British autonomous driving technology company Wayve is negotiating with tech giants Microsoft and SoftBank to raise up to $2 billion in new funding.
This potential investment could value the London-based AI startup at approximately $8 billion, marking another significant milestone in the company's rapid growth trajectory.
The Company & Its Mission
Founded in 2017 by Alex Kendall and Amar Shah, two machine learning PhD graduates from the University of Cambridge, Wayve develops embodied AI technology for autonomous vehicles.
The company takes a unique approach to self-driving technology by using end-to-end deep learning instead of relying on detailed mapping systems or expensive hardware like Lidar sensors.
Their AI-powered software enables vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any environment using just cameras and basic GPS.
This mapless, hardware-agnostic technology can be licensed to automakers and fleet operators, making it scalable across different vehicle types and manufacturers.
Currently operating in the UK and the US, Wayve is expanding testing operations into Germany and Japan. The company employs between 250-500 people working on breakthrough autonomous driving solutions.
Why This Deal Matters?
This funding round comes on the heels of Nvidia signing a letter of intent in September 2025 for a potential $500 million investment, signaling massive investor confidence in Wayve's technology.
The timing reflects a global race among tech giants to secure stakes in fast-growing AI startups, particularly those focused on autonomous mobility.
The proposed $2 billion raise would provide Wayve with substantial capital to develop and launch its first production-ready embodied AI products.
These systems will allow automakers to upgrade vehicles from Level 2+ assisted driving to Level 4 fully automated driving capabilities, addressing a critical gap in the automotive industry's transition to autonomy.
What makes this deal particularly significant is the involvement of both Microsoft and SoftBank, who already invested over $1 billion in Wayve's Series C round in May 2024.
Their continued backing suggests strong validation of Wayve's technical approach and commercial potential.
Previous Wayve Funding & Company Growth
| Funding Round | Amount Raised | Date | Lead Investors | Post-Money Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | $300,000 | September 2017 | Eclipse Ventures, Balderton Capital | Undisclosed |
| Series A | $20 million | November 2019 | Multiple investors | Undisclosed |
| Series B | $200 million | January 2022 | Eclipse Ventures | ~$1 billion |
| Series C | $1.05 billion | May 2024 | SoftBank, Nvidia, Microsoft | Undisclosed |
| Current Round (In Discussion) | $2 billion | October 2025 | Microsoft, SoftBank | ~$8 billion |
Key Deal Facts
Who are the main investors in this round?
Microsoft and SoftBank are leading the discussions for the $2 billion funding round, with Nvidia having signed a letter of intent for an additional $500 million investment.
What will the new capital be used for?
The funding will support the development and commercial launch of Wayve's embodied AI products for production vehicles, enabling automakers to scale from assisted to fully automated driving.
What makes Wayve different from competitors?
Unlike traditional autonomous vehicle companies that rely on detailed mapping and expensive sensors, Wayve uses end-to-end deep learning with just cameras and GPS, making its solution more adaptable and cost-effective.
Connect With Wayve
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | wayve.ai |
| linkedin.com/company/wayve-technologies | |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
The Road Ahead
With this potential $2 billion raise, Wayve is positioning itself as a major player in the autonomous driving space.
The company's next challenge will be delivering on its promise of production-ready AI systems that automakers can seamlessly integrate into their vehicles.
Success will depend on proving the reliability and safety of its camera-based approach in diverse real-world conditions across multiple markets.
If executed well, Wayve could become the go-to AI platform for automakers looking to compete with Tesla and other autonomous vehicle leaders without building proprietary systems from scratch.
