Founded in 2014, Cherubic Ventures is the only early-stage venture capital firm that's active in both US and Asia, with a total AUM of 400 million USD. Our team spreads across San Francisco, Singapore, and Taipei. We focus on seed stage investments that aim to transform industries. Some of our notable portfolio companies include Flexport, Hims & Hers, Calm, 91APP, Paidy, Tezign, and Pinkoi.

Cherubic Ventures

First Star partners with entrepreneurs solving real-world problems using data and machine learning, focusing on applications of frontier technologies such as AI, computational biotech, connected sensors, AR/VR, and blockchain. We believe in investing with conviction in visionary, technical founders inventing the future. Drawing on our experience and network of strategic partners across industries and regions, we help startups think big and grow fast.

First Star Ventures

UpHonest Capital is an early-stage, industry-agnostic venture capital firm that partners with companies from pre-seed stage to Series A. The firm invests in entrepreneurs and early-stage startups and then uses its resources to boost value creation through disruptive means.

UpHonest Capital

Brightway Future Capital is a Palo-Alto based investment firm deeply rooted in the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem, seeking to invest in the next transformational and world-changing technology and businesses.

Brightway Future Capital

Early-stage, sector agnostic deep tech fund investing in disruptive and impactful companies.

Taihill Venture

Linear Capital focuses on investment projects in the fields of Data Application, Data Infrastructure and cutting-edge technology applications. they believe that cutting-edge technology is the primary productive force, and they are committed to becoming an important promoter of cutting-edge technology landing industries, realizing Frontier Technology,

Linear Capital

M31 Capital makes diversified investments in early stage blockchain technology projects and protocols across the Web3 ecosystem.

M31 Capital

EnvisionX Capital is a venture capital firm that empowers founders to scale their businesses through operational support and a global network of resources.

EnvisionX Capital

Bot Auto

Bot Auto is a L4 autonomous trucking company, based in Houston, Texas.  Operating an autonomous truck fleet and offer Transportation as a Service (TaaS) to freight customers. The team combines visionary leadership, top-tier science and engineering talents, financial and governance experts, and industry veterans to build an AI-driven autonomous trucking company. Bot Auto focused on fleet operations, transforming autonomous trucking into a commercially profitable product. This blend of experience, industry maturity, and innovative technology positions the company to commercialize autonomous trucking at scale.

Bot Auto is an autonomous trucking company focused on developing self-driving trucks for middle-mile transportation. Bot Auto's primary offering is a fleet of AI and machine learning-powered level 4 autonomous trucks (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions) operated under a transportation-as-a-service (TaaS) business model. The company offers its autonomous truck services to freight customers. Bot Auto was founded by Dr. Xiaodi Hou, the former CEO of TuSimple.

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

Truck Industry Tech

Bot Auto: Rewriting the Story for Autonomous Vehicle Companies

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.

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

Bot Auto

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