Autotech Ventures

Our portfolio company SafeAI, Inc., is expanding into Spain, and its latest update highlights a major leap in AI-powered autonomy and vehicle electrification for construction and mining. These industries are under immense pressure to improve safety, reduce costs, and cut emissions. https://lnkd.in/dYKHkRC2

At Autotech Ventures, we’ve been actively investing in AI applications across logistics, supply chain and other industries. Now, we’re exploring a major shift in how AI agents are shaping the future of work. In this first segment of a two-part video, Alexei Andreev and Burak Cendek discuss a critical evolution: the transition from AI agents simply as software tools to being treated as a new form of labor. Burak predicts a rapid expansion in vertical AI agents as they become more affordable and accessible. Take a look below. Do you agree? How do you see AI reshaping the labor market?

Rideshare costs are rising, and passengers are noticing. A new study from our portfolio company Gridwise—the leading analytics platform for gig mobility—shows that Uber and Lyft fares jumped 7.2% year over year. Passenger demand is shifting as some riders are reconsidering their reliance on rideshare services. Why does this matter? ▪️ Affordability impacts consumer behavior – As fares increase, passengers are weighing alternatives like public transit, micromobility, and car ownership. ▪️Gig drivers are feeling the pressure – Earnings and activity patterns are evolving, reflecting broader shifts in the gig economy. ▪️Market transparency is critical – Gridwise's data empowers drivers, fleet operators, and investors with real-time insights. As mobility platforms evolve, understanding these dynamics will be essential for everyone from drivers to policymakers. Check out the full report and Bloomberg News story via the links in the comments. What do you think—will rising fares change how people move in cities?

Congratulations to our portfolio company, High Definition Vehicle Insurance (HDVI), on securing $40 million in new funding to expand its insurance solutions for trucking fleets. Trucking insurance costs have surged 45% over the past decade, but traditional insurers haven’t fully accounted for fleet safety investments. HDVI is changing that by integrating real-time telematics data into its underwriting and pricing models. The new capital will fuel product expansion, deeper investments in data analytics and more customized pricing. Check out the FreightWaves article for more details.

Our portfolio company, Gridwise, just released its 2025 Annual Gig Mobility Report, the most comprehensive analysis of gig economy trends in the U.S. Among the findings: ► Rideshare fares are rising, yet driver earnings remain stagnant ► Delivery workers are more dependent on tips than ever before ► Restaurant delivery is booming, and retail delivery is rapidly expanding What do these shifts mean for drivers, platforms, and consumers? Download the full report linked in the comments for insights from 2024 and the trends shaping gig mobility in 2025.

Our portfolio company, AmpUp, has partnered with Curo to transform EV fleet charging. Through this partnership, Curo’s Virtual Depot platform will integrate with AmpUp’s charging network to allow site hosts to lease out underutilized chargers during off-peak hours. Benefits include: ✅ Lower infrastructure costs for fleet operators ✅ New revenue streams for charging site hosts ✅ Reliable overnight charging for EV drivers For fleet operators, the cost of building dedicated charging infrastructure has been a major barrier to electrification. This partnership helps remove that obstacle, making fleet electrification more scalable, flexible and cost-efficient. ElectricDrives has the details in the link below.

Burak Cendek wrapped up Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics 2025 with a conversation with Marin Tchakarov, CEO of Autotech portfolio company Fox Robotics. They discussed key trends from the event, including the accelerating adoption of automation and smart robotics. Fox Robotics continues to lead the way with its FoxBot autonomous forklift, which is redefining trailer loading and unloading standards. Watch the video below to learn about what's ahead for the company in 2025, including an exciting reveal this March at ProMat 2025.

While at Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics, Burak Cendek caught up with Ryan Joyce, founder and CEO of our portfolio company GenLogs, about the conference and the growing excitement around the company. Check out the video to learn about GenLogs' newly launched intermodal insights. The platform currently focuses on drayage to and from rail terminals, but it will soon expand to ports, enabling seamless, end-to-end tracking.

It's Day 3 at Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics 2025. Burak Cendek is back on the show floor, this time with Diego Solorzano of Desteia (formerly Auba), discussing how AI’s role in logistics is evolving. Compared to previous years, they’re seeing a clear shift in how AI is being applied—reshaping decision-making, creating smarter workflows, and becoming more mainstream across the supply chain. Check out their key insights in the video below.

Burak Cendek is on the show floor at Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics with Matt Salefski and Marvin Kennis, the co-founders of Rectangle. There's a lot of discussion when it comes to supply chain and logistics these days! Check out what they're experiencing so far.