Toyota AI Ventures launches $100M fund to invest in robotics and autonomous tech – TechCrunch

Toyota AI Ventures, a subsidiary of Toyota Research Institute, has a new $100 million fund that will focus on finding and investing in early-stage robotics and autonomous technology startups. This second fund, aptly dubbed Fund II, brings the firm's total assets under management to more than $200 million. "The growing interest in automated systems has created great opportunities to improve human lives using AI and next-generation mobility technology," said Dr. Gill Pratt, chief executive officer at TRI and Toyota AI Ventures investment committee member. Toyota AI Ventures is a newcomer to the scene. Still, it's managed to invest in 19 startups since launching in 2017, including Nauto, autonomous shuttle company May Mobility, social companion cognitive AI startup Intuition Robotics and Joby Aviation, the electric vertical takeoff and landing passenger aircraft service.