Participated · Series A · Jun 2021

SafeAI builds retrofit hardware and proprietary autonomous software to enable off-road heavy equipment in mining and construction to operate autonomously. The company sells an interoperable, scalable aftermarket solution that transforms existing machines into self-operating robotic assets. SafeAI was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, with offices in Perth, Tokyo, and Delhi. The company more than doubled headcount in 2022 to over 90 employees as it expanded operations across the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India. With the new capital, SafeAI plans to accelerate its autonomous vehicle technology roadmap, invest in engineering and developer teams, and scale its global operations team. Management says funds will be used to meet contractual milestones and expand the company’s global footprint to service growing customer demand. SafeAI develops interoperable autonomous technology and retrofits heavy equipment for autonomous applications in mining and construction. It builds a software platform with advanced, industry-specific AI to convert existing machines into self-operating robotic assets. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate research and development of its interoperable autonomous technology and to support global expansion. Led by founder and CEO Bibhrajit Halder, SafeAI serves a broad ecosystem of industry players with complex needs. The company currently operates with Obayashi Corporation in Cupertino, California. It raised $21M in a Series A to advance these plans. SafeAI develops autonomy software tailored for heavy equipment in the mining and construction industries, aiming for Level 4 (no human driver) capability. Its platform is designed to be open, modular and upgradeable so clients can adopt new advances in AI and autonomy. The company is testing its software on a Bobcat skid loader at its San Jose proving ground and is working with Doosan Bobcat. SafeAI is also working with an unnamed large global mining company to pilot deployments in mining trucks. The startup is emerging from stealth and does not yet have a commercial product in market, though it runs software on actual construction hardware. The founding team includes talent with experience across Apple, Ford and Caterpillar, and the company announced a $5 million funding round to support development and deployment.