Skift Take
Waymo wants road trippers to take driverless cars across the U.S. It's already operating a ride-hailing service, and it has tech and money from Google, so chances are good.
Robo-taxis, flying taxis, electric planes, and renewable jet fuel. Next-generation mobility is the theme in this startup funding roundup.
The most notable fundraise was $5.5 billion by Waymo, which is expanding robotaxis across the U.S.. The startup has already been operating the service within San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, as well as curbside pickup at the Sky Harbor International Airport. And the startup says its driverless cars could go on road trips in the future.
Beta Technologies, among the multiple players developing flyings taxis, raised $318 million. It's the second-largest raise in that sector this year, the highest being $500 million for Joby Aviation last month.
Aside from those two big fundraises, eight other travel startups raised over $160 million in the past three weeks.
Waymo: $5.5 BillionWaymo, which operates an autonomous ride hailing service in U.S. cities, has raised $5.5 billion in an oversubscribed round of funding.
Alphabet (parent company of Google) led the round, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Perry Creek, Silver Lake, Tiger Global, and T. Rowe Price.
Waymo's cars operate without a driver, using an AI driving system that the startup has been developing since 2009. The company was born as a project by Google before spinning out.
Through a partnership with Uber, the company will begin serving Austin and Atlanta.
The funds will also support advancements in the Waymo Driver, Waymo’s autonomous driving system designed for various commercial applications.
The company has been experimenting with more complex trips, like road trips to cities including Buffalo, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Beta Technologies: $318 MillionBeta Technologies, which is developing two types of electric airc