In 2008, we launched Samurai Incubate Inc. to support early-stage start-ups in the areas of management, marketing, sales, human resources, and finances. Our company invests in start-up ventures, and we also hold advisory posts and serve as external directors of some venture companies.  Background: Social and Economic Legislation  Whereas venture capital investment is at about 30 billion dollars in U.S. and 24 billion dollars in Europe, Japan was only at about 0.86 billion dollars (2005), and the Japanese investment ratio is only about 30 / 1. On the other hand, by the legal deregulation progresses as seen in new business laws, increasingly in the future Japanese funding is expected to expand.   Samurai Incubate Inc. was established to help companies to develop vision and strength and to realize their greater revenue potential. We support practical expertise in marketing and sales management personnel as well as clear financial strategies to monetize our start-ups.  Our company's name, ''Samurai Incubate, Inc.,'' derives from the Japanese samurai spirit with a pure eight-part Code of Conduct:  * Righteousness: Be sincere all the time not only internal, but also external. * Thanks: Forbid inhuman conduct and show respect to conduct against internal and external. * Courage: Be in the vanguard who are afraid of taking action. * Honor: Enphasize on honer, and with it the value of his own. * Humanity: Respect the spirit of love and help compatriots in any situation. * Sincerity: Be sincere and honest on your action and words. * Loyalty: Do your best with your loyalty for your master and people who you believe in. * Challenge: Aim and challenge the goals, and accomplish them excess 120%.  By following those eight parts of our Code of Conduct, we want to convey not only to clients and users but also to people around the world, ''It does not matter whether we can do it or cannot do it. We can change the world by taking action!''  ''No Action! No Change!''

Samurai Incubate

The Israel Innovation Agency, the Innovation Authority, was established in 1965 as the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and was designed as a body that supports R & D conducted in the framework of government research institutes. Industrial development in order to increase industrial exports of high-tech products. The Chief Scientist focused on reducing the risk by participating in financing the project, which the private companies chose and led.

Israel Innovation Authority

Operator Partners invests in early-stage technology companies and founders. The firm was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in New York, United States.

Operator Partners

VentureIsrael is an Israeli early stage deep tech fund. The firm is market agnostics, but strongly believes in its investment focus based on three elements: technology, timing and people. VentureIsrael focuses on startups from the Seed stage to Series A, with technology solutions expected to be in high demand in the short and medium term. It is dedicated to the technological excellence of the startup and is not afraid of unconventional approaches.

VentureIsrael

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has an investment fund aimed at investing in high potential technology start-ups around the globe. The aim of the Volvo Cars Tech Fund is to invest in strategic technology trends that are transforming the industry, such as artificial intelligence, electrification, autonomous driving and digital mobility services.

Volvo Cars Tech Fund

BlackBerry provides wireless devices and solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. It is widely known for the development of the Blackberry smartphone.   It offers the BlackBerry wireless communications platform solution, which includes the commpression and security infrastructure services enabling BlackBerry hand-held wireless devices to send and receive wireless messages and data. It is engaged in the sale of BlackBerry hand-held devices and the provision of data communication.   Its portfolio of products and solutions includes the BlackBerry wireless solution, the BlackBerry Wireless Hand-held product line, the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, software development tools, and other software and hardware. It also provides QNX software for embedded systems market and BBM, which is known as an instant mobile to mobile private messaging service. BlackBerry also carries expertise in allowing third party commercial and enterprise software developers to build and deploy custom applications to run on BlackBerry smartphones. In addition, it provides its users with the BlackBerry Messenger Social Apps Platform, push, payments, advertising, location, maps, analytics, and Scoreloop services as well as repair and maintenance services.   BlackBerry is engaged in the sales of its solutions through wireless communication carriers and third party distribution channels.

Blackberry

OurCrowd is a venture investing platform that enables institutions and individuals to invest and engage in emerging companies. OurCrowd was started in 2013, driven by the idea that the business of building startups grows bigger and better when the global 'crowd' gains access to VC-level investment opportunities.

OurCrowd

Fundamentally Stone Ventures is an investors who have developed their own unique style of 'hands on' investing. They call themselves partners because that is exactly how they see their relationship with investee companies. They stand side-by-side with the management teams and business owners and they work with them to help grow their businesses and ultimately to realise the value that has been created.

Stone Ventures

Next Gear Ventures venture capital firm specializing in early stage. The firm typically invests in the Israel. Next Gear Ventures venture is based in Israel.

Next Gear Ventures

NextLeap Ventures

Regah Ventures invests in visionary entrepreneurs who are developing transformational technologies, products, and solutions that are powering the future. It invests across a diverse range of industries like AI/ML, data analytics, and cloud edge computing enterprise software platforms, and in venture rounds alongside committed VCs, institutional, and other notable investors.

Regah Ventures

Mobilitech Capital, an early-stage venture fund, offers smart capital and strategic value to outstanding start-ups in the mobility space. Integrating the strategic support of our partners, Dan Transportation Group and Samelet Motors, with our team’s impressive track record, vast network and expertise, Mobilitech Capital invests in great teams and innovative solutions to enable smart, seamless, sustainable, multimodal, electric, and safe mobility.

Mobilitech Capital

CorrActions

CorrActions is a software-based platform that's used in a product with human-machine interaction.

CorrActions is an Israel-based startup that offers a driver monitoring system using sensors in cars. It uses steering wheel sensors and pressure-based seat sensors as well as motion data from apps used by fleet managers to detect drivers’ micro muscle movements and determine their cognitive states such as if the driver is tired, distracted, or intoxicated. In addition, the system can be used to monitor the motion sickness levels of passengers in autonomous vehicles using a camera-based system or millimeter wave radar.

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

CorrActions' Life-Saving AI-Powered Solution Prevents Cognitive Distraction in Drivers

CorrActions is an Israel-based startup that offers a driver monitoring system using sensors in cars. It uses steering wheel sensors and pressure-based seat sensors as well as motion data from apps used by fleet managers to detect drivers’ micro muscle movements and determine their cognitive states such as if the driver is tired, distracted, or intoxicated. In addition, the system can be used to monitor the motion sickness levels of passengers in autonomous vehicles using a camera-based system or millimeter wave radar. Key customers and partnershipsAs of April 2023, CorrActions was working with several unnamed OEMs and fleet companies to help monitor drivers’ states. Funding and financials<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17939">In April 2023, </a>CorrActions received a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund as a part of its Series A round, which targeted to raise USD 6 million. The company intended to utilize the funds to further develop and commercialize its technology.

<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

<div>
 
 Israel-based Innoviz Technologies develops LiDAR sensors and perception software specifically catering to autonomous vehicles. Its LiDAR product portfolio includes 1) &ldquo;InnovizOne,&rdquo; 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) &ldquo;InnovizTwo,&rdquo; 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) &ldquo;Innoviz360,&rdquo; a 360-degree LiDAR sensor with a detection range up to 300 m and pitched toward automotive and non-automotive applications.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 partnerships
 
 
 Innoviz 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); and Japan-based software company Kudan 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14117">
 (October 2022)
 </a>
 and Mobileye (as of February 2024) 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&mdash;of which BMW and Volkswagen were among the series production customers.&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 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).
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20883">
 In August 2023,
 </a>
 Innoviz Technologies announced plans for a public offering to issue USD 60 million of its ordinary shares to underwriters so they can purchase up to an additional USD 9 million of ordinary shares. The company planned to use the funds raised for general corporate purposes.
 
</div>

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

<div>
 
 LeddarTech is a Canadian company offering environmental sensing and perception solutions for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions. The company&rsquo;s main product offering &ldquo;LeddarVision,&rdquo; 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&ndash;2 suppliers. However, 
 <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;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company has partnerships with technology companies such as 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27813">
 Renesas Electronics,
 </a>
 STMicroelectronics, Flex, dSPACE, Ningbo Sunny Optical, Black Sesame Technologies, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27574">
 Arm Technologies,
 </a>
 and 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29173">
 Immervision
 </a>
 for the joint development and delivery of LiDAR solutions.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 The company generated revenue of USD 7.4 million and an operating loss of USD 52.5 million in 2023 (year ending December 2023).
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25036">
 December 2023
 </a>
 , LeddarTech became a publicly traded company via a merger with Prospector Capital Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at a pro-forma equity value of USD 348 million. The company secured a total of USD 58.6 million in gross proceeds including a USD 44 million convertible PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) and USD 14.6 million from the SPAC trust. The funds will be utilized to foster the adoption and expansion of LeddarTech's technology.
 
 
 
</div>

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

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

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

CorrActions

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