Scaling an autonomous vehicle or EV start-up often requires eye-popping amounts of capital that only hedge funds, strategic venture arms and institutional investors have the appetite and funds for.

Figure 1. Learn Which Start-Ups Strategic Mobility

In the past two years, those capital needs have prompted dozens of mobility start-ups to turn to either public markets or deep-pocketed hedge funds and venture arms of automakers and suppliers. Arrival, Canoo, Faraday Future, Lucid Group, Luminar Technologies and Nikola are just a few of the companies that went public via mergers with special purpose acquisition companies, while Rivian and Simple took the traditional IPO route. Other start-ups, perhaps not ready for that stage, turned to GM, Toyota’s Woven Capital, and BMW Ventures — to name a few — to lock up partnerships that will help them scale.[1]

We’re turning to a few of the liveliest hedge fund, institutional and strategic buyers in transportation to get solutions.

TechCrunch Sessions: Mobility on May 18 and 19, a two-day, in-person event that we’re thrilled to announce that John Du (GM Ventures), Taylor Ogan (Snowbull Capital) and Trina Pelt (Intel Capital) will take the TC Mobility stage for a panel dialogue on strategic alternatives for start-ups.[2]

John Du is a partner at GM Ventures, which has made investments in Envisics, GeoDigital and Nauto, to name a few. Du also serves as GM’s chief technologist for China. Prior to becoming a partner, Du served — from its inception in 2009 — as the director of the China Science Lab, part of GM’s research and development organization.

He built a strong, innovative research team and led the research and development in intelligent and connected vehicles, battery, advanced materials, and electrified propulsion systems.

Taylor Ogan is the CEO of Snow Bull Capital, a green and high-tech hedge fund that invests in companies focused on improving the environment through technological advancements and increasing urban efficiencies. His areas of interest include AVs, AI, batteries and EVs.

Trina Van Pelt is the VP and senior managing director of Intel Capital and a voting member of its Investment Committee. Her areas of focus include growth and venture investments in intelligent edge, enterprise SaaS, AI and urban mobility.

Van Pelt, who currently serves as a director on five growth-stage portfolio company boards, has more than 25 years of experience in a broad range of global technology acquisitions and investments.[3]

References:

1. https://www.theblogger.in/learn-which-startups-strategic-mobility-investors-are-seeking-at-tc-sessions-mobility/
2. https://bgnock.com/learn-which-startups-strategic-mobility-investors-are-seeking-at-tc-sessions-mobility-techcrunch/
3. https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/21/learn-what-startups-strategic-mobility-investors-are-seeking-at-tc-sessions-mobility/

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), Learn Which Start-Ups Strategic Mobility, Anatechmaz. pp.46