Motus Ventures

Motus Ventures is a venture capital firm and business accelerator based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2017. It backs early-stage startups across transportation, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, climate tech, and deep tech, providing funding and operational support to develop innovative solutions that improve safety, reduce congestion and energy use, and lower costs. The firm seeks to capitalize on shifts in connected cars, vehicle communications, crowd sourcing, and resource sharing by helping portfolio companies scale and commercialize their technologies.

Jim Disanto

Partner

John Formisano

Venture Partner

Sam Min

Partner

Neil Weintraut

Managing Partner

Thomas Werner

Venture Partner

​Massimo Fedeli

Venture Partner

28 past transactions

MemryX

Series B in 2025
Founded in 2018, MemryX develops high-performance, low-power edge AI processing solutions. Its proprietary compute-at-memory technology and dataflow architecture enable efficient AI computations for industries such as transportation, IoT, and industrial applications.

Calicat

Series A in 2024
Calicat is a clean-energy company developing a proprietary electrocatalyst discovery process for electrolyser. The company electrocatalyst discovery is an unprecedented, proprietary, end-to-end ultrahigh throughput AI and data-driven process focused on the discovery of new catalysts for the generation of clean hydrogen and fuel cell power production. The process prepares, characterizes, and quantifies the catalytic activity of millions of compositions per month and then closes the loop with big data analysis and AI to refine/guide the search.

Cranfield Aerospace

Venture Round in 2023
Cranfield Aerospace is a pioneering aerospace company specializing in developing zero-emissions aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel. They focus on complex aircraft modifications and new aircraft design, serving prominent clients such as Airbus and Boeing.

Qunnect

Series A in 2022
Qunnect develops quantum networking hardware and components that enable secure communication for distributed information networks. It designs field-deployable devices that transmit, store, and receive quantum information using photons to communicate and atoms to store or process data, supporting scalable, quantum-secure networks with real-time threat detection. The company focuses on quantum memories and quantum sources to enable future information networks and quantum computing, and provides infrastructure for quantum cryptography, networks, sensors, metrology, and imaging. Headquartered in Stony Brook, New York, Qunnect aims to bring practical quantum information technology to enterprise and government networks by delivering room-temperature hardware suitable for real-world deployment.

Calicat

Series A in 2021
Calicat is a clean-energy company developing a proprietary electrocatalyst discovery process for electrolyser. The company electrocatalyst discovery is an unprecedented, proprietary, end-to-end ultrahigh throughput AI and data-driven process focused on the discovery of new catalysts for the generation of clean hydrogen and fuel cell power production. The process prepares, characterizes, and quantifies the catalytic activity of millions of compositions per month and then closes the loop with big data analysis and AI to refine/guide the search.

InOrbit

Seed Round in 2020
InOrbit, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in a cloud-based robot management platform designed to facilitate the development, deployment, and operation of autonomous robots across various industries. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, InOrbit provides a comprehensive suite of services including real-time analytics, incident management, adaptive diagnostics, and predictive analytics. The platform supports secure cloud-robot communications and enables effective monitoring and management of robot performance. InOrbit's technology is particularly valuable in the rapidly growing commercial service robot market, which is projected to reach $50 billion by 2024. The company serves a diverse clientele spanning agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and retail, and collaborates with prominent partners such as Google and Qualcomm. The founding team comprises experts with extensive backgrounds in robotics and technology, collectively holding over 50 patents in relevant fields. Through its innovative approach, InOrbit aims to bridge the autonomy gap and enhance the operational capabilities of robotics companies and operators globally.

RIOS

Venture Round in 2020
RIOS, founded in 2018, is a technology company helping global customers automate their factories, warehouses, and supply chain operations by deploying a new class of dexterous AI-powered robots. RIOS robots handle hard-to-automate tasks, typically requiring human-level dexterity, in unstructured environments. RIOS is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and has a pilot facility in San Carlos, CA. More information is available at www.rios.ai.

MemryX

Seed Round in 2019
Founded in 2018, MemryX develops high-performance, low-power edge AI processing solutions. Its proprietary compute-at-memory technology and dataflow architecture enable efficient AI computations for industries such as transportation, IoT, and industrial applications.

Qelzal

Funding Round in 2018
Qelzal Corporation, also known as Kelzal, is a technology company specializing in artificial intelligence-driven systems for object and activity recognition. Founded in 2014 and based in La Jolla, California, Qelzal develops advanced products such as the Perception Appliance, which enhances autonomous vehicles and robots with image-free sensing capabilities. The company's innovations focus on obstacle avoidance systems for small commercial drones, ensuring safer and more efficient near-earth flights. By employing brain-inspired engineering and leveraging deep learning and machine learning techniques, Qelzal aims to provide solutions for various industries, including building automation, security, mobile robotics, and autonomous vehicles.

Toposens

Seed Round in 2018
Toposens specializes in developing and manufacturing 3D ultrasonic sensors. They collaborate with prominent industrial and tech companies to integrate this technology into automotive, smart buildings, robotics, and other sectors, replacing outdated sensing methods.

Locomation

Seed Round in 2018
Locomation develops an AI-driven trucking technology platform that combines autonomy with driver augmentation. Its Autonomous Relay Convoy system enables trucks to follow a lead vehicle autonomously, enhancing safety and efficiency while reducing operational costs.

Metawave

Venture Round in 2018
Metawave Corporation is a technology company based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in the development of advanced beamsteering radars using metamaterials and artificial intelligence. Founded in 2017, the company primarily serves the automotive industry, offering innovative solutions for safe automated driving. Its flagship product, SPEKTRA, is designed to enhance safety for automakers by providing high-performance radar capabilities for 3D imaging and vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Additionally, Metawave develops TURBO active repeaters to extend signal coverage in difficult environments, as well as ECHO passive reflectors to optimize signal direction in areas with lower coverage. The company also offers AWARE, an AI platform that leverages deep learning to extract valuable information from radar signals. In parallel, Metawave is working on smart beamsteering antennas to improve 4G and 5G networks, aiming to enhance connectivity for billions of users.

Civil Maps

Series A in 2018
Civil Maps is a geospatial technology company based in Berkeley, California, specializing in artificial intelligence-driven mapping solutions. The company provides a sensor-agnostic platform for creating high-accuracy, low-cost 3D HD maps that assist heavy-industry clients and governmental agencies, as well as Fortune 100 companies across various sectors including utility, oil and gas, solar, telecommunications, transportation, and forestry. Their innovative technology supports autonomous driving initiatives by allowing vehicles to develop a "mental model" of their surroundings, utilizing proprietary Fingerprint Basemap Technology for effective sensor fusion and centimeter-accurate localization. This capability enhances vehicles' environmental awareness and safety, while also significantly lowering the costs and energy demands associated with the large-scale deployment of autonomous systems like delivery bots.

Metawave

Seed Round in 2017
Metawave Corporation is a technology company based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in the development of advanced beamsteering radars using metamaterials and artificial intelligence. Founded in 2017, the company primarily serves the automotive industry, offering innovative solutions for safe automated driving. Its flagship product, SPEKTRA, is designed to enhance safety for automakers by providing high-performance radar capabilities for 3D imaging and vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Additionally, Metawave develops TURBO active repeaters to extend signal coverage in difficult environments, as well as ECHO passive reflectors to optimize signal direction in areas with lower coverage. The company also offers AWARE, an AI platform that leverages deep learning to extract valuable information from radar signals. In parallel, Metawave is working on smart beamsteering antennas to improve 4G and 5G networks, aiming to enhance connectivity for billions of users.

Metamoto

Seed Round in 2017
Metamoto, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in designing and developing simulation software solutions for testing and validating autonomous systems. Founded in 2016 and based in Redwood City, California, Metamoto offers a platform that enables scenario-based training and testing by creating virtual environments with customizable sensor configurations, traffic, and pedestrian elements. The company's focus on continuous testing and integration, combined with expertise in simulation, computer vision, and machine learning, allows it to deliver innovative products and services aimed at enhancing the development and validation of autonomous software systems. Metamoto's solutions are tailored for world-class enterprises seeking to improve their autonomous technology capabilities in compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Sensibo

Seed Round in 2016
Sensibo is an Israeli company that specializes in developing smart air conditioning solutions. It connects end equipment to a centralized AI-based operating system in the cloud, aiming to facilitate energy savings, enhance comfort, and improve health while supporting green transition initiatives.

Quanergy Systems

Series B in 2016
Quanergy Systems designs and markets 3D LiDAR sensors and smart sensing software for security, automation and smart spaces. It offers mechanical and solid-state LiDAR sensors and a Flow Management Platform that provides real-time analysis for people counting, object detection, classification and tracking. The company’s solutions are used in mapping, security, smart city and smart space deployments, as well as industrial automation and transportation applications. Based in Silicon Valley, Quanergy aims to advance safety and efficiency by enabling AI-powered perception and automation in physical environments.

Engie

Seed Round in 2016
Engie, headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, specializes in developing a smartphone application that connects to a vehicle's computer, facilitating remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The application communicates with smartphones via Bluetooth, helping users diagnose car malfunctions, collect repair quotes, track daily vehicle parameters, and order parts online from third-party suppliers. This streamlines car repairs and maintenance, making the process more efficient and accessible.

Civil Maps

Seed Round in 2016
Civil Maps is a geospatial technology company based in Berkeley, California, specializing in artificial intelligence-driven mapping solutions. The company provides a sensor-agnostic platform for creating high-accuracy, low-cost 3D HD maps that assist heavy-industry clients and governmental agencies, as well as Fortune 100 companies across various sectors including utility, oil and gas, solar, telecommunications, transportation, and forestry. Their innovative technology supports autonomous driving initiatives by allowing vehicles to develop a "mental model" of their surroundings, utilizing proprietary Fingerprint Basemap Technology for effective sensor fusion and centimeter-accurate localization. This capability enhances vehicles' environmental awareness and safety, while also significantly lowering the costs and energy demands associated with the large-scale deployment of autonomous systems like delivery bots.

Auro Robotics

Seed Round in 2016
Auro is building driverless shuttles for in-campus travel. The big idea behind it is to cut down the operating cost (because of high driver fee) by replacing manually driven golf carts and mini buses with driverless shuttles at places such as a university or company campus, large industrial sites, airports, Disneyland type theme parks, gated residential colonies etc. While all major automobile companies and Google are fighting for automating passenger cars and urban mobility, they are focusing on niche category of last mile public transportation.

SlantRange

Seed Round in 2016
SlantRange, founded in 2013 and based in San Diego, specializes in developing airborne remote sensing systems and analytics solutions for agriculture intelligence applications. The company's core products are the SL4000c multispectral imaging system, used for measuring crop conditions from various aircraft types, and SlantView, a data processing and visualization suite. SlantRange translates raw sensor data into actionable insights, providing crop status, health trajectory, and projected performance to support growers' input decisions. Its scalable, patented system aims to serve agricultural input suppliers and large producers by enabling accurate data collection, advanced analytics, and quick visualization of insights tailored to specific operational needs.

Civil Maps

Convertible Note in 2015
Civil Maps is a geospatial technology company based in Berkeley, California, specializing in artificial intelligence-driven mapping solutions. The company provides a sensor-agnostic platform for creating high-accuracy, low-cost 3D HD maps that assist heavy-industry clients and governmental agencies, as well as Fortune 100 companies across various sectors including utility, oil and gas, solar, telecommunications, transportation, and forestry. Their innovative technology supports autonomous driving initiatives by allowing vehicles to develop a "mental model" of their surroundings, utilizing proprietary Fingerprint Basemap Technology for effective sensor fusion and centimeter-accurate localization. This capability enhances vehicles' environmental awareness and safety, while also significantly lowering the costs and energy demands associated with the large-scale deployment of autonomous systems like delivery bots.

Doorman

Seed Round in 2015
Doorman specializes in consumer-scheduled last-mile delivery and return pickup services for e-commerce. Its platform allows shoppers to select the exact hour for their deliveries, offering flexibility to reschedule delivery times, days, or locations without needing to contact customer service. This innovative approach significantly reduces issues related to missed deliveries and enhances customer satisfaction. The company has attracted investment from notable venture capital firms, including Matrix Partners and Structure Capital. By streamlining the delivery process, Doorman aims to improve the overall e-commerce experience for consumers.

Quanergy Systems

Series A in 2014
Quanergy Systems designs and markets 3D LiDAR sensors and smart sensing software for security, automation and smart spaces. It offers mechanical and solid-state LiDAR sensors and a Flow Management Platform that provides real-time analysis for people counting, object detection, classification and tracking. The company’s solutions are used in mapping, security, smart city and smart space deployments, as well as industrial automation and transportation applications. Based in Silicon Valley, Quanergy aims to advance safety and efficiency by enabling AI-powered perception and automation in physical environments.

PlaxidityX (Formerly Argus Cyber Security)

Series A in 2014
Argus Cyber Security Ltd. specializes in providing comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for the automotive industry, focusing on protecting connected cars and commercial vehicles from hacking threats. Founded in 2013 by cybersecurity experts, the company offers a suite of solutions designed to safeguard various components of vehicles, including in-vehicle networks, infotainment systems, and critical electronic control units (ECUs). Key products include ARGUS IN-VEHICLE NETWORK PROTECTION, which detects and mitigates attacks on in-vehicle networks; ARGUS CONNECTIVITY PROTECTION, which secures telematics and infotainment units; and ARGUS ECU PROTECTION, which fortifies crucial vehicle systems against external and internal threats. Additionally, Argus provides advisory services such as threat analysis and incident response. With its research and development center based in Tel Aviv and offices located in Michigan, Silicon Valley, Stuttgart, and Tokyo, Argus combines innovative security techniques with a thorough understanding of automotive practices to serve car manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, and aftermarket connectivity providers effectively.

EV Connect

Convertible Note in 2014
EV Connect provides electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, operating a cloud-based platform for managing charging stations and drivers. Established in 2010, the company offers charge station-agnostic command and control, enterprise integration via open API, driver communications, and demand-response functionality across multiple networks. Its clients include Avista Utilities, Love’s Travel Stops, Marriott, Hilton, Western Digital, ADP, New York Power Authority, and numerous municipalities.

Quanergy Systems

Seed Round in 2014
Quanergy Systems designs and markets 3D LiDAR sensors and smart sensing software for security, automation and smart spaces. It offers mechanical and solid-state LiDAR sensors and a Flow Management Platform that provides real-time analysis for people counting, object detection, classification and tracking. The company’s solutions are used in mapping, security, smart city and smart space deployments, as well as industrial automation and transportation applications. Based in Silicon Valley, Quanergy aims to advance safety and efficiency by enabling AI-powered perception and automation in physical environments.

AutoAdvantage Group

Venture Round in 2013
AutoAdvantage Group is a software application developer focused on creating solutions for the automotive industry. The company specializes in capturing data generated by vehicle sensors and drivetrain computers, which it stores in the cloud. This data is utilized to facilitate a new category of mobile purchasing known as “Automotive E-Commerce.” Through its Auto Rewards application, AutoAdvantage aggregates various rewards and discounts into a streamlined content platform optimized for drivers. The application monitors key metrics such as fuel levels, fuel consumption rates, speed, and distance to destinations. By analyzing this information, it enables drivers to identify the most advantageous gas stations for refueling based on price and location, thus enhancing the overall driving experience.
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