More AV startups are pitching VCs than in 2016
Trucks VC says 81 new autonomous vehicle startups have pitched it in 2026, more than in the boom years of a decade ago, as AI lowers the cost of getting started.
The facts
- According to TechCrunch, Trucks VC has fielded pitches from 81 new autonomous vehicle startups so far in 2026, two-thirds more than last year and more than in the boom years of a decade ago.
- Trucks VC partner Puneeth Meruva says foundation models make end-to-end AV systems possible, and open source models such as Nvidia's Alpamayo and Qwen's vision-language-action models help startups get going.
- Meruva says the firm sees startups deploying within a few months on less than $1 million raised, and a growing number are pitching robotaxi businesses that aim to compete with Waymo.
- The same newsletter reports that Bedrock Robotics raised $600 million at a $4.1 billion valuation, and that Waymo and Toyota agreed a manufacturing partnership.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
A cheaper way to build a self-driving system pulls more founders into the field. Not just trucks and mines. Robotaxis too. Meruva's argument is that smaller players can win in specific regions or on specific routes, rather than taking on Waymo everywhere. That is a claim from a VC who invests in the sector, so treat it as a view, not a result. Lots of pitches does not mean lots of working products.
For traders
Don't read pitch counts as proof of demand. Watch whether the big funding rounds, like Bedrock Robotics' $600 million, keep arriving, and whether startups reach real paid deployments. Early-stage hype is loud. Revenue is quiet.
For builders
Open models like Alpamayo and Qwen's vision-language-action models lower the starting cost, so the edge moves to data, safety testing and a narrow, well-chosen route or region. If you build here, pick a niche Waymo is unlikely to serve soon.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from TechCrunch's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.