This Khosla-backed autonomous pod startup just raised $170M. Now, it’s aiming for more.

Glydways, a startup based in San Francisco, has successfully secured $170 million in a Series C funding round aimed at enhancing urban transport through personal autonomous pods. These innovative pods are designed to navigate dedicated lanes that are just 2 meters wide, offering a unique solution for crowded city environments. This funding round saw participation from notable investors, including Suzuki Motor Corporation, ACS Group, and Khosla Ventures, alongside contributions from existing investors such as Mitsui Chemicals and Gates Frontier, as well as new backer Obayashi Corporation. The startup is reportedly in talks to raise an additional $250 million, which could elevate its valuation to over $1 billion, as reported by Bloomberg. Glydways claims that its system has the capacity to transport up to 10,000 individuals per hour, per lane, while also cutting infrastructure expenses by as much as 90% compared to traditional rail systems. Founded in 2016, Glydways is set to pilot its operations in three key locations this year: Atlanta, New York City, and the United Arab Emirates. With ambitions to launch extensive operations by 2027, Glydways has garnered attention from influential figures, including Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, who invested during the Series B funding phase. Vinod Khosla, a prominent investor and board member, has expressed his belief that Glydways represents a superior alternative to robotaxis for urban transport. Khosla envisions that this system could potentially replace the majority of cars in cities over the next 25 years, asserting, "That sounds radical, but these entrepreneurs want to make that happen, and I’m pretty certain it will happen, and it’s not robotaxis; it’s not Waymo. It’s a much better solution."