MAKING MOBILITY MOVES

An update on all things Autotech
Q3, 2020

The digital transformation of the transportation industry is upon us, and our portfolio companies are leading the charge.

Digital Motors is modernizing car dealer sales by bringing them online. It's not that car dealers don't want to sell online, it's that they can't. Thanks to Digital Motors, now they can, and leave behind the "four-hour grind." Bloomberg tells us how in their feature: Digital Motors Wants to Bring Tesla's Internet Chops to Every Auto Brand.

Let's not leave out commercial vehicles. Our own Work Truck Solutions is providing a complete solution for commercial truck and van dealerships online via Comvoy.

Our founders provide visibility into the evolution of the transportation sector, which we're compelled to share.

We've continued our video series, Autotalk, with a recently released overview on the impact of COVID-19 on mobility as well as our look into Managing Director Dan Hoffer’s thoughts on an untapped market opportunity in OEM recalls.

Dan was also featured in a Fast Company piece on the potential demise of scooter startups due to the Coronavirus, as well as Dot.LA’s piece on Bird’s potential to capitalize on the pandemic, proving that still no one can agree on scooters.

After Amazon’s Zoox acquisition, Managing Director Quin Garcia sat down with Business Insider to discuss the future of autonomous vehicles and industry consolidation. We also recommend checking out Business Insider’s feature on Quin, in which he discusses the successes of some of our portfolio companies in light of the pandemic and how we see the future of mobility taking shape. (Subscription required)

If you’re looking to find Managing Director Alexei Andreev and Partner Jeff Peters in the news, look no further than TechCrunch. We’re proud to announce that Alexei was named to The TechCrunch List -- a brand new curated directory of founder recommended #VCs who have demonstrated a commitment to first checks and leading rounds from seed through growth stage. Meanwhile, Jeff has been featured in an ongoing series in which a panel of VCs respond to poignant questions about the mobility industry.

NEW INVESTMENTS

We recently announced our funding for Latent AI. Others recognize their potential too, including IoT World, who just named them 2020 Startup of the Year.

We also recently invested in Bluedot.io, the startup poised to meet new demand for contactless payments.

EXPANDING OUR FLEET

We’re excited to announce that Amy Richards has joined our firm as Head of Marketing. Amy brings 20+ years of industry-leading digital marketing experience at companies like Yahoo, Google, DoubleClick, Yieldex and Excite@Home. Amy joins us to lead Marketing for Autotech Ventures itself, while simultaneously working with our Portfolio Companies to accelerate their Marketing endeavors.

We have a new Office Manager, as well. Join us in welcoming Veronica Boubnova, new to Silicon Valley via New York City, where she worked with JPMorgan Chase & Co., The Blackstone Group and PwC. Veronica joins us to oversee operations of Autotech’s administrative and office functions, events, recruiting, scheduling, and IT, AV and communications infrastructure.

In our last newsletter, we welcomed Burak Cendek as Principal. Our latest Q&A dives deep with Burak to find out why he joined Autotech and what sectors of mobility he’s most passionate about.

Q: Burak, what mobility trends or innovations should we look out for in 2020?

A: As an investor, I tend to seek domains others perceive as unsexy - with massive opportunities that most people are not paying attention to. Take one of our latest investments -- KlearNow is transforming the Customs Clearance industry through document automation. Customs Clearance is critical to international supply chains and commerce, yet remains archaic and slow. This is a great example of where the next wave of innovation will come from: antiquated industries, manual back offices and paper heavy processes.

Click here to read our full Q&A with Burak

PORTFOLIO MOVES

Safe AI, the startup that retrofits construction and mining vehicles with autonomous technology, is addressing the ongoing global labor shortage in the industrial sector by accelerating the deployment of autonomous machinery solutions in Japan, via a partnership with Macnica.
HDVI is revamping the truck insurance industry by building cost effective commercial auto insurance with a recent $16M series A funding round.
Outdoorsy, the Airbnb of RVs, has created the getaway Americans needed. With skyrocketing demand, the company is firing on all cylinders.
Drover is poised to revolutionize how Europeans relate to car ownership with a new $20M investment as the car subscription market heats up.
SpotHero, the digital parking reservation service, is acquiring Rover.

WHERE TO FIND US

Join us online!

[Web Conference] September 22-24, 2020: Alexei will be presenting: “LIDAR for Autonomous Driving: Must-Have or Nice-To-Have?” at our fully online Automotive LIDAR 2020 conference.

[Webinar] October 8th, 9am PST: Autotech is hosting a webinar where you’ll hear from Work Truck Solutions and Digital Motors about how they are changing the commercial and consumer automotive retail experience. Join us!

[Web Conference] December 1-2, 2020: Join us online for our next edition of The Marketplace Conference. Further information will be released soon. In case of any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Our mailing address is:
info@autotechvc.com

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