Top 8 Venture Capital Firms Fueling Automotive Startups

If you’re a founder in the automotive or mobility space, preparing to raise capital means finding investors who truly get your vision. Understanding the key players in automotive venture capital is the first step to a more efficient fundraising process, helping you connect with people who understand your specific goals.

To help you identify the right partners, our team put together this guide to the top VC firms investing in auto tech. Think of it as a starting point for your research, helping you quickly find investors for your specific stage and focus.

Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay — built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• Securing venture funding gives automotive startups the capital to accelerate product development, scale manufacturing, and expand their market reach.
• Top venture capital firms active in the automotive industry include notable backers like Yamaha Motor Ventures, Trucks Venture Capital, Motus Ventures, and BMW i Ventures.
• If you are raising or have just closed a round, Rho helps you manage your capital with fast business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Automotive Are Right for Your Stage?

Knowing which investors to approach is important at every point in your company’s growth, from the early stages to a potential exit. To help, here is a quick overview of automotive VC firms and the stages they typically invest in.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Automotive

Pre-seed and seed funding are the earliest forms of capital, designed to help you turn an idea into a viable product and achieve initial market traction. For founders in the automotive and mobility space, firms like Automotive Ventures, Motus Ventures, and StartX specialize in providing this foundational support.

Early Stage VC Firms in Automotive

Early-stage funding, which typically includes Series A and B rounds, is for companies with a proven product and early revenue that need capital to scale their team and operations. Some early-stage automotive tech venture capital firms to consider are Trucks Venture Capital and Yamaha Motor Ventures, both of which have a track record in this phase.

Late Stage VC Firms in Automotive

Late-stage rounds provide significant capital to established companies preparing for major growth, a potential acquisition, or an initial public offering (IPO). Notable late-stage investors in the auto industry include BMW i Ventures and Expansion Venture Capital, which often back companies on the path to an exit.

It's also worth noting that many VC firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to exit. Once your funding is secured at any stage, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—can help you manage and deploy that capital efficiently.

Here is a closer look at the top VC firms focusing on the automotive sector, including key details about their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each a strong potential partner for founders.

1. Yamaha Motor Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of Yamaha Motor, this Silicon Valley-based firm invests in startups across several industries, including automotive, transportation, robotics, and AgTech. Founded in 2015, it aims to back companies that are exploring new transformations in their areas of focus.

What’s notable is their strategic alignment with Yamaha Motor’s core business, offering portfolio companies more than just capital. Their investments in high-growth companies like Shippeo and Soft Robotics, alongside successful exits such as PrecisionHawk, show a track record of supporting businesses through to maturity.

This firm is a strong potential partner for founders whose technology aligns with Yamaha's strategic goals in mobility and robotics. If you are building a company in these areas and value a corporate partner with deep industry expertise, they are worth a look.

• Investment stages: Seed to late-stage
• Industries of focus: Automotive, Transportation, Robotics, AgTech, Food and Beverage, Wellness
• Geographical presence: Palo Alto, California
• Founded: 2015
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Notable investments: Shippeo, Soft Robotics, PrecisionHawk, Veo Robotics

You can refer to their website here.

2. Trucks Venture Capital

Trucks Venture Capital is a San Francisco-based firm that funds entrepreneurs building the future of transportation. Founded in 2015, it focuses on backing companies that are creating new solutions across the mobility sector.

The firm invests from seed to late-stage, showing a commitment to supporting companies throughout their growth. Their portfolio highlights a strong track record of successful exits, including the acquisition of autonomous farming startup Bear Flag Robotics by John Deere and the public listing of electric air-taxi company Joby Aviation.

Trucks VC is a good fit for founders working on ambitious transportation technology, from autonomous vehicles to smart city infrastructure. Their history of guiding companies to significant exits suggests they are a strategic partner for teams with a clear vision for market leadership or acquisition.

• Investment stages: Seed to late-stage
• Industries of focus: Transportation, Automotive, Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicle, Smart Cities
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2015
• Investor type: Venture Capital
• Notable investments: Bear Flag Robotics, Joby Aviation, NuTonomy, Zendrive

You can refer to their website here.

3. Motus Ventures

Based in Redwood City, Motus Ventures is a firm that invests in early-stage companies at the intersection of major technology shifts and new consumer behaviors, particularly in mobility and connected systems. Founded in 2012, they focus on foundational technologies that are shaping future industries.

The firm concentrates on seed and early-stage rounds, with a portfolio that includes deep-tech companies like autonomous driving software "unicorn" Helm.ai and in-space refueling startup Orbit Fab. Their investments show a clear interest in ambitious, category-defining technologies rather than incremental improvements.

Motus Ventures is a strong potential partner for founders building capital-intensive businesses in AI, robotics, and advanced transportation. If your startup is centered on foundational technology with long-term potential, their early-stage focus and accelerator resources could be a good match.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Automotive, AI, Aerospace, Finance, Advanced Materials
• Geographical presence: Redwood City, California
• Founded: 2012
• Investor type: Accelerator, Venture Capital
• Notable investments: Helm.ai, Orbit Fab, Cranfield Aerospace, Memryx, Sepion Technologies

You can refer to their website here.

4. BMW i Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of BMW, this Mountain View-based firm has been investing since 2011. Their focus is on technology and service companies that support BMW’s current and future business goals.

What's notable is their investment flexibility, backing companies from seed to late-stage rounds. Their portfolio features several high-profile exits, including ChargePoint, Solid Power, and Xometry, demonstrating a history of guiding companies to the public markets.

This firm is an excellent potential partner for founders whose technology could align with a major automaker's long-term strategy. If you are building a company in areas like EV infrastructure, battery tech, or advanced manufacturing, their strategic value and track record are significant.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Debt
• Industries of focus: Automotive, Finance, Technology, Services
• Geographical presence: Mountain View, California
• Founded: 2011
• Investor type: Corporate Venture Capital
• Notable investments: ChargePoint, Solid Power, Proterra, Xometry, Graphcore

You can refer to their website here.

5. Expansion Venture Capital

Expansion Venture Capital is a New York-based firm that provides both investment and mentorship to companies from their early stages through to growth. Founded in 2010, they support businesses across a wide range of industries, including automotive, fintech, and consumer products.

The firm invests across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage rounds, and has a broad industry focus. Their portfolio is marked by several high-profile unicorns and public companies, including the car-sharing marketplace Turo, fintech platform Carta, and insurtech company Lemonade, signaling a strong track record of backing successful businesses.

This firm could be a good match for founders building companies with the potential for significant scale, especially in consumer, fintech, or mobility sectors. Given their history of successful exits, they are likely looking for ambitious teams with a clear path to market leadership.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Automotive, Consumer, Enterprise, Financial Services, FinTech, InsurTech, Real Estate, Robotics
• Geographical presence: New York, New York
• Founded: 2010
• Investor type: Micro VC, Venture Capital
• Notable investments: Turo, Carta, Lemonade, ClassPass, Allbirds

You can refer to their website here.

6. Automotive Ventures

Automotive Ventures is an Atlanta-based firm that invests in early-stage automotive and mobility startups. Founded in 2014, it focuses on providing seed and early-stage capital to companies building new technologies for the industry.

The firm shows a clear preference for B2B and information technology plays within the automotive sector. Its portfolio includes companies like SparkCharge, which develops mobile EV charging, and Robotire, which is automating tire changes, indicating an interest in both hardware and software solutions.

This firm is a good fit for founders with a strong focus on a specific automotive niche, especially in B2B services or IT. If you are building a company with a clear technological advantage that addresses a specific industry need, their early-stage focus makes them a relevant potential partner.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Automotive, B2B, Information Technology
• Geographical presence: Atlanta, Georgia
• Founded: 2014
• Investor type: Micro VC, Venture Capital
• Notable investments: SparkCharge, Robotire, Kinetic, Recurrent, Car Capital

You can refer to their website here.

7. Prelude Ventures

Prelude Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that invests exclusively in companies addressing climate change. Founded in 2013, their entire focus is on backing startups that are building a more sustainable economy across a wide range of industries.

The firm invests across a broad spectrum of climate technology, from automotive and clean energy to AgTech and manufacturing. Their portfolio includes several unicorns and public companies, such as the e-scooter operator Lime and satellite-imaging firm Planet, showing a history of supporting companies to major exits.

Prelude is a strong match for founders building climate-focused businesses with the potential for significant market impact. If your company operates in sectors like mobility, energy, or advanced materials and has a clear path to scale, their broad expertise could be valuable.

Once you secure funding from a partner like Prelude, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—can help you manage and deploy that capital efficiently.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: AgTech, Automotive, Carbon Capture, Clean Energy, CleanTech, Food and Beverage, Green Building
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2013
• Investor type: Venture Capital
• Notable investments: Lime, Planet, GreenLight Biosciences, Benson Hill, Fervo Energy

You can refer to their website here.

8. StartX (Stanford-StartX Fund)

StartX is an educational non-profit and accelerator that supports entrepreneurs from the Stanford University community. Founded in 2011, it provides resources and funding to help founders build their companies from the ground up.

The firm operates as both an accelerator and a venture capital fund, offering a wide range of support from non-equity assistance to early-stage venture rounds. Its portfolio includes major successes like the NFT marketplace OpenSea and creator platform Patreon, showing a history of backing category-defining companies.

StartX is a great fit for founders with a Stanford affiliation who are in the early stages of building their company. Given their broad industry focus, they are more about backing talented teams than targeting a specific sector.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Convertible Note, Grant, Non Equity Assistance
• Industries of focus: Automotive, Big Data, Biotechnology, Consumer Software, Enterprise Software, Finance, Hardware, Medical Device
• Geographical presence: Palo Alto, California
• Founded: 2011
• Investor type: Accelerator, Venture Capital
• Notable investments: Lime, OpenSea, Patreon, Life360

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Automotive Companies

This overview shows that the funding environment for automotive and mobility companies is quite balanced. You’ll find investors focused on every stage, from accelerators and seed funds like Motus Ventures and Automotive Ventures for early ideas, to firms like BMW i Ventures that support companies through late-stage growth. This means that whether you are just starting or preparing to scale, there are potential partners available.

The variety of investors is also a key takeaway. The list includes traditional venture capital, corporate VCs offering strategic industry connections, and accelerators. While many firms are based in California, there are active investors in other hubs like New York and Atlanta, giving you options beyond Silicon Valley. Once your funding is secured, our integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—can help you manage and deploy that capital efficiently.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Fundraising is demanding, and your time is your most valuable asset. A focused list of relevant investors helps you direct your energy toward the partners who are most likely to understand your vision.

When you successfully close your round, the work of managing that capital begins. Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.

Our platform integrates business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, giving you the tools to deploy your new funding with clarity and control.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Automotive

Which are the top US automotive venture capital firms?

Many leading automotive VCs are based in the US, particularly in California. Firms like Trucks Venture Capital, BMW i Ventures, and Motus Ventures are active investors, backing companies from early-stage development through to major growth rounds.

What do automotive seed venture capital firms look for?

At the seed stage, investors focus on your team’s expertise, the market opportunity, and your unique technical approach. They want to see a clear vision for solving a real problem, even if your product is still in early development.

Are there specific automotive software venture capital firms?

Yes, many firms focus on software, from autonomous driving AI to connected car platforms. Investors like Motus Ventures and Automotive Ventures often back software-first companies that can scale quickly without heavy manufacturing costs.

What is the role of automotive angel investors?

Angel investors typically provide the first capital before a formal seed round. They are often experienced industry professionals who can offer valuable mentorship and connections in addition to funding, helping you prepare for institutional investment.

How do global automotive venture capital firms differ?

Firms in Europe and Asia may have different priorities, often tied to local manufacturing hubs and regulations. Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools help you manage capital efficiently across different regions and currencies.

How can I manage my funds after raising from an automotive VC firm?

After closing your round, you need a clear financial system. Rho provides integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay, giving you the tools to manage and deploy your new capital with control.