services, equipment rental, recycling, and business services. Jones Capital is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Jones Capital

Xffirmers supports founders across fin-tech, e-commerce and software.

Xffirmers

Parade

Parade is a freight brokerage capacity management platform. It works with all existing tools to manage carrier relationships, availability, and pricing. Top freight brokerages use Parade to build dedicated digital capacity and book more loads. It was founded in 2015 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Parade is a capacity management platform designed to optimize freight brokerage operations. It uses AI/ML to streamline the process of matching carriers with loads, automating repetitive tasks, and enhancing operational efficiency. The platform’s features include carrier onboarding, load and capacity data analysis, and digital freight matching, which help brokerages increase carrier re-use and improve booking efficiency.

Using online platforms, autonomy, electric and fuel-cell tech solutions to shape the future of trucking.

Truck Industry Tech

Nate Bargatze Reveals Plans for the Future in Exclusive Parade Cover Story: ‘I hope to get out of the way and let the next wave of comedians come up’

Transcore

Transcore-owned DAT Solutions expanded its partnership with Parade to offer capacity-based pricing for Parade’s brokers via the latter's pricing tool called “Advantage.” It will combine the DAT’s predictive benchmark with broker-carrier relationships and lane expertise data from Parade’s capacity management platform. It will help generate prices customized to individual brokers.

Apps that help shippers connect with carriers, optimize freight logistics, track shipment and driver hours, etc.

Transcore-owned DAT Solutions expanded its partnership with Parade enabling a deeper integration between Parade and DAT's solutions. DAT also invested in a minority stake in the company.

Transcore-owned DAT Solutions integrated its load board network with Parade's capacity management platform allowing brokers registered on Parade to digitally book loads using DAT’s technology.

Parade is a capacity management platform designed to optimize freight brokerage operations. It uses AI/ML to streamline the process of matching carriers with loads, automating repetitive tasks, and enhancing operational efficiency. The platform’s features include carrier onboarding, load and capacity data analysis, and digital freight matching, which help brokerages increase carrier re-use and improve booking efficiency.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31733">July 2024</a>, Parade unveiled an automated carrier qualification feature for its GenAI-powered freight matching tool, launched in partnership with McLeod Software's PowerBroker Transportation Management System (TMS).Key customers and partnershipsParade’s customers include Armstrong Transport Group, Schneider, Worldwide Express, XPO Logistics, Ally Logistics, Cargobarn, Redwood Logistics, Covenant Logistics, ARL Logistics, Fortune Logistics, HTS Logistics, Vine Line, Sonwil, Fortune Logistics, and Greenbush Logistics.Its integrator partnerships include 1) carrier onboarding and transportation management systems (TMS): Turvo, McLeod Software, Tai, Loader, Aljex, Revenova, MercuryGate, TMW, 3PL Systems, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24406">Highway,</a> RMIS, and MyCarrier Portal; 2) visibility tools: Project44, and 3) other loadboard and capacity networks: SmartHop (October 2020; expanded in August 2021), DAT Freight &amp; Analytics (October 2020; expanded in February and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14316">November 2022),</a> 123Loadboard (May 2021), Channel19 (January 2022), Truckstop.com (April 2022), TruckSmarter (October 2022), Airfleet, Beyond Trucks, Fleetops, Truxx.ai, TrueNorth, and Hoptek.

Einride is a Swedish startup developing technology for both autonomous and electric trucks. Its product portfolio includes the freight-hauling autonomous Class 8 trucks “Pods,” electrified commercial mobility solutions “E-trucks,” electric semi-trailer <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10558">“Einride Trailer,” </a>its operating system “Saga”—an IoT-based system that runs through Einride’s vehicles <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14209">(also offered to third parties), </a>a developer application programming interface called <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10558">“Einride Extend”; </a>and charging stations called <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14209">“Einride Stations.” </a>The company offers electric trucks to customers across Europe, US, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19012">the UAE. </a>It also has approval to launch its autonomous trucks in countries including Sweden, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11283">the US, </a>and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13069">Germany.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;Einride offers its products on a subscription-based delivery-as-a-service business model. The subscription includes the use of Einride's electric and autonomous trucks, access to its routing software, and maintenance services.Key customers and partnershipsEinride’s customers using its electric trucking solutions include <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9350">A.P. Moller-Maersk </a>(US), Bridgestone (US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9350">Beyond Meat </a>(US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35190">PepsiCo</a> (US), Lidl (Sweden), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11100">Oatly </a>(Sweden and US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25917">Mars </a>(Europe), Heineken (Netherlands and Germany), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15017">AB InBev </a>(Benelux region), PepsiCo snack food subsidiary <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17838">Walkers </a>(UK), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18586">REWE </a>(Germany), and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19409">PostNord </a>(Sweden and Norway). Its customers that use the autonomous version of its trucks include <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24002">GE Appliances </a>(US).&nbsp;Einride has truck purchase agreements with automakers including Mercedes-Benz (120 trucks for deployments in Europe; <a href="https://sp-edge.com/sectors/commerce-and-hospitality/updates/7396">December 2021) </a>BYD (200 trucks for US deployments; <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8645">February 2022) </a>, Scania (110 trucks for deployment in Europe; <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11190">May 2022), </a>DAF Trucks (50 electric trucks; <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18731">May 2023) </a>and Paccar (150 trucks, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29863">May 2024), </a>which would be retrofitted with Einride’s autonomous/operating software.&nbsp;Key competitors: None comparable (Einride is the only company in the Truck Industry Tech that offers battery-electric and autonomous trucking solutions.)

Einride

Kodiak Robotics develops Level-4 autonomous trucks (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles but limited to specific locations and/or conditions) powered by its autonomous technology “Kodiak Driver,” for long-haul transportation. Its approach to system engineering is unique and involves a ground-up approach without retrofitting systems from other autonomous vehicles. Its technology consists of 1) “SensorPods,” a sensor suite that uses cameras, LiDAR, and radars to perceive the environment; 2) “Kodiak Maps,” a flexible routing layer that offers information for autonomous driving; and 3) “Guardian,” its fault management system that runs safety and performance checks to ensure safe movements.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25348">January 2024</a>, the company unveiled its sixth-generation driverless semi-truck designed for scaled deployment on public roads. The company plans to make the technology available for users in two ways: 1) shippers can either request to integrate the sensor pods into their fleets and pay a subscription fee for Kodiak Driver or 2) partner with Kodiak Robotics to ship goods using Kodiak’s fleet of autonomous trucks for a subscription fee. The company launched commercial operations in 2019 and launched the Partner Deployment Program (PDP) to structure work with commercial partners in 2022. It operates in cities in states including Texas, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21110">Georgia,</a> Oklahoma, and Florida. The company also planned to expand operations <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/3402">to Asia-Pacific</a>, including South Korea and China (via a partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK Group; announced in May 2021).In terms of driverless operations, Kodiak Robotics had a fleet of 40 autonomous trucks in testing, with a driver following the route as of September 2023. The company intended to launch fully driverless tests in 2024 and commercial driverless operations by 2025.Key customers and partnershipsKodiak Robotics’ customers include <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8991">Ceva Logistics,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9650">U.S. Xpress,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11864">10 Roads Express,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22474">Maersk,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13839">IKEA,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27196">Martin Brower,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13398">Werner Enterprises,</a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19644">Loadsmith,</a> Tyson Foods, C.R. England, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30953">Artur Express</a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31883">Atlas Energy Solutions</a>.The company also has partnerships to establish truckports and other related services to facilitate its operations. Such partnerships include 1) Wabash, a producer of semi-trailers, to use its trailers-as-a-service (TaaS) offering for autonomous fleet (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33939">September 2024</a>); 2) logistics and transportation firm Ryder Systems to establish a truckport in Houston, Texas <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25804">(January 2024);</a> 3) weigh station bypass solutions provider Drivewyze to pilot a motor vehicle inspection program for autonomous trucks in Texas <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20326">(July 2023);</a> 4) Forward Air Corporation, an asset-light provider of transportation services, to operate 24/7 trucking services between routes in Dallas (Texas) and Atlanta (Georgia; March 2023); and 5) travel center operator Pilot Company to co-develop truck service stations across North America <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12559">(August 2022).</a>Its other product partners include semiconductor design company Ambarella to integrate Ambarella’s perception system-on-chip (SoC) (January 2023) and AI domain control SoC (January 2024) into Kodiak’s self-driving trucks.

Kodiak Robotics

Plus (formerly Plus.ai) develops automated and autonomous trucking solutions. Its product portfolio consists of 1) “PlusVision,” an AI-based perception software designed for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and higher levels of autonomous driving; 2) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29369">“PlusProtect,”</a> a scalable AI-based technology that allows global tier 1 automotive suppliers and OEMs to develop functionalities such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, traffic jam assist, predictive fuel optimization, etc.; 3) “PlusDrive,” for advanced Level 2++ supervised driving functions (i.e., vehicles can control the speed and the steering but require a safety driver to maintain full vigilance); 4) “SuperDrive,” a Level 4 autonomous driving software for driverless operations (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions); and 5) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26625">“Plus Open Platform for Autonomy,”</a> an initiative focused on providing a set of hardware and software tools that allow developers to create and integrate various autonomous driving solutions.As of May 2024, the company had customers in the US, Europe, and Australia. The company offers its technology as a subscription-based SaaS offering. As of&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35595">October 2024</a>, Plus planned to validate its technology, collaborate with truck manufacturers to develop autonomous-ready vehicle platforms, complete the safety case for its technology, and commence testing for driverless operations by 2025 or 2026. It also plans to launch commercial operations in 2027.Key customers and partnershipsOEMs that have integrated Plus’ technology include Nikola (to integrate PlusDrive into Nikola’s trucks; February 2023), TRATON Group (to integrate Scania, MAN, and Navistar trucks with SuperDrive to be sold directly to the OEMs’ customers; <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27515">March 2024),</a> and IVECO (to integrate IVECO’s heavy-duty truck with PlusDrive in April 2021; public road tests commenced in Germany <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19927">in July 2023)</a>. Its customers include Amazon, which ordered 1,000 self-driving truck systems (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/3407">June 2021).</a> The company also has a partnership with Hyundai Motor Company to equip fuel-cell electric trucks with Plus SuperDrive (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29863">May 2024</a>). Hyzon has completed a Class 8 200 kW FCEV truck trials in partnership with the logistic solutions providers&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35420">TALKE</a> (October 2024) and&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35642">IMC Logistics</a> (November 2024).Plus’ key product partnerships include ones with 1) automotive technology company Luminar to integrate Luminar’s LiDAR solutions into PlusDrive <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19201">(June 2023);</a> 2) engineering and technology company Bosch to integrate PlusDrive with the Bosch integrated steering systems <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18177">(May 2023);</a> and 3) Transurban, a company managing urban toll road networks, to test Level 4 autonomous driving technology in Australia <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21220">(August 2023).</a>Its business in China was separated <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22722">in October 2023</a> following a deal with China-based digital freight platform operator Full Truck Alliance (FTA), which enabled Plus to operate and expand across other global markets while FTA was to operate its China business.

Plus

Gatik develops and operates a fleet of light and medium-duty trucks with Level-4 automation (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions) for middle-mile delivery. Gatik operates as an autonomous delivery as a service (ADaaS) provider to its customers. The company has operations in Arkansas, Texas, and California in the US and Ontario in Canada. As of May 2024, Gatik had a fleet of more than 60 trucks and had completed more than 600,000 order deliveries.Key customers and partnershipsGatik’s customers include <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17132">Kroger</a> (US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/6505">Walmart</a> (US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12708">Pitney Bowes</a> (US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21574">Tyson Food</a> (US), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10926">Georgia-Pacific, KBX</a> (US), and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13535">Loblaw’s PC Express</a> (Canada).Gatik’s product collaborations include those with 1) electric vehicle manufacturer Via Motors (introduced electric autonomous box trucks; February 2021); 2) Isuzu North America to mass-produce autonomous medium-duty delivery trucks (April 2021); 3) American multinational tire manufacturer Goodyear for tire intelligence technology (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/5712">September 2021;</a> extended in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25347">January 2024</a>); 4) fleet management solutions provider Ryder System to retrofit its autonomous technology into Ryder’s trucks and obtain its maintenance facilities (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/6070">October 2021);</a> 5) ChargePoint, an EV charging network to offer charging infrastructure and services for Gatik’s customers (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9390">March 2022); </a>and 6) Isuzu Motors to co-design a redundant chassis for autonomous driving systems <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29407">(May 2024).</a>Gatik also has secured strategic partnerships with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32844">Nippon Express Holdings</a>, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30366">ITOCHU Corporation</a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29407">Isuzu Motors</a> under which it secured strategic investments.&nbsp;

Gatik

Aurora Innovation (Aurora) is an autonomous vehicle technology startup providing autonomous vehicles under two divisions, namely “Aurora Horizon” (its autonomous trucking service) and “Aurora Connect” (its autonomous ride-hailing service). Both are powered by the company’s self-driving technology “Aurora Driver,” which is equipped with a hardware kit that includes a computer, proprietary “FirstLight Lidar,” radar, and cameras, as well as a software platform that features perception, motion planning, mapping, and simulation systems to understand its environment.Aurora has operations in cities including the Bay Area (California), Bozeman (Montana), Dallas (Texas), Detroit (Michigan), Louisville (Colorado), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), and Seattle (Washington). It launched its first commercial-ready truck route connecting Dallas and Houston, Texas in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23374">November 2023. </a>However, Aurora laid off 3% of its workforce (about 53 employees) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25865">in January 2024, </a>to boost the commercial launch efficiency of its autonomous trucking business.Aurora planned to provide the service to customers on a subscription-based delivery-as-a-service business model, charging a fee per mile. As of&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35472">October 2024</a>, the company intended to launch the service commercially in 2025.Aurora’s complementary acquisitions include Uber’s self-driving car unit, Advanced Technologies Group (ATG; December 2020), to complement its autonomous technology development and LiDAR startups Blackmore (May 2019) and OURS Technology (February 2021) to expedite and complement its LiDAR development process.Aurora was listed on the Nasdaq in November 2021 by <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/4258">merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), </a>valuing the combined entity at USD 13 billion. The company did not generate revenue in 2023 and reported an operating loss of USD 835 million for the year.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsAurora’s partners to pilot its technology include logistics companies such as <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9619">Werner Enterprises, </a><a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18176">Hirschbach, </a><a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10521">FedEx, </a><a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30781">Uber Freight, </a>and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11986">Schneider.&nbsp;</a>Its product partners include OEMs, such as Volvo (March 2021; a production-ready version unveiled <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29593">in May 2024) </a>and PACCAR (January 2021) to jointly develop autonomous trucks, fleet service partner <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14317">Ryder </a>(November 2022), and hardware and service partner <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18085">Continental </a>(April 2023).&nbsp;

Aurora Innovation

Developers of autonomous light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks. Most companies outfit truck chassis with their technology. The majority of autonomous trucks available test at SAE Level 3 (i.e., require a driver present and ready to take control or remote assistance by an operator).

Providers of self-driving and safety-related hardware and software that provide features such as platooning, collision avoidance alerts, blind spot detection, automatic braking, automated manual transmissions, and eco-driving systems.

Developers of electric and hydrogen-powered trucks.

Apps and devices that show comprehensive routes and provide truck drivers with up-to-date gas prices, locations of nearby truck stops, bypass weigh stations, available parking, etc.

Companies in "safety and driving assist tools" and "autonomous trucks" use AI/ML for autonomous navigation

Companies operating in "Autonomous trucks" segment often provide autonomous mobility solutions

Autonomous trucking solutions fall under Industry 4.0

Electric and fuel cell trucks contribute to reduced carbon footprint of vehicle fleets

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

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 Online freight matching company, Parade, has introduced an automated carrier qualification feature for its "Capacity CoDriver" tool powered by GenAI. The tool was developed in collaboration with McLeod Software's PowerBroker Transportation Management System (TMS).
 This tool automates the carrier assessments and responses, supporting the bidding process with a maintained database of carrier quotes. Brokers can access historical data, and engagement with unqualified or fraudulent carriers is reportedly reduced by up to 30%.
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Parade

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