The self-driving car industry in the US is at the forefront of transportation technology, aiming to revolutionize mobility through automation. Companies range from startups developing cutting-edge software and hardware for autonomous vehicles to established automakers integrating self-driving capabilities. Noteworthy is the industry’s rapid growth, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. Traditional car manufacturers are collaborating with tech firms, resulting in innovative partnerships. As regulatory frameworks evolve and public acceptance grows, the future looks promising, paving the way for autonomous vehicles to become an integral part of everyday life.

This list features 15 prominent self driving car investors scattered across the US, including venture capital firms and corporate investors. Based primarily in California, many of these firms were founded in the last two decades, with investments in a range from seed-stage to growth-stage companies. With varying sizes and 2024 investment counts, they collectively illustrate a robust engagement in autonomous driving innovations, reflecting a commitment to this dynamic sector and offering capital to startups eager to transform transportation.

Top 15 Self Driving Car Investors in the US

1. Y Combinator

• Website: ycombinator.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2005
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 802
• LinkedIn: y-combinator

Y Combinator is a prominent startup accelerator and venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2005. It provides funding and mentorship to early-stage technology companies through a structured program that includes resources like the Startup School and co-founder matching services. Y Combinator has successfully launched over 4,000 startups, establishing itself as a key player in the technology startup ecosystem. Among its notable investments in the self-driving car industry are Cruise, which raised $12.5 million in a Series A round led by Y Combinator's Sam Altman, and Embark Trucks, which raised $70 million in a Series C round. These investments highlight Y Combinator's active role in fostering innovation in the self-driving vehicle space, alongside its broader investment strategy.

2. Plug and Play Tech Center

• Website: plugandplaytechcenter.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2006
• Headcount: 501-1000
• Number of deals in 2024: 253
• LinkedIn: plug-and-play-tech-center

Plug and Play Tech Center is an innovation hub and venture capital firm based in Sunnyvale, California, founded in 2006. They connect startups with corporations to foster growth and innovation, offering various programs including accelerator initiatives and investment opportunities. In the self-driving car context, Plug and Play has been involved in significant transactions such as leading a funding round for AutoX, a self-driving vehicle company, which raised $100 million in Series A funding. Additionally, they have participated in funding rounds for Einride, a Swedish startup focused on autonomous trucks, which has raised substantial amounts in various funding rounds, including a Series B round of $110 million. These transactions highlight Plug and Play's active role in the self-driving car industry, making them a relevant investor in this space.

3. Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund)

• Website: av.vc
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2023
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 258
• LinkedIn: deep-tech-fund-av-focused-fund

The Deep Tech Fund, part of Alumni Ventures, is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, founded in 2023. It provides accredited investors and institutions access to professionally-managed, diversified venture portfolios, leveraging a network of over 10,000 investors to connect them with high-quality investment opportunities in the startup ecosystem. The fund has been involved in several notable transactions relevant to the self-driving car industry, including Algolux, which raised $18.4 million in Series B funding for its computer vision technology aimed at enhancing autonomous vehicle capabilities. Additionally, they participated in the funding of Spartan Radar, which raised $17 million in Series B funding, focusing on radar technology crucial for self-driving applications. These transactions highlight the fund's active engagement in the self-driving car sector.

4. Intel Capital

• Website: intelcapital.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1991
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 23
• LinkedIn: intelcapital

Intel Capital is a venture capital firm based in Santa Clara, California, founded in 1991. The firm invests in early-stage technology companies, focusing on areas such as AI, cloud computing, and semiconductor technologies. Intel Capital provides funding, strategic support, and access to Intel's resources to help startups scale and innovate within the tech ecosystem. Notably, Intel Capital has made significant investments in the self-driving car industry, including funding for Perrone Robotics, which develops robotics software for autonomous vehicles, and AEye, a company specializing in advanced sensing technology crucial for self-driving cars. Additionally, their investment in Peloton Technology, which is working on commercial two-truck driver-assistive platooning systems, highlights their commitment to advancing automation in transportation. These transactions illustrate Intel Capital's active role in supporting innovations that are pivotal to the self-driving car industry.

5. Sosv

• Website: sosv.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1995
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 170
• LinkedIn: sosv

SOSV is a venture capital firm founded in 1995, specializing in funding and supporting deep tech startups through its development programs. With a global reach, SOSV connects innovative companies with investors, providing not only venture capital investment but also resources to help startups grow and succeed. In the context of self driving technology, SOSV has been involved in notable transactions such as the funding of Youibot, a Chinese producer of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which raised significant amounts in various funding rounds, including a Series B round where they secured over $47 million. Additionally, SOSV has invested in other early-stage companies like Robomart and Vigo, indicating a broader interest in the autonomous and robotics sectors.

6. Qualcomm Ventures

• Website: qualcommventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2000
• Headcount: 10001+
• Number of deals in 2024: 18
• LinkedIn: qualcomm-ventures

Qualcomm Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Diego, California, founded in 2000. They specialize in investing in early to growth stage technology companies, particularly within the wireless ecosystem. Qualcomm Ventures provides capital and strategic support to startups across various sectors, including automotive, digital health, and IoT. Their investment portfolio includes significant transactions in the self-driving car industry, such as a convertible note investment in Cruise, a leading autonomous vehicle company, and multiple funding rounds for Zongmu Technology, a Chinese firm developing ADAS and autonomous parking solutions. They also participated in a funding round for Haomo.AI, an autonomous driving startup, showcasing their active role in supporting innovations in the self-driving car space.

7. Khosla Ventures

• Website: khoslaventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2004
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 97
• LinkedIn: khosla-ventures

Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2004, based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in providing funding and strategic guidance to startups across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and sustainability. Notably, Khosla Ventures has made significant investments in the self-driving car industry, including leading a $200 million Series B funding round for Waabi, an autonomous vehicle startup founded by Raquel Urtasun. They also participated in Waabi's earlier Series A round, contributing to a total of $83.5 million raised. Additionally, Khosla Ventures invested in Ghost Autonomy, providing $15 million in a Series B round and later participating in a Series C round that raised nearly $33 million. These investments highlight Khosla Ventures' active role in supporting innovative companies in the self-driving car sector.

8. Liquid 2 Ventures

• Website: liquid2.vc
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2015
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 91
• LinkedIn: liquid-2-ventures

Liquid 2 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in investing in technology startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, as well as growth-stage companies. They provide capital, mentorship, and access to a vast network of industry insiders to help founders navigate their entrepreneurial journeys. Notably, Liquid 2 Ventures has made significant investments in the self driving car industry, including Applied Intuition, which raised funds to develop simulation tools for autonomous vehicles, and Polymath Robotics, which focuses on robotics technology. Additionally, they invested in Zendar, a company that develops radar technology for self driving applications. These transactions highlight their commitment to supporting innovative companies in the self driving car sector, alongside their broader focus on technology startups.

9. 500 Global

• Website: 500.co
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2010
• Headcount: 201-500
• Number of deals in 2024: 98
• LinkedIn: 500-startups

500 Global is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, providing not only funding but also mentorship and resources to help founders scale their businesses. Among their notable transactions, they have invested in Drover AI, which focuses on AI solutions for autonomous vehicles, participating in both seed and Series A funding rounds. Additionally, they have invested in WHILL, a company that develops personal mobility devices, which may intersect with the self driving car industry. These investments highlight 500 Global's engagement in the self driving car sector, alongside their broader focus on innovative startups globally.

10. New Enterprise Associates (NEA)

• Website: nea.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1977
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 57
• LinkedIn: new-enterprise-associates

New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a venture capital firm founded in 1977, based in Menlo Park, California. NEA specializes in investment management and advisory services for startups, particularly in technology and healthcare sectors. The firm emphasizes long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, providing both funding and strategic guidance. NEA has been actively involved in the self-driving car industry through its investments in Outrider, a U.S. startup developing Level 4 autonomous yard trucks. NEA participated in several funding rounds for Outrider, including a Seed Round, Series A, Series B, Series C, and Series D, contributing to a total of $191 million raised by the company. This consistent investment in a self-driving vehicle firm highlights NEA's commitment to the autonomous vehicle sector.

11. Hax

• Website: hax.co
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2012
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 55
• LinkedIn: hax

HAX is a venture capital firm and startup incubator based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2012. They specialize in supporting hard tech startups by providing funding, engineering support, and access to manufacturing resources. HAX aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage companies through a collaborative environment and extensive networks. Notably, HAX has participated in funding rounds for Youibot, a Chinese producer of autonomous mobile robots, which raised significant amounts in various funding rounds, including a Series B round where they contributed to a total of over $47 million. This involvement in the autonomous robotics sector highlights HAX's commitment to innovative technologies that intersect with the self-driving car industry.

12. Tiger Global

• Website: tigerglobal.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2001
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 25
• LinkedIn: tiger-global-management

Tiger Global Management, LLC is a prominent investment firm based in New York, specializing in both public and private equity investments. Founded in 2001, the firm manages approximately $50 billion and focuses on innovative companies leveraging technology. Notably, Tiger Global has been actively investing in the self-driving car sector, with significant transactions including a $5.6 billion investment in Waymo during its Series C round in July 2024 and a $2.5 billion investment in Waymo's Series B round in June 2021. Additionally, they invested $600 million in Nuro during its Series D round in November 2021 and $106 million in Nuro's Series E round in April 2025. They also participated in a $200 million investment in Embark Trucks in November 2021, further demonstrating their commitment to the self-driving vehicle space. Their diverse portfolio and focus on technology-driven companies make them a key player in the self-driving car investment landscape.

13. BMW i Ventures

• Website: bmwiventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2011
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 12
• LinkedIn: bmw-i-ventures

BMW i Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2011, located in Mountain View, California. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies within the automotive and technology sectors, providing funding, strategic partnerships, and access to the extensive BMW ecosystem to help startups innovate and grow. Their investment focus includes car development, digital sales, and sustainability. Notably, BMW i Ventures has made significant investments in companies relevant to the self-driving car industry, such as Blackmore Sensors and Analytics, which raised $18 million to scale production of its FMCW lidar sensor for advanced driver assistance systems and self-driving markets. Additionally, they have invested in Autobrains, which has raised substantial funding across multiple rounds to develop AI solutions for autonomous driving. These transactions highlight BMW i Ventures' active role in supporting the development of self-driving technologies.

14. Nvidia

• Website: nvidia.com
• Type: Corporate
• Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1993
• Headcount: 10001+
• Number of deals in 2024: 71
• LinkedIn: nvidia

Nvidia Corporation, founded in 1993 and based in Santa Clara, California, is a leading technology company specializing in the design and supply of graphics processing units (GPUs) and artificial intelligence solutions. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, Nvidia serves a diverse range of customers across various sectors, including gaming, automotive, and scientific research. In the context of self-driving cars, Nvidia has made significant investments in several key players in the autonomous driving space. They participated in the seed round for WeRide, a company focused on developing autonomous driving technology. More recently, Nvidia led a $1.05 billion Series C funding round for Wayve, a UK-based firm aiming to disrupt traditional autonomous driving technologies with its advanced AI solutions. Additionally, Nvidia invested in Waabi, which raised over $200 million in Series B funding to advance its autonomous driving capabilities. These transactions highlight Nvidia's strategic focus on the self-driving car industry and its commitment to leveraging its technological expertise to support innovation in this field.

15. Nlvc

• Website: nlvc.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2005
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 5
• LinkedIn: northern-light-venture-capital

NLVC is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2005. The firm specializes in early-stage technology investments across various sectors, including enterprise, healthcare, and consumer technologies. With a portfolio of over 400 companies, NLVC provides capital, insights, and operational expertise to entrepreneurs. Notably, NLVC has invested in Black Sesame Technologies, which is focused on developing autopilot controllers and software-vehicle integration, highlighting their engagement in the self-driving car industry. Additionally, their investment in OURS Technology and other technology firms further demonstrates their commitment to innovative sectors, including those related to autonomous vehicles.

Self Driving Car Insights: Key Investors in the US

Investor	Headquarter	Size	Founded	Deals 2024
Y Combinator	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	51-200	2005	802
Plug and Play Tech Center	Sunnyvale, California, United States (USA)	501-1000	2006	253
Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund)	Manchester, New Hampshire, United States (USA)	51-200	2023	258
Intel Capital	Santa Clara, California, United States (USA)	11-50	1991	23
Sosv	United States (USA)	51-200	1995	170
Qualcomm Ventures	San Diego, California, United States (USA)	10001+	2000	18
Khosla Ventures	Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)	51-200	2004	97
Liquid 2 Ventures	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	1-10	2015	91
500 Global	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	201-500	2010	98
New Enterprise Associates (NEA)	Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)	51-200	1977	57
Hax	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	11-50	2012	55
Tiger Global	New York, New York, United States (USA)	51-200	2001	25
BMW i Ventures	Mountain View, California, United States (USA)	11-50	2011	12
Nvidia	Santa Clara, California, United States (USA)	10001+	1993	71
Nlvc	Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)	11-50	2005	5

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