Uber's Former CEO Travis Kalanick Returns with a $1.7 Billion Deal

Travis Kalanick, the former CEO of Uber, has made a comeback with a $1.7 billion deal for his new company, Atoms. This deal marks a significant return to the robotics and mobility scene for Kalanick, who was ousted from Uber's top leadership spot nearly a decade ago.

Uber Invests in Kalanick's New Venture

The investment in Atoms was led by VC giant Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Bain Capital, Fifth Wall, and Uber itself. Ben Horowitz will join the company's board following the investment. This move is significant, given the history between Kalanick and Uber.

In 2016, Kalanick's Uber acquired Levandowski's self-driving trucks startup Otto. Less than a year later, Levandowski's former employer Waymo sued Uber for trade secret theft. The companies settled on the fifth day of the trial.

What's Next for Atoms?

The details of what Atoms plans to do with this capital are vague. However, a company email from Levandowski suggests that Pronto, an industrial automation startup acquired by Atoms, will be a key part of those plans.

Atoms is investing heavily in Industrial AI and physical automation applied to mining and transport. Pronto is a core strategic priority for Atoms, and this round is designed to accelerate exactly what matters most to your operations: scaling practical, OEM-agnostic autonomy.

Other News in Robotics and Mobility

• Einride, a Swedish electric and autonomous trucking company, acquired EV charging startup Flipturn in an all-stock deal worth $38 million.
• IBM agreed to buy HRL Laboratories, a quantum computing research lab jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors.
• Sila, a battery materials startup, raised $300 million in a round led by Atreides Management and Sutter Hill Ventures with participation from 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc.
• Aurora launched its second-generation driverless trucks, which include new hardware that is smaller, as well as upgraded sensor-cleaning systems and extended range lidar.
• Ford is turning to Apple for its next generation of EVs, integrating Apple Maps navigation and mapping into its new line of electric vehicles starting with the $30,000 midsize truck in 2027.
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study called "Rise of the machines: crash experiences of highly automated vehicles and human drivers," which found that Waymo's current robotaxis have lower crash involvement rates than human drivers.
• Mobileye founder and CEO Amnon Shashua plans to step down from the top leadership post after nearly three decades.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will look into developing new requirements for automakers to ensure drivers and passengers can safely exit their vehicles.
• Rivian has sued the U.S. government for a "full refund" on tariffs paid under President Trump's "Liberation Day" taxes.
• Two Volkswagen engineers were charged with securities fraud after allegedly profiting off of insider information related to the German automaker's joint venture with Rivian.
• Waymo is having internal discussions over how to end its contract with Uber.
• WhatsApp is rolling out a suite of new features, including a revamped Apple CarPlay and Android Auto experience.