GV, the subsidiary of internet technology group Alphabet formerly known as Google Ventures, led a $20m series B round for Carmera, a US-based developer of mapping software for driverless vehicles, yesterday.
The corporate was joined by Matrix Partners, the private equity firm that led Carmera’s $6.4m series A round in June 2017.
Founded in 2015, Carmera has created a high-definition 3D mapping system for use by autonomous vehicles (AVs) that is based on urban mapping data collected for two years by vehicles equipped with lidar mapping technology.
The company revealed the funding alongside its launch of a software engine that helps AVs take issues such as construction and emergency services activity, traffic signals, road markings and turn restrictions into account in real time and change route accordingly.
The funding will be invested in international growth, Carmera having recently expanded into Japan and South Korea.
The company said in a blog post: “From our earliest conversations, [GV] shared our vision for the future of AV technology, and conviction for high definition mapping as a critical, long-term part of the stack.
“With this round we are more committed than ever to maintaining the world’s most robust and accessible street intelligence platform, as a top-tier, independent AV supplier built for the long term.
Resolute Ventures, Notation Capital and angel investors including Joe Montana, Bre Pettis and Semil Shah also participated in the series A round. Carmera’s early backers include Hone Capital.