Kalanick's Atoms Eyes Robotaxi Market Following $1.7 Billion Raise
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The Uber founder is reportedly positioning his new venture for a push into autonomous vehicles through hiring and acquisitions.
Travis Kalanick is attempting to return to the autonomous vehicle sector via his startup, Atoms, as TechCrunch first reported. According to reporting from the Financial Times, Atoms is preparing for a series of acquisitions and a hiring surge to establish itself as a significant player in the robotaxi industry.
This strategic pivot follows a mega-round of $1.7 billion in funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. While Kalanick has previously been vague regarding the company's specific objectives, TechCrunch notes that he described the funding round as "unfinished business."
Atoms has already moved into the autonomous space by acquiring Pronto, a startup focused on autonomous mining. Pronto was led by Anthony Levandowski, the former head of self-driving technology at Uber who was pardoned by President Donald Trump after serving a prison sentence for stealing trade secrets.
Further cementing the link to his former company, the Financial Times reports that Atoms has held discussions with Uber regarding the potential use of its robotaxi technology. TechCrunch confirmed that Uber has invested $100 million into Atoms, though the ride-hailing giant has already established partnerships with numerous other autonomous vehicle firms.